TECHNOLOGY | ANTICOUNTERFEITING
TruTag microtags are based on nano-porous silica and can be readily incorporated into masterbatch
using a cellphone proprietary imager or forensic recovery,” says McDonogh. Common uses in plastics are for tracking unauthorised and illegitimate production and for dealing with warranty claims for product failure when the product turns out to be a counterfeit. “We have also seen interest from companies who wish to prove plastics have been recycled or that they contain additives to speed decomposition,” adds McDonogh. TruTags are also being used in healthcare
copied. It also offers Enhanced Phosphors — ce- ramic particles that can be multiple colours and can be triggered by either IR or UV light for greater security.
Right: Microtaggant particles from Microtrace carry a unique numeric code in their layered structure
Nano sophistication Microscopic, nano-scale, or molecular-level markers present an even more sophisti- cated and difficult-to-copy covert anticounterfeiting method. Such particles can be embedded in a plastic product or package during manufacturing, or embedded in or printed on a label. A detector is used to pick up the spectroscopic signal of the tags, which can be coded to contain detailed information. Microtrace’s Microtaggant Identifica-
C
applications to mark medical devices and consum- ables. One use is the tagging of medical consuma- bles to ensure that only approved consumables can be used in a device. In this case, a small, cost-effective sensor is placed directly into the medical device and when a consumable is used it senses whether the tags are present, explains McDonogh. TruTags are also being used to tag PVC used in blister packs for pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals.
I M
Random solutions Product authentication technol- ogy from Polysecure is based on the company’s own fluores- cent markers and compact optical detectors and interest has grown steadily in the past few years, according to Manag- ing Director Jochen Moesslein. “A new innovation is the use of the
Right: Polysecure of Germany has developed a range of fluorescent markers for product authentication
tion Particles contain multiple layers that translate to a unique numeric code. Although it is a highly secure solution, the company says microtag- gants are often less expensive in bulk-tagging applications than using standard phosphors. The particles are available in different sizes ranging from 20 to 1200 microns and can be supplied as a powder or masterbatch. It says the microtaggants can be detected and authenticated using micro- scopes, UV lights, or laser pens. The company also offers the products as part of its Summit Authenti- cation Platform, which combines taggants, a detection system, and cloud-based analytics and reporting. TruTag microtags from TruTag Technologies are based on nano-porous silica. “Our spectrally encoded taggants can be mixed as part of a masterbatch and extruded into a plastic or can be applied directly to a plastic part. It depends on the problem we are addressing and the technical/ economic constraints of the scenario. Depending on the scenario, our taggants can be authenticated
52 COMPOUNDING WORLD | December 2020
random pattern of fluorescent particles in polymer matrices. These 3D patterns are
not reproducible and thus forgery proof. They create an individual fingerprint in polymer prod- ucts,” he says. This physical code can link the product and its data in Industry 4.0 systems as a type of ‘material passport’ that provides relevant product data from manufacturing to the end of product life, he says. Polysecure worked with Institut Charles Sadron
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: TRUTAG TECHNOLOGIES
IMAGE: POLYSECURE
E
I
C
M
A
A
R T
G
O
: E
R
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70
