Colored effect pigments and their use

Abstract

The invention relates to a pigment comprising (a) a flat core and (b) at least one coating consisting of at least two different substances that is applied to the surface of the core, wherein the coating (b) has a substantially continuously variable composition in the axis lying perpendicular to its surface, and the refractive indices of the coating (b) at the surface facing the core (a) and at the surface remote from the core (a) are different. An outer coating (c) may additionally have been applied to the coating (b). The pigment may be embedded in a high molecular weight organic material, the refractive index of the coating (b) at its surface that is remote from the core (a) and the refractive index of the high molecular weight organic material being different. Preferred embodiments relate to specific refractive index ranges and differences. The color effect pigments according to the invention possess superior optical properties, so that an improved effect is obtained in respect of flop, goniochromaticity and saturation. The saturation (C.sup.*) in particular is astonishingly high.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.