Composite reflective flake based pigments comprising reflector layers on bothside of a support layer

A composite reflective flake providing high reflectance during use as a pigment, the flake comprising:

• a central support layer having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one side surface, the support layer composed of a substantially brittle material having a first thickness;
• and
• a reflector layer having a second thickness on each of the top and bottom surfaces but not on the at least one side surface, at least one reflector layer composed of a substantially ductile material;
• wherein the ratio of the first thickness and the second thickness is sufficient to induce a substantially brittle failure of the ductile reflector layer.

A composite reflective flake providing high reflectance during use as a pigment, the flake comprising:

• a central support layer having substantially smooth and parallel first and second major surfaces;
• and
• a reflector layer on each of the first and second major surfaces of the support layer, at least one of the reflector layers being a continuous thin film which substantially replicates the underlying first or second major surface;
• wherein the composite reflective flake has a reflectivity of greater than about 80 percent.