# Patent

## Title
Metal azo pigments

## Abstract

Yellow metal azo pigments based on adducts of at least two metal azo compounds provide improved dispersion properties and are of excellent suitability for pigmentation of pigment preparations for a broad field of use.

## Background
The present invention relates to novel yellow metal azo pigments based on adducts of at least two metal azo compounds, to processes for production thereof and to the use thereof as yellow pigment in pigment preparations.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The preparation of metal complexes from azobarbituric acid with nickel salts and the use thereof as yellow pigments has long been known and has been described many times in the literature (cf., for example, W. Herbst, K. Hunger: Industrial Organic Pigments, 3rd edition 2004, p. 390/397). It is additionally known that these products can be reacted further, for example with melamine or melamine derivatives, in order to improve the performance properties of the pigments, for example in the colouring of plastics, lacquers and colour filters for LCDs.
In addition, literature states that colouristic properties can also be adjusted using, apart from nickel salts, one or more salts of different metals as well. The application EP-A 1 591 489 describes metal complexes of azo compounds containing, as metals, those from the group of the alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, the lanthanoids, and aluminium, scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, copper, nickel and zinc, and optionally iron. The pigments obtained have a different colour locus compared to the pure nickel-azobarbituric acid complexes.
Controlled surface coverage of the metal azo pigment can likewise achieve an improvement in performance-based properties, specifically the lowering of the dispersion hardness as a measure of the dispersion properties of the pigment. However, this method of improving dispersibility is associated with a reduction in the colour intensity of the pigment, which is directly dependent on the concentration of covering agent.
A further means of adjusting performance-based properties is to subject the pigments produced from nickel-azobarbituric acid complexes with melamine, for example, to a heat treatment. This process step is associated with a controlled alteration in the particle size of the pigments and the specific surface area thereof. This process is described, for example, in EP-A 0 994 162.
The metal azo pigments known from the prior art are still in need of improvement with regard to the performance features thereof.
SUMMARY
It has been found that metal azo pigments based on azobarbituric acid, nickel salts and melamine and/or melamine derivatives and at least one further metal salt other than nickel salts surprisingly have improved dispersion properties with a simultaneous increase in the colour intensity. The improvement of these properties enables improved use of these products, inter alia, for colouring of plastics and lacquers, and for use in inkjets and as a component of colour filters for LCDs.


DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
The invention therefore relates to metal azo pigments, characterized in that they comprise adducts of

    a) at least two metal azo compounds of the formula (I) which differ at least in the metal ion Me, or tautomeric forms thereof,






    
    
        in which
        R1 and R2 are each independently OH, NH2 or NHR5,
        R3 and R4 are each independently ═O or ═NR5,
        R5 is hydrogen or alkyl, preferably C1-C4-alkyl, and
        Me is a di- or trivalent metal ion selected from the group of Ni2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Al3+2/3, Fe2+, Fe3+2/3, Co2+ and Co3+2/3,
        with the proviso that the amount of metal ions from the group of Cu2+ and Ni2+ is 95 to 100 mol % and the amount of metal ions selected from the group of Zn2+, Al3+2/3, Fe2+, Fe3+2/3, Co2+ and Co3+2/3, is 0 to 5 mol %, based in each case on one mole of all compounds of the formula (I), and
        where the molar ratio of Cu2+ to Ni2+ metal ions in the sum total of the compounds of the formula (I) is 19:1 to 1:19, preferably 1:9 to 4:1 and more preferably 1:3 to 2:1,
        and
    
    
    b) at least one compound of the formula (II)






    
    
        in which
        R6 is hydrogen or alkyl, preferably C1-C4-alkyl optionally mono- or polysubstituted by OH.
    
    


Preferably, in formula (I), R1 and R2 are each independently OH, NH2 or an NHR5 radical where R5 is hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl.
Preferably, in formula (I), R3 and R4 are each independently ═O or ═NR5 where R5 is hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl.
More preferably, in formula (I), R1 and R2 are OH and R3 and R4 are ═O.
Preferably, in formula (II), R6 is hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl optionally mono- or polysubstituted by OH.
More preferably, in formula (II), R6 is hydrogen.
The molar ratio of Cu2+ to Ni2+ metal ions in the sum total of the compounds of the formula (I) is 19:1 to 1:19, preferably 4:1 to 1:9 and more preferably 2:1 to 1:3.
In an alternative embodiment, the molar ratio of Cu2+ to Ni2+ metal ions in the sum total of the compounds of the formula (I) is 19:1 to 1:5, more preferably 4:1 to 1:5 and especially 2:1 to 1:3.
In the case that, in formula (I). Me is a trivalent metal ion, the charge is balanced by an equivalent amount of anionic structural units of the formula (Ia).




in which R1, R2, R3 and R4 have the definitions specified for formula (I).

Preference is given to metal azo pigments comprising adducts of

    
    
        a) at least two metal azo compounds of the above-specified formula (I)
        
            in which R1 and R2 are OH,
            and
            R3 and R4 are ═O,
            and
            Me is a di- or trivalent metal ion selected from the group of Ni2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Al3+2/3, Fe2+, Fe3+2/3, Co2+ and Co3+2/3,
            with the proviso that the amount of metal ions from the group of Cu2+ and Ni2+ is 95 to 100 mol % and the amount of metal ions selected from the group of Zn2+, Al3+2/3, Fe2+, Fe3+2/3, Co2+ and Co3+2/3 is 0 to 5 mol %, based in each case on one mole of all compounds of the formula (I), and
            where the molar ratio of Cu2+ to Ni2+ metal ions in the sum total of the compounds of the formula (I) is 19:1 to 1:19, preferably 1:9 to 4:1 and more preferably 1:3 to 2:1, and
        
        
        b) at least one compound of the above-specified formula (II)
        
            in which
            R6 is hydrogen.
        
        
    
    


Particular preference is given to metal azo pigments comprising adducts of

    
    
        a) at least two metal azo compounds of the above-specified formula (I)
        
            in which
            R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 have the above-specified general and preferred definition,
            and
            Me is a metal ion from the group of Cu2+ and Ni2+,
            with the proviso that the amount of metal ions from the group of Cu2+ and Ni2+ is 100 mol %, based on one mole of all compounds of the formula (I),
            and where the molar ratio of Cu2+ to Ni2+ metal ions in the sum total of the compounds of the formula (I) is 19:1 to 1:19, preferably 1:9 to 4:1 and more preferably 1:3 to 2:1.

and

        
        
        b) at least one compound of the above-specified formula (II) in which
        
            R6 has the above-specified general and preferred definitions.
        
