Near infrared absorbing phthalocyanines and their use

A transparent or translucent composition comprising

• a) a compound of formula (I)
• wherein
• R is hydrogen, C1-C18alkyl, C3-C18alkyl interrupted by one or more O atoms, benzyl or cyclohexyl;
• R′ is hydrogen or C1-C18alkyl;
• or R and R′ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded form a morpholine group;
• and
• M is Mn, Zn, V(O), Ti(O), Si, Al, Sn, Cu or Co;
• which is dispersed in
• b) a thermoplastic or crosslinkable polymer;
• wherein the composition is in the form of a sheet or film of a thickness of less than 10 mm and at least 80% translucent in each part of visible range of 400-800 nm;
• wherein the sheet or film exhibits a full solar radiation of 340-1800 nm transmittance of less than 60%,
• a full visible light of 400-800 nm transmittance of more than 75% and
• a haze of less than 1% as measured according to ASTM D-1003, wherein the compound of formula (I) is present in an amount from 0.01 to 10% by weight, based on the weight of the thermoplastic or crosslinkable polymer.