SBIR Phase I: Serially Customized Security Films Harnessing Color-shifting Microstructures

这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力涉及变色安全薄膜的开发和商业用途。这种安全薄膜在三维设计的微结构阵列中通过光反射产生颜色。据估计，全球约5%的贸易受到假冒或盗版产品的影响，对广泛的市场产生负面影响，同时使消费者的安全面临风险。实施新的、有效的战略和技术来打击造假者并向最终用户传达真伪是有必要和市场机会的。在这个项目中开发的技术的价值是基于一种独特的光学机制，它可以创造出可调的、视觉上独特的颜色变化外观，这是无法模仿或复制的。结果包括开发卷对卷制造的结构彩色薄膜，其颜色可连续定制。最初的目标市场集中在消费者品牌保护和供应链安全。目标客户包括通过联合开发、直接销售和/或许可方式提供安全功能的公司。第三年的潜在年收入估计在100万至300万美元之间。这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将在研究开发微结构变色安全薄膜方面实现两个技术目标。第一个技术目标是在不影响色彩饱和度的情况下增加总反射率。克服这一障碍是必要的，以确保电影在一系列非最佳照明条件下引人注目。模拟和实验相结合的方法将用于设计和优化薄膜的反射效率。将演示优化结构几何形状的卷对卷制造。第二个技术目标是演示系列彩色图案的定制印刷彩虹薄膜。颜色的连续定制，例如条形码或数字，将使电影与数字安全平台集成。将对微观结构几何和加工参数进行评估，以确定颜色的一致性和可重复性，同时实现高空间分辨率。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact / commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 project relates to the development and commercial utility of color-shifting security films. Such security films produce color from light reflections in three-dimensionally designed microstructure-arrays. Approximately 5% of the world trade is estimated to be impacted by counterfeit or pirated products, negatively affecting a broad range of markets while putting the safety of consumers at risk. There is a need and market opportunity to implement new, effective strategies and technologies to counteract counterfeiters and communicate authenticity to end users. The value of the technology developed in this project is based on a distinguished optical mechanism that enables the creation of tunable and visually distinctive color changing appearances that can not be imitated or copied. Outcomes include the development of roll-to-roll manufactured structural color film with colors that are serially customizable. The initial target market is focused on consumer brand protection and supply chain security. Target customers include security feature provider companies through joint-development, direct sales, and/or licensing. Potential annual revenue in year three is estimated between $1M-$3M. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 project will pursue two technical aims in the research development of microstructured color-shifting security films. The first technical objective is to increase total reflectivity without compromising color saturation. Overcoming this hurdle is necessary to ensure that the films are eye-catching under a range of non-optimal lighting conditions. A combination of simulations and experimentation will be used to design and optimize the reflective efficiency of the films. Roll-to-roll fabrication of the optimized structure geometries will be demonstrated. The second technical objective is the demonstration of serial color patterning for customized printing of iridescent films. Serial customization of color, for instance with bar codes or numbers, will enable integration of the films with digital security platforms. Evaluation of microstructure geometry and processing parameters will be conducted to determine color consistency and repeatability while achieving high spatial resolution.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.