        
    
    


In an alternative embodiment, the invention relates to metal azo pigments, characterized in that they comprise adducts of

    
    
        a) at least two metal azo compounds of the formula (I) which differ at least in the metal ion Me, or tautomeric forms thereof,
    
    






    
    
        
        
            in which
            R1 and R2 are each independently OH, NH2 or NHR5,
            R3 and R4 are each independently ═O or ═NR5,
            R5 is hydrogen or alkyl, preferably C1-C4-alkyl, and
            Me is a di- or trivalent metal ion selected from the group of Ni2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Al3+2/3, Fe2+, Fe3+2/3, Co2+ and Co3+2/3,
            with the proviso that the amount of metal ions from the group of Cu2+ and Ni2+ is 95 to 100 mol % and the amount of metal ions selected from the group of Zn2+, Al3+2/3, Fe2+, Fe3+2/3, Co2+ and Co3+2/3 is 0 to 5 mol %, based in each case on one mole of all compounds of the formula (I), and
            where the molar ratio of Cu2+ to Ni2+ metal ions in the sum total of the compounds of the formula (I) is 19:1 to 1:5, preferably 4:1 to 1:5 and more preferably 2:1 to 1:3,
            and
        
        
        b) at least one compound of the formula (II)
    
    






    
    
        
        
            in which
            R6 is hydrogen or alkyl, preferably C1-C4-alkyl optionally mono- or polysubstituted by OH.
        
        
    
    


Alternatively preferred are metal azo pigments comprising adducts of

    
    
        a) at least two metal azo compounds of the above-specified formula (I)
        
            in which R1 and R2 are OH,
            and
            R3 and R4 are ═O,
            and
            Me is a di- or trivalent metal ion selected from the group of Ni2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Al3+2/3, Fe2+, Fe3+2/3, Co2+ and Co3+2/3,
            with the proviso that the amount of metal ions from the group of Cu2+ and Ni2+ is 95 to 100 mol % and the amount of metal ions selected from the group of Zn2+, Al3+2/3, Fe2+, Fe3+2/3, Co2+ and Co3+2/3, is 0 to 5 mol %, based in each case on one mole of all compounds of the formula (I), and
            where the molar ratio of Cu2+ to Ni2+ metal ions in the sum total of the compounds of the formula (I) is 19:1 to 1:5, preferably 4:1 to 1:5 and more preferably 2:1 to 1:3,
            and
        
        
        b) at least one compound of the above-specified formula (II)
        in which
        R6 is hydrogen.
    
    


Alternatively more preferred are metal azo pigments comprising adducts of

    
    
        a) at least two metal azo compounds of the above-specified formula (I)
        
            in which
            R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 have the above-specified general and preferred definition,
            and
            Me is a metal ion from the group of Cu2+ and Ni2+,
            with the proviso that the amount of metal ions from the group of Cu2+ and Ni2+ is 100 mol %, based on one mole of all compounds of the formula (I),
            and where the molar ratio of Cu2+ to Ni2+ metal ions in the sum total of the compounds of the formula (I) is 19:1 to 1:5, preferably 4:1 to 1:5 and more preferably 2:1 to 1:3,
        
        
        and
        b) at least one compound of the above-specified formula (II) in which
        R6 has the above-specified general and preferred definitions.
    
    


