Authentication of metallic objects

Abstract

The present invention provides an anti-counterfeit marking technique for verifying authenticity of objects using x-rays fluorescence (XRF) analysis.

1 . A marker composition comprising at least one XRF-sensitive marker and at least one surface binding material, wherein the concentration of the at least one marker is between 0.1 and 10,000 ppm. 
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of said marker is between about 0.1 and 200 ppm, or between about 0.1 and 20 ppm. 
     
     
         3 . A film-forming composition for forming a film on at least a region of a surface material, the composition comprising at least one XRF-sensitive marker, at least one surface binding material and at least one chemical etchant for increasing surface contact with said marker and said binder. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the XRF sensitive marker is a compound comprising one or more element which in response to X-Ray or gamma-ray radiation emits an x-ray signal with spectral features characteristic of the element. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 4 , wherein said element is selected from the group consisting of Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Br, Ti, Fe, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Ga, As, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, I, Cs, Ba, La and Ce. 
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one polymerization initiator, and optionally at least one agent selected from at least one adhesion promoter, at least one wetting agent, at least one etching agent, at least one dispersant and at least one solvent. 
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 1 , the composition being selected from: the compositions being selected from:
 a composition comprising a marker material comprising Ca and/or Ti and/or Mo and/or Zn and/or Zr and/or Sb, wherein the at least one binding material is acrylate-based; said etching material is selected from phosphoric acid and 2-propenoic acid;   a composition comprising a marker material comprising Ca and/or Ti and/or Mo and/or Zn and/or Zr and/or Sb, wherein the at least one binding material comprises at least one binder material and at least one adhesion promoter; said etching material is phosphoric acid and/or 2-propenoic acid;   a composition comprising a marker material comprising Ca and/or Ti and/or Mo and/or Zn and/or Zr and/or Sb, wherein the at least one binding material comprises at least one binder and at least one adhesion promoter being methacryloxy silane and/or methacryloxypropyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane and/or acrylic silane and/or aromatic acid methacrylate half ester; said etching material is phosphoric acid and/or 2-propenoic acid;   a composition comprising a marker material comprising Ca and/or Ti and/or Mo and/or Zn and/or Zr and/or Sb, wherein the at least one binding material comprises at least one binder material selected from acrylate resins and at least one adhesion promoter; said etching material is phosphoric acid and/or 2-propenoic acid;   a composition comprising a marker material comprising Ca and/or Ti and/or Mo and/or Zn and/or Zr and/or Sb, wherein the at least one binding material comprises at least one binder material selected from acrylate resins and at least one adhesion promoter being methacryloxy silane and/or methacryloxypropyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane and/or acrylic silane and/or aromatic acid methacrylate half ester; said etching material is phosphoric acid and/or 2-propenoic acid;   a composition comprising a marker material comprising an XRF-sensitive element, at least one binding material being acrylate-based; and an etching material being phosphoric acid and/or 2-propenoic acid;   a composition comprising a marker material comprising an XRF-sensitive element, at least one binding material comprising at least one binder material and at least one adhesion promoter; and an etching material being phosphoric acid and/or 2-propenoic acid;   a composition comprising a marker material comprising an XRF-sensitive element, at least one binding material comprising at least one binder and at least one adhesion promoter being methacryloxy silane and/or methacryloxypropyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane and/or acrylic silane and/or aromatic acid methacrylate half ester; and an etching material being phosphoric acid and/or 2-propenoic acid;   a composition comprising a marker material comprising an XRF-sensitive element, at least one binding material comprising at least one binder material selected from acrylate resins and at least one adhesion promoter; and an etching material being phosphoric acid and/or 2-propenoic acid; and   a composition comprising a marker material comprising an XRF-sensitive element, at least one binding material comprising at least one binder material selected from acrylate resins and at least one adhesion promoter being methacryloxy silane and/or methacryloxypropyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane and/or acrylic silane and aromatic acid/or methacrylate half ester; and an etching material being phosphoric acid and/or 2-propenoic acid.   
     
     
         8 . An object having on at least a region thereof a film comprising at least one XRF-sensitive marker and at least one binding material, wherein the concentration of said XRF-sensitive in the film is between about 0.1 and 10,000 ppm. 
     
     
         9 . The object according to  claim 8 , wherein the concentration of said XRF-sensitive in the film is between about 0.1 and 200 ppm or between about 0.1 and 20 ppm. 
     
     
         10 . The object according to  claim 8 , wherein the film comprises an amount of at least one marker material, at least one binder material selected amongst poly-acrylates, and wherein the film having a thickness of between 0.1 and 4 microns. 
     
     
         11 . The object according to  claim 8 , wherein the film comprises two or more marker materials, each being based on a different element. 
     
     
         12 . The object according to  claim 8 , being a metallic object.