Home- Glossary - Luminescent Nano Pigment (LNP)

Related Expressions

Infra-Red Laser

 

Explanation

Luminescent Nano Pigments (LNP) are inorganic ceramic materials with a pigment size of 0.3 micron up to 100 micron (10-6 m), which can be processed according to requirement. Standard delivery is 3 – 5 microns. The chemical composition is mainly Rare Earth elements doped with a very small amount of different elements, creating the wanted optical characteristics of “up-converting-phosphors”. LNP are very durable and hard, insolvable in organic liquids or any other liquid. They are not toxic, have white appearance and the melting point is 2200 degrees Celsius. They have no odor and show no reactivity (inert).
LNP can absorb light in a longer wavelength and transform it into a shorter wavelength. E.g. LNP absorb light in the infrared wavelength of approximately 1000 nm and emit green color light (Figure 8). Colors red, green and blue are available. The brightest color is the green one. By mixing red, green and blue LNP every desired color can be produced.

Application/Usage in Indisputable KEY

The LNP can be used to enhance automated marking and reading of codes marked on ends of boards in sawmills’ production line. By mixing the LNP into the marking ink and exciting it with an IR laser/light source a more distinct code can be marked. Conventional black marking ink leaves a code that is often difficult to distinguish from defects of the board end; for an example knots, cracks and blobs. LNP radiation enables to isolate a certain band of information (code) acquired from board end.

Example of code using LNP (left), and individual LNP (right)
Figure 8 : Example of code using LNP (left), and individual LNP (right)

Institutions with teaching capabilities

Tallinn University of Technology is also in the Indisputable KEY consortium and is central in the development of marking and reading systems.
Some laboratories and companies have been studying LNP (NanoProducts Corporation (see patent US20040156986 , NanoVic . Counterfeit detection system seems to be an important application of this technique (infrared radiation which excites luminescent pigments). However there are no training courses about LNP.µ

Some workshops on special application of LNP exist (see bellow an example with automotive industry)

Available text books and training material
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