Substituents in the definition of alkyl denote, for example, straight-chain or branched C1-C6-Alkyl, preferably C1-C4-alkyl, which may optionally be mono- or polysubstituted identically or differently, for example by halogen such as chlorine, bromine or fluorine; —OH, —CN, —NH2 or C1-C6-alkoxy.
The metal azo pigments of the invention are adducts of a) metal azo compounds of the formula (I) with b) compounds of the formula (II). Adducts are understood to mean molecular assemblies in general. The bond between the molecules here may be the result, for example, of intermolecular interactions or Lewis acid-base interactions or of coordinate bonds.
The term “adduct” in the context of the present invention shall generally encompass all kinds of intercalation and addition compounds.
The terms “intercalation compound” or “addition compound” in the context of the present invention shall be understood, for example, to mean compounds which are formed on the basis of intermolecular interactions such as van der Waals interactions or else Lewis acid-base interactions. The way in which the intercalation proceeds here depends both on the chemical properties of the component to be intercalated and on the chemical nature of the host lattice. Compounds of this kind are frequently also referred to as intercalation compounds. In a chemical sense, this is understood to mean the intercalation of molecules and ions (less commonly atoms as well) into chemical compounds.
This shall additionally also be understood to mean inclusion compounds called clathrates. These are compounds of two substances, one of which is a guest molecule intercalated into a lattice or cage composed of a host molecule.
The terms “intercalation compound” or “addition compound” in the context of the present invention shall also be understood to mean mixed intercalation crystals (including interstitial compounds). These are chemical non-stoichiometric crystalline compounds composed of at least two elements.
In addition, the terms “intercalation compound” or “addition compound” in the context of the present invention shall also be understood to mean compounds which are formed on the basis of coordinate bonds or complex bonds. Compounds of this kind refer, for example, to mixed substitution crystals or mixed replacement crystals in which at least two substances form a common crystal and the atoms of the second component are at regular lattice sites of the first component.
Compounds suitable for forming an adduct in the sense of the above definition with the compounds of the formula (I) may be either organic or inorganic compounds. These compounds are referred to hereinafter as adduct formers.
Adduct formers suitable in principle come from an extremely wide variety of different compound classes. For purely practical reasons, preference is given to those compounds which are solid or liquid under standard conditions (25° C., 1 bar).
Among the liquid substances, preference is generally given to those having a boiling point of 100° C. or higher, preferably of greater than or equal to 150° C. at 1 bar. Suitable adduct formers are generally acyclic and cyclic organic compounds, for example aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons which may be substituted, for example, by OH, COOH, NH2, substituted NH2, CONH2, substituted CONH2, SO2NH2, substituted SO2NH2, SO3H, halogen. NO2, CN, —SO2-alkyl, —SO2-aryl, —O-alkyl, —O-aryl, —O-acyl.
Carboxamides and sulphonamides are a preferred group of adduct formers; also especially suitable are urea and substituted ureas such as phenylurea, dodecylurea and others, and the polycondensates thereof with aldehydes, especially formaldehyde; heterocycles such as barbituric acid, benzimidazolone, benzimidazolone-5-sulphonic acid, 2,3-dihydroxyquinoxaline, 2,3-dihydroxyquinoxaline-6-sulphonic acid, carbazole, carbazole-3,6-disulphonic acid, 2-hydroxyquinoline, 2,4-dihydroxyquinoline, caprolactam, melamine, 6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine, 6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine, cyanuric acid.
Likewise suitable in principle as adduct formers are polymers, preferably water-soluble polymers, for example ethylene-propylene oxide block polymers, preferably having an Mn greater than or equal to 1000, especially from 1000 to 10 000 g/mol, polyvinyl alcohol, poly(meth)acrylic acids, modified cellulose such as carboxymethyl celluloses, hydroxyethyl and -propyl celluloses, methyl and ethyl hydroxyethyl celluloses.
According to the invention, the adduct formers used are those of the formula (II). Especially preferred here is melamine.
In general, the metal azo pigments of the invention contain 0.05 to 4 mol, preferably 0.5 to 2.5 mol and most preferably 1.0 to 2.0 mol of compounds of the formula (II) per mole of compounds (I).
The metal azo pigments of the invention preferably have a specific surface area (m2/g) of 50 to 200 m2/g, especially 80 to 160 m2/g, most preferably 100 to 150 m2/g. The surface area is determined in accordance with DIN 66131: determination of the specific surface area of solids by gas adsorption according to Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (B.E.T).
The metal azo pigments of the invention may be physical mixtures of the adducts composed of a) at least two metal azo compounds of the formula (I) and b) at least one compound of the formula (II). For example and with preference, by the physical mixture of the adducts composed of the pure Ni-azo compound with melamine and the pure Cu-azo compound with melamine. The metal azo pigments of the invention may alternatively be chemical mixed compounds of the adducts composed of a) at least two metal azo compounds of the formula (I) and b) at least one compound of the formula (II). These chemical mixed compounds are, for example and with preference, adducts of those metal azo compounds in which the nickel and copper atoms, and optionally further metal ions from the group of zinc, cobalt, aluminium and iron, are incorporated into a common crystal lattice.
In the case of the present invention, there is no difference in the x-ray diffractograms of the physical mixtures and the chemical mixed compounds.
The metal azo pigments of the invention are notable for characteristic signals in the x-ray diffractogram. Especially in that, in the x-ray diffractogram, at an interplanar spacing of d=12.2 (±0.2)Å, the metal azo pigment has a signal S1 having an intensity I1 which exceeds the background value by 3 times the square root of this value.
The metal azo pigments of the invention can be prepared by reacting alkali metal salts of the formula (III), or tautomers thereof, preferably the sodium or potassium salts, in the presence of at least one compound of the formula (II), with nickel and copper salts and optionally one or more metal salts from the group of the zinc, aluminium, iron and cobalt salts.
The metal azo pigments of the invention can also be prepared by mixing the adducts of metal azo compounds of the formula (I) in which Me is Ni2+ with adducts of metal azo compounds of the formula (I) in which Me is Cu, and optionally with adducts of metal azo compounds of the formula (I) in which Me is a metal ion from the group of Zn2+, Al3+2/3, Fe2+, Fe3+2/3, Co2+ and Co3+2/3.
The present invention further provides a process for producing the metal azo pigments of the invention, which is characterized in that at least one compound of the formula (III), or tautomers thereof,




    
    
        in which
        X is an alkali metal ion, preferably a sodium or potassium ion,
        R1 and R2 are each independently OH, NH2 or NHR5,
        R3 and R4 are each independently ═O or ═NR5,
        and
        R5 is hydrogen or alkyl, preferably C1-C4-alkyl,

is reacted in the presence of at least one compound of the formula (II), simultaneously or successively with at least one nickel salt and at least one copper salt and optionally with at least one further metal salt from the group of the copper, aluminium, iron and cobalt salts, where 0.05 to 0.95 mol of at least one nickel salt, 0.05 to 0.95 mol of at least one copper salt and 0.05 to 0 mol of at least one metal salt from the group of the zinc, aluminium, iron and cobalt salts are used per mole of compound of the formula (III), where, in the case that a metal salt from the group of the zinc, aluminium, iron and cobalt salts is used, the amount of copper and nickel salts should be chosen such that the total molar amount of copper, nickel, zinc, aluminium, iron and cobalt salts used is 100 mol %.

    
    


Preferably, 0.2 to 0.9 mol of at least one nickel salt and 0.1 to 0.8 mol of at least one copper salt are used per mole of compound of the formula (III).
Most preferably, 0.35 to 0.75 mol of at least one nickel salt and 0.25 to 0.65 mol of at least one copper salt are used per mole of compound of the formula (II).
In general, the process of the invention is performed using 0.05 to 4 mol, preferably 0.5 to 2.5 mol and most preferably 1.0 to 2.0 mol of compound of the formula (II) per mole of compound of the formula (III).
Alternatively, for the preparation, instead of the di-alkali metal compound of the formula (III), it is also possible to use a mono-alkali metal compound of the formula (ma), or tautomers thereof.




    
    
        in which X, R1, R2, R3 and R4 have the definition given for formula (III),
    
    


or a mixture of compounds of the formula (III) and (IIIa). The stated molar amounts of nickel and copper salts and of compounds of the formula (II) in these cases relate to the sum total of the molar amounts of the compounds (III) and (IIIa) used.
Especially preferred is the preparation of binary nickel/copper azobarbituric acid-melamine adducts. The process of the invention is generally conducted at a temperature of 60 to 95° C. in aqueous solution at a pH below 7. The nickel and copper salts for use in accordance with the invention and any further metal salts to be used from the group of the zinc, aluminium, iron and cobalt salts can be used individually or as a mixture with one another, preferably in the form of an aqueous solution. The compounds of the formula (II) may likewise be added individually or as a mixture with one another, preferably in the form of the solids.
In general, the process of the invention is conducted in such a way that the azo compound of the formula (III), preferably as the sodium or potassium salt, is initially charged, one or more of the compound(s) of the formula (II) to be intercalated or added on, preferably melamine, is/are added and then reaction is effected successively or simultaneously with at least one nickel salt and at least one copper salt and optionally one or more metal salts from the group of the zinc, aluminium, iron and cobalt salts, preferably in the form of the aqueous solutions of these salts, preferably at pH values less than 7. Suitable substances for adjusting the pH are sodium hydroxide solution, potassium hydroxide solution, sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogencarbonate, potassium carbonate and potassium hydrogencarbonate.
Useful nickel and copper salts preferably include the water-soluble salts thereof, especially chlorides, bromides, acetates, formates, nitrates, sulphates, etc. Nickel and copper salts used with preference have a water solubility of more than 20 g/l, especially more than 50 g/l, at 20° C.
Useful further metal salts from the group of the zinc, aluminium, iron and cobalt salts preferably include the water-soluble salts thereof, especially the chlorides, bromides, acetates, nitrates and sulphates thereof, preferably the chlorides thereof.
The metal azo pigments of the invention obtained in this way can then be isolated by filtration of the aqueous suspensions thereof as an aqueous filtercake. This filtercake, for example after being washed with hot water, can be dried by standard drying methods.
Useful drying methods include, for example, paddle drying or spray drying of corresponding aqueous slurries.
Subsequently, the pigment can be reground.
If the metal azo pigments of the invention have excessively hard grains or are too hard to be dispersed for the desired application, they can be converted to soft-grained pigments, for example by the method described in DE-A 19 847 586.
The present invention further provides a process for producing the metal azo pigments of the invention, which is characterized in that

    
    
        (i) at least one adduct of
        
            a1) a metal azo compound of the above-specified formula (I)
            
                in which
                R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 have the above-specified general and preferred definition,
                and
                Me is Cu2+,
                and
            
            
            b1) at least one compound of the above-specified formula (II) in which R6 has the general and preferred definitions given above.

is mixed together with

        
        
        (ii) at least one adduct of
        
            a2) a metal azo compound of the above-specified formula (I)
            
                in which
                R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 have the above-specified general and preferred definition,
                and
                Me is Ni2+,
                and
            
            
            b2) at least one compound of the above-specified formula (U) in which R6 has the general and preferred definitions given above,

and optionally with

        
        
        (iii) at least one adduct of
        
            a3) a metal azo compound of the above-specified formula (I)
            
                in which
                R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 have the above-specified general and preferred definition,
                and
                Me is a metal ion from the group of Zn2+, Al3+2/3, Fe2+, Fe3+2/3, Co2+ and Co3+2/3.
                and
            
            
            b3) at least one compound of the above-specified formula (II) in which R6 has the general and preferred definitions given above,

where 0.05 to 19 mol of adduct a2)/b2) are used and 0 to 0.05 mol of adduct a3)/b3) are used per mole of adduct a1)/b1), based on the sum total of the molar amount of adducts a1)/b1) and a2)/b2).

        
        
    
    


In the alternative embodiment, the molar ratio of Cu2+ to Ni2+ metal ions in the sum total of the compounds of the formula (I) is 19:1 to 1:5, more preferably 4:1 to 1:5 and especially 2:1 to 1:3, this alternative embodiment being produced according to the above-described preparation method using 0.05 to 5 mol of adduct a2)/b2) and using 0 to 0.05 mol of adduct a3)/b3) per mole of adduct a1)/b1), based on the sum total of the molar amount of adduct a1)/b1) and a2)/b2).
Preference is given to the preparation of binary adduct mixtures, wherein 0.25 to 9 mol of adduct a2)/b2) are used per mole of adduct a1)/b1), preferably 0.5 to 3 mol of adduct a2)/b2) per mole of adduct a1)/b1).
In the case of the alternative embodiment too, preference is given to the preparation of binary adduct mixtures, wherein 0.25 to 5 mol of adduct a2)/b2) are used per mole of adduct a1)/b1), preferably 0.5 to 3 mol of adduct a2)/b2) per mole of adduct a1)/b1).
The metal azo pigments of the invention are notable for particularly good dispersibility and a high colour intensity. Chroma and transparency have excellent adjustability.
The metal azo pigments of the invention are of excellent suitability for all pigment applications, especially also in the form of the pigment preparations thereof.
The present invention further provides pigment preparations comprising at least one metal azo pigment of the invention and at least one auxiliary and/or additive.
Useful auxiliaries or additives generally include all additions that are customary for pigment preparations, for example those from the group of the surface-active agents such as dispersants, surfactants, wetting agents, emulsifiers, and those from the group of the surface-covering agents, bases and solvents. In principle, the auxiliary or additive is guided by the nature of the target system. If the target system is, for example, a lacquer or a printing ink, the auxiliary or additive is then selected so as to achieve maximum compatibility with the target system.
Preferably, the pigment preparations of the invention comprise at least one surface-active agent.
Surface-active agents in the context of the present invention are especially understood to mean dispersants, which stabilize the pigment particles in their fine particulate form in aqueous media. “Fine particulate” is preferably understood to mean a fine distribution of 0.001 to 5 μm, especially of 0.005 to 1 μm, more preferably of 0.005 to 0.5 μm. The pigment preparation of the invention is preferably in fine particulate form.
Suitable surface-active agents are, for example, anionic, cationic, amphoteric or nonionic in nature.
Suitable anionic surface-active agents (c) are especially condensation products of aromatic sulphonic acids with formaldehyde, such as condensation products of formaldehyde and alkylnaphthalenesulphonic acids or of formaldehyde, naphthalenesulphonic acids and/or benzenesulphonic acids, condensation products of optionally substituted phenol with formaldehyde and sodium bisulphite. Also suitable are surface-active agents from the group of the sulphosuccinic esters and alkylbenzenesulphonates. Also ionically modified, especially sulphated or carboxylated, alkoxylated fatty acid alcohols or salts thereof. Alkoxylated fatty acid alcohols are especially understood to mean those C6-C22 fatty acid alcohols endowed with 5 to 120, preferably 5 to 60 and especially with 5 to 30 mol ethylene oxide, which are saturated or unsaturated. Additionally useful are lignosulphonates in particular, for example those which are obtained by the sulphite or Kraft process. They are preferably products which are partially hydrolysed, oxidized, propoxylated, sulphonated, sulphomethylated or desulphonated and which are fractionated by known methods, for example according to the molecular weight or the degree of sulphonation. Mixtures of sulphite and Kraft lignosulphonates are also very effective. Especially suitable are lignosulphonates with an average molecular weight between 1000 and 100 000 g/mol, a content of active lignosulphonate of at least 80% by weight and, preferably, a low content of polyvalent cations. The degree of sulphonation can be varied within wide limits.
Examples of useful nonionic surface-active agents include: reaction products of alkylene oxides with compounds capable of being alkylated, such as, for example, fatty alcohols, fatty amines, fatty acids, phenols, alkylphenols, arylalkylphenols, such as styrene-phenol condensates, carboxamides and resin acids. These are, for example, ethylene oxide adducts from the class of the reaction products of ethylene oxide with:
1) saturated and/or unsaturated fatty alcohols having 6 to 22 carbon atoms or
2) alkylphenols having 4 to 12 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical or
3) saturated and/or unsaturated fatty amines having 14 to 20 carbon atoms or
4) saturated and/or unsaturated fatty acids having 14 to 20 carbon atoms or
5) hydrogenated and/or unhydrogenated resin acids.
Useful ethylene oxide adducts especially include the alkylatable compounds mentioned in 1) to 5) having 5 to 120, especially 5 to 100, especially 5 to 60 and more preferably 5 to 30 mol of ethylene oxide.
Suitable surface-active agents are likewise the esters of the alkoxylation product of the formula (X) that are known from DE-A 19 712 486 or from DE-A 19 535 246, which correspond to the formula (XI), and the latter optionally in a mixture with the parent compounds
of the formula (X). The alkoxylation product of a styrene-phenol condensate of the formula (X) is as defined below:




    
    
        in which
        R15 is hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl,
        R16 is hydrogen or CH3,
        R17 is hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-alkoxycarbonyl or phenyl,
        m is a number from 1 to 4,
        n is a number from 6 to 120,
        R18 is the same or different for every unit indicated by n and is hydrogen, CH3 or phenyl, where, in the case that CH3 is present in some of the different —(—CH2—CH(R18)—O—) groups, R18 is CH3 in 0% to 60% of the total value of n and R18 is hydrogen in 100% to 40% of the total value of n, and where, in the case that phenyl is present in some of the different —(—CH2—CH(R18)—O—) groups, R18 is phenyl in 0% to 40% of the total value of n and R18 is hydrogen in 100% to 60% of the total value of n.
    
    


The esters of the alkoxylation products (X) correspond to the formula (XI)




    in which
    R15′, R16′, R17′, R18′, m′ and n′ assume the scope of the definition of R15, R16, R17, R18, m and n, but independently thereof,
    X is the —SO3, —SO2, —PO3 or —CO—(R19)—COO group,
    Kat is a cation from the group of H, Li, Na, K, NH4 or HO—CH2CH2—NH3, where two Kat are present in that case that X═—PO3, and
    R19 is a divalent aliphatic or aromatic radical, preferably C1-C4-alkylene, especially ethylene, C2-C4 monounsaturated radicals, especially acetylene or optionally substituted phenylene, especially ortho-phenylene, where possible substituents preferably include C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-alkoxycarbonyl or phenyl.


A preferred surface-active agent used is the compound of the formula (XI). Preferably a compound of the formula (XI) in which X is a radical of the formula —CO—(R19)—COO− and R19 is as defined above.
Preference is likewise given to using, as surface-active agent, a compound of the formula (XI) together with a compound of the formula (X). Preferably, the surface-active agent in this case contains 5% to 99% by weight of the compound (XI) and 1% to 95% by weight of the compound (X).
The surface-active agent of component (c) is preferably used in the pigment preparation in an amount of 0.1% to 100% by weight, especially 0.5% to 60% by weight, based on the metal azo pigment of the invention used.
It will be appreciated that the pigment preparation of the invention may also contain further additions. For example, additions which lower the viscosity of an aqueous suspension and/or increase the solids content, for example carboxamides and sulphonamides, may be added in an amount of up to 10% by weight, based on the pigment preparation.
Further additions are, for example, inorganic and organic bases, and additions customary for pigment preparations.
Bases include: alkali metal hydroxides, for example NaOH, KOH or organic amines such as alkylamines, especially alkanolamines or alkylalkanolamines.
Particularly preferred examples include methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, ethanolamine, n-propanolamine, n-butanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, methylethanolamine or dimethylethanolamine.
Examples of suitable carboxamides and sulphonamides include: urea and substituted ureas such as phenylurea, dodecylurea and others; heterocycles such as barbituric acid, benzimidazolone, benzimidazolone-5-sulphonic acid, 2,3-dihydroxyquinoxaline, 2,3-dihydroxyquinoxaline-6-sulphonic acid, carbazole, carbazole-3,6-disulphonic acid, 2-hydroxyquinoline, 2,4-dihydroxyquinoline, caprolactam, melamine, 6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine, 6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine, cyanuric acid.
The base is optionally present up to an amount of 20% by weight, preferably to 10% by weight, based on the pigment.
In addition, the pigment preparations of the invention may still contain inorganic and/or organic salts as a result of the preparation.
The pigment preparations of the invention are preferably solid at room temperature. More particularly, the pigment preparations of the invention are in the form of powders or granules.
The pigment preparations of the invention are of excellent suitability for all pigment applications.
The present invention further provides for the use of at least one metal azo pigment of the invention or of a pigment preparation of the invention for pigmentation of all kinds of lacquers for the production of printing inks, distempers or emulsion paints, for the bulk colouring of paper, for the bulk colouring of synthetic, semisynthetic or natural macromolecular substances, for example polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyamide, polyethylene or polypropylene. They can also be used for the spin dyeing of natural, regenerated or synthetic fibres, for example cellulose, polyester, polycarbonate, polyacrylonitrile or polyamide fibres, and for printing of textiles and paper. These pigments can be used to produce finely divided, stable, aqueous pigmentations for emulsion paints and other paints usable for paper colouring, for the pigment printing of textiles, for laminate printing or for the spin dyeing of viscose, by grinding or kneading in the presence of nonionic, anionic or cationic surfactants.
The metal azo pigments of the invention are additionally of excellent suitability for inkjet applications and for colour filters for liquid-crystal displays.
In a likewise preferred embodiment, the pigment preparations of the invention comprise at least one organic compound (d) selected from the group of the terpenes, terpenoids, fatty acids, fatty acid esters and the homo- or copolymers, such as random or block copolymers having a solubility in pH-neutral water at 20° C. of less than 1 g/l, especially less than 0.1 g/l, comprise. The organic compound (d) is preferably solid or liquid at room temperature (20° C.) under standard atmosphere and, if it is liquid, has a boiling point of preferably >100° C., especially >150° C.
Preferred polymers have both a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic, preferably polymeric, molecular moiety. Examples of such polymers are random copolymers based on fatty acids or long-chain C12-C22 hydrocarbons and polyalkylene glycols, especially polyethylene glycol. Also block copolymers based on (poly)hydroxy fatty acids and polyalkylene glycol, especially polyethylene glycol, and also graft copolymers based on poly(meth)acrylate and polyalkylene glycol, especially polyethylene glycol.
Preferred compounds from the group of the terpenes, terpenoids, fatty acids and fatty acid esters include: ocimene, myrcene, geraniol, nerol, linalool, citronellol, geranial, citronellal, neral, limonene, menthol, for example (−)-menthol, menthone or bicyclic monoterpenes, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, for example oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid or mixtures thereof.
Also useful as organic compounds of component (d) are the abovementioned adduct formers, provided that they obey the criteria desired for the compound of component (d).
Particularly preferred pigment preparations comprise:

    
    
        50% ̃99% by weight of at least one metal azo pigment of the invention, and
        1% ̃50% by weight, preferably 2% to 50% by weight of at least one compound of component (d).
    
    


Optionally, the pigment preparation of the invention additionally comprises a surface-active agent (c).
More preferably, the preparations of the invention consist to an extent of more than 90% by weight, preferably more than 95% by weight and especially more than 97% by weight of at least one metal azo pigment of the invention, at least one organic compound of component (d) and optionally at least one surface-active agent of component (c) and optionally at least one base.
The pigment preparations of the invention in this composition are especially suitable for pigmentation of inkjet inks and colour filters for liquid-crystal displays.
The present invention further provides a process for producing the pigment preparations of the invention, which is characterized in that at least one metal azo pigment of the invention and at least one auxiliary or additive, especially at least one organic compound of component (d) and optionally at least one surface-active agent of component (c) and optionally at least one base are mixed with one another.
The present invention likewise provides for the use of the metal azo pigments of the invention or of the pigment preparations of the invention for production of colour filters for liquid-crystal displays. This use will be described hereinafter using the example of the pigment dispersion method according to the photoresist process.
The inventive use of the pigment preparations of the invention for production of colour filters is characterized in that, for example, at least one metal azo pigment of the invention or a pigment preparation of the invention, especially a solid pigment preparation, is homogenized, optionally with a binder resin and an organic solvent, optionally with addition of a dispersant, and then wet-comminuted continuously or batchwise to a particle size by number (electron microscopy determination) of 99.5%<1000 nm, preferably 95%<500 nm and especially 90%<200 nm.
Useful wet comminution methods include, for example, stirrer or dissolver dispersion, grinding by means of stirred ball mills or bead mills, kneaders, roll mills, high-pressure homogenization or ultrasound dispersion.
During the dispersion treatment or thereafter, at least one photocurable monomer and a photoinitiator are added. After the dispersion, it is possible to introduce further binder resin, solvent, or admixtures customary for photoresists, as required for the desired photosensitive coating formulation (photoresist) for production of the colour filters. In the context of this invention, a photoresist is understood to mean a preparation comprising at least one photocurable monomer and a photoinitiator.
The present invention also provides a process for producing colour filters for liquid-crystal displays, which is characterized in that at least one metal azo pigment of the invention or a pigment preparation of the invention is homogenized, optionally with a binder resin and an organic solvent, optionally with addition of a dispersant, and then wet-comminuted continuously or batchwise to a particle size by number (electron microscopy determination) of 99.5%<1000 nm and, during the dispersion treatment or thereafter, at least one photocurable monomer and a photoinitiator are added.
Useful possible dispersants include dispersants which are suitable for this application and are generally commercially available, for example polymeric, ionic or nonionic dispersants, for example based on polycarboxylic acids or polysulphonic acids, and also polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymers. In addition, it is also possible to use derivatives of organic dyes as dispersants or co-dispersants.
The production of colour filters therefore gives rise to “formulations” comprising, based on the formulation:

    
    
        at least one metal azo pigment of the invention,
        optionally a binder resin.
        at least one organic solvent and
        optionally a dispersant.
    
    


In a preferred embodiment, the formulation contains (figures based on formulation):

    
    
        1%-50% by weight of a metal azo pigment of the invention
        0%-20% by weight of binder resin
        0%-20% by weight of dispersant
        10%-94% by weight of organic solvent.
    
    


The coating of the photoresist onto a plate to produce the coloured image element patterns can be accomplished either by direct or indirect application. Examples of application methods include: roller coating, spin coating, spray coating, dip coating and air-knife coating.
Useful plates include, according to the application, for example: transparent glasses such as white or blue glass plates, silicate-coated blue glass plate, synthetic resin plate or films based, for example, on polyester resin, polycarbonate resin, acrylic resin or vinyl chloride resin, and also metal plates based on aluminium, copper, nickel or steel, and ceramic plates or semiconductor plates having applied photoelectric transfer elements.
The application is generally effected such that the layer thickness of the photosensitive layer obtained is 0.1 to 10 μm.
The application may be followed by thermal drying of the layer.
The exposure is preferably effected by exposing the photosensitive layer to an active light beam, preferably in the form of an image pattern by means of a photomask. This results in curing of the layer at the exposed sites. Suitable light sources are, for example: high-pressure and ultrahigh-pressure mercury vapour lamp, xenon lamp, metal halide lamp, fluorescent lamp, and laser beam in the visible region.
The development which follows the exposure removes the unexposed portion of the coating and gives the desired image pattern form of the colour elements. Standard development methods include spraying with or dipping into aqueous alkaline developer solution or into an organic solvent comprising inorganic alkali, for example sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, sodium metasilicate or organic bases such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, triethylamine or salts thereof.
The development is generally followed by a thermal post-drying/curing of the image patterns.
The inventive use of the metal azo pigments is preferably characterized in that they are used alone or in a mixture with other pigments that are customary for the production of colour filters in the colour filters or pigment preparations or formulations for colour filters.
These “other pigments” may either be other metal salts of an azo compound of the formula (I) or pigment preparations based thereon or other inorganic or organic pigments.
With regard to the selection of any other pigments to be used as well, there is no restriction in accordance with the invention. Both inorganic and organic pigments are useful.
Preferred organic pigments are, for example, those of the monoazo, disazo, laked azo, β-naphthol, naphthol AS, benzimidazolone, disazo condensations, azo metal complex, isoindoline and isoindolinone series, and also polycyclic pigments, for example from the phthalocyanine, quinacridone, perylene, perinone, thioindigo, anthraquinone, dioxazine, quinophthalone and diketopyrrolopyrrole series. Also laked dyes such as Ca, Mg and Al lakes of sulpho- or carboxyl-containing dyes.
Examples of other organic pigments which can optionally be used in addition are:

    
    
        Colour Index Pigment Yellow 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 24, 74, 83, 86, 93, 94, 109, 110, 117, 125, 137, 138, 139, 147, 148, 150, 153, 154, 166, 173, 185, or
        Colour Index Pigment Orange 13, 31, 36, 38, 40, 42, 43, 51, 55, 59, 61, 64, 65, 71, 72, 73 or
        Colour Index Pigment Red 9, 97, 122, 123, 144, 149, 166, 168, 177, 180, 192, 215, 216, 224, 254, 272, or
        Colour Index Pigment Green 7, 10, 36, 37, 45.58 or
        Colour Index Pigment Blue 15, 15:1, 15:2, 15:3, 15:4, 15:6, 16 and
        Colour Index Pigment Violet 19, 23.
    
    


In addition, it is also possible to use soluble organic dyes in conjunction with the novel pigments of the invention.
If “other pigments” are used in addition, the proportion of metal azo pigment of the invention is preferably 1%-99% by weight, especially 20%-80% by weight, based on the total amount of all pigments used. Particular preference is given to the pigment preparations of the invention and to formulations comprising at least one metal azo pigment of the invention and C.I. Pigment Green 36 and/or C.I. Pigment Green 58 in a ratio of 20% to 80% by weight of metal azo pigment to 80% to 20% by weight of C.I. Pigment Green 36 and/or C.I. Pigment Green 58, preferably of 40% to 60% by weight to 60% to 40% by weight.
There is no particular restriction in accordance with the invention as binder resins which can be used together with the “pigment” or pigment preparations based thereon in colour filters or in the formulations for production of colour filters, for example by the pigment dispersion method, and useful binder resins are especially the film-forming resins known per se for use in colour filters.
For example, useful binder resins include those from the group of the cellulose resins such as carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose, acrylic resins, alkyd resins, melamine resins, epoxy resins, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyamides, polyamide imines, polyimides,
polyimide precursors such as those of the formula (14), disclosed in JP-A 11 217 514, and the esterification products thereof.
Examples of these include reaction products of tetracarboxylic dianhydride with diamines.
Useful binder resins also include those which contain photopolymerizable unsaturated bonds. The binder resins may, for example, be those formed from the group of acrylic resins. Particular mention should be made here of homo- and copolymers of polymerizable monomers, for example methyl (meth)acrylate, ethyl (meth)acrylate, propyl (meth)acrylate, butyl (meth)acrylate, styrene and styrene derivatives, and also copolymers between carboxyl-bearing polymerizable monomers such as (meth)acrylic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, monoalkyl maleates, especially with alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and polymerizable monomers such as (meth)acrylic acid, styrene and styrene derivatives, for example α-methylstyrene, m- or p-methoxystyrene, p-hydroxystyrene. Examples include reaction products of carboxyl-containing polymeric compounds with compounds each containing an oxirane ring and an ethylenically unsaturated bond, for example glycidyl (meth)acrylate, acryloyl glycidyl ether and itaconic acid monoalkyl glycidyl ether, etc., and also reaction products of carboxyl-containing polymeric compounds with compounds each containing a hydroxyl group and an ethylenically unsaturated bond (unsaturated alcohols), such as allyl alcohol, 2-buten-4-ol, oleyl alcohol, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, N-methylolacrylamide, etc.
In addition, such binder resins may also contain unsaturated compounds having free isocyanate groups.
In general, the equivalents of unsaturation (molar mass of binder resin per unsaturated compound) of the binder resins mentioned are 200 to 3000, especially 230 to 1000, in order to achieve both sufficient photopolymerizability and hardness of the film. The acid value is generally 20 to 300, especially 40 to 200, in order to achieve sufficient alkali development capacity after the exposure of the film.
The mean molar mass of the binder resins for use is between 1500 and 200 000 and is especially 10 000 to 50 000 g/mol.
The organic solvents used in the inventive use of the pigment preparations for colour filters are, for example, ketones, alkylene glycol ethers, alcohols and aromatic compounds. Examples from the group of the ketones are: acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone, etc.; from the group of the alkylene glycol ethers: Methyl Cellosolve (ethylene glycol monomethyl ether), Butyl Cellosolve (ethylene glycol monobutyl ether) Methyl Cellosolve Acetate, Ethyl Cellosolve Acetate, Butyl Cellosolve Acetate, ethylene glycol monopropyl ether, ethylene glycol monohexyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, diethylene glycol diethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monopropyl ether, propylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol methyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol ethyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol propyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol isopropyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol butyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol t-butyl ether acetate, triethylene glycol methyl ether acetate, triethylene glycol ethyl ether acetate, triethylene glycol propyl ether acetate, triethylene glycol isopropyl ether acetate, triethylene glycol butyl ether acetate, triethylene glycol t-butyl ether acetate, etc.; from the group of the alcohols: methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, etc.; from the group of the aromatic solvents: benzene, toluene, xylene, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, ethyl N-hydroxymethyl-2-acetate, etc.
Further other solvents are propane-1,2-diol diacetate, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutyl acetate, ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, etc. The solvents may be used individually or in mixtures with one another.
The invention further relates to a photoresist comprising at least one metal azo pigment of the invention or at least one pigment preparation of the invention and at least one photocurable monomer and at least one photoinitiator.
The photocurable monomers contain at least one reactive double bond and optionally other reactive groups in the molecule.
Photocurable monomers are understood in this connection especially to mean reactive solvents or what am called reactive diluents, for example from the group of the mono-, di-, tri- and multifunctional acrylates and methacrylates, vinyl ethers and glycidyl ethers. Useful reactive groups additionally present include allyl, hydroxyl, phosphate, urethane, secondary amine and N-alkoxymethyl groups.
Monomers of this kind are known to those skilled in the art and are detailed, for example, in [Römpp Lexikon, Lacke and Druckfarben, Dr. Ulrich Zorll, Thieme Verlag Stuttgart-New York, 1998, p. 491/492].
The selection of monomers is guided especially by the nature and intensity of the radiation type used for the exposure, the desired reaction with the photoinitiator and the film properties. It is also possible to use combinations of monomers.
Photoreaction initiators or photoinitiators are understood to mean compounds which form reactive intermediates as a result of the absorption of visible or ultraviolet radiation, which can trigger a polymerization reaction, for example of the abovementioned monomers and/or binder resins.
Photoreaction initiators are likewise commonly known and can likewise be found in [Römpp Lexikon, Lacke and Druckfarben, Dr. Ulrich Zorll, Thieme Verlag Stuttgart-New York, 1998, p. 445/446].
According to the invention, there is no restriction with regard to the photocurable monomers or photoinitiators to be used.
The invention preferably relates to photoresists comprising

    A) at least one metal azo pigment of the invention, especially in a mixture with other pigments, preferably C.I. Pigment Green 36 and/or Pigment Green 58 or a pigment preparation of the invention based thereon,
    B1) at least one photocurable monomer.
    B2) at least one photoinitiator,
    C1) optionally an organic solvent,
    D) optionally a dispersant,
    E) optionally a binder resin,

and optionally further additions.



According to the invention, there is also no restriction with regard to the methodology for production of the coloured image element patterns based on the pigments or solid pigment preparations for use in accordance with the invention. As well as the above-described photolithographic method, other methods such as offset printing, chemical etching or inkjet printing are likewise suitable. The selection of the suitable binder resins and solvents and of pigment carrier media and further additions should be matched to the particular method. In the inkjet method, which is understood to mean both thermal and mechanical and piezo-mechanical inkjet printing, useful carrier media for the pigments and any binder resins are not only purely organic but also aqueous-organic carrier media; aqueous-organic carrier media are actually preferred.
The examples which follow are intended to illustrate the present invention but without restricting it thereto.
EXAMPLES
Method 1 (Preparation of the Azobarbituric Acid Precursor)
46.2 g of diazobarbituric acid and 38.4 g of barbituric acid are introduced into 1100 g of distilled water at 85° C. Subsequently, aqueous potassium hydroxide solution was used to establish a pH of about 5 and the mixture was stirred for 90 minutes.
Example 1
To an azobarbituric acid prepared according to Method 1 were added, at 82° C., 1500 g of distilled water. Thereafter, 75.7 g of melamine were introduced. Subsequently, 0.3 mol of an about 30% copper(II) chloride solution was added dropwise. After 3 hours at 82° C., KOH was used to establish a pH of about 5.5. Thereafter, dilution was effected at 90° C. with about 300 g of distilled water. Subsequently, 34 g of 30% hydrochloric acid were added dropwise and the mixture was heat-treated at 90° C. for 12 h. Thereafter, aqueous potassium hydroxide solution was used to establish a pH of 5. Subsequently, the pigment was isolated on a suction filter, washed and dried in a vacuum drying cabinet at 80° C., and ground in a standard laboratory mill for about 2 minutes. (=Pigment A)
Example 2
To an azobarbituric acid prepared according to Method 1 were added, at 82° C., 1500 g of distilled water. Subsequently, 10 g of 30% hydrochloric acid were added dropwise. Thereafter, 79.4 g of melamine were introduced. Subsequently, 0.3 mol of an about 25% nickel chloride solution was added dropwise. After 3 hours at 82° C. KOH was used to establish a pH of 5.5. Thereafter, dilution was effected at 90° C. with about 100 g of distilled water. Subsequently, 21 g of 30% hydrochloric acid were added dropwise and the mixture was heat-treated at 90° C. for 12 hours. Thereafter, aqueous potassium hydroxide solution was used to establish a pH of 5. Subsequently, the pigment was isolated on a suction filter, washed and dried in a vacuum drying cabinet at 80° C., and ground in a standard laboratory mill for about 2 minutes. (=Pigment B)
The inventive pigments of Examples 3 to 11 listed in Table 1 below were produced analogously to Example 2, except that the nickel chloride solution was replaced in each case by mixed solutions composed of nickel chloride and copper(II) chloride as specified in Table 1.








TABLE 1







Example 3:
0.3 mol Ni replaced by 0.2985 mol Ni + 0.0015 mol Cu (= Pigment C)


Example 4:
0.3 mol Ni replaced by 0.294 mol Ni + 0.006 mol Cu (= Pigment D)


Example 5:
0.3 mol Ni replaced by 0.288 mol Ni + 0.012 mol Cu (= Pigment E)


Example 6:
0.3 mol Ni replaced by 0.285 mol Ni + 0.015 mol Cu (= Pigment F) (1:0.052)


Example 7:
0.3 mol Ni replaced by 0.255 mol Ni + 0.045 mol Cu (= Pigment G) (1:0.176)


Example 8:
0.3 mol Ni replaced by 0.225 mol Ni + 0.075 mol Cu (= Pigment H) (1:0.33)


Example 9:
0.3 mol Ni replaced by 0.150 mol Ni + 0.150 mol Cu (= Pigment I) (1:1)


Example 10:
0.3 mol Ni replaced by 0.075 mol Ni + 0.225 mol Cu (= Pigment J) (1:3)


Example 11:
0.3 mol Ni replaced by 0.015 mol Ni + 0.285 mol Cu (= Pigment K) (1:19)









The pigments produced according to Synthesis Examples 1 to 11 were used to make up the samples described in Table 2.











TABLE 2







Sample 1:
10 
g Pigment A




Sample 2:
10 
g Pigment B




Sample 3:
10 
g Pigment C




Sample 4:
10 
g Pigment D




Sample 5:
10 
g Pigment E




Sample 6:
10 
g Pigment F




Sample 7:
10 
g Pigment G




Sample 8:
10 
g Pigment H




Sample 9:
10 
g Pigment I




Sample 10:
10 
g Pigment J




Sample 11:
10 
g Pigment K




Sample 12:
0.05 
g Pigment A
9.95 
g Pigment B


Sample 13:
0.20 
g Pigment A
9.80 
g Pigment B


Sample 14:
0.40 
g Pigment A
9.60 
g Pigment B


Sample 15:
0.50 
g Pigment A
9.50 
g Pigment B


Sample 16:
1.50 
g Pigment A
8.50 
g Pigment B


Sample 17:
2.50 
g Pigment A
7.50 
g Pigment B


Sample 18:
5.00 
g Pigment A
5.00 
g Pigment B


Sample 19:
7.50
g Pigment A
2.50 
g Pigment B


Sample 20:
9.50 
g Pigment A
0.50 
g Pigment B









Determination of Dispersion Hardness

Dispersion hardness is measured in accordance with DIN 53 775, Part 7, with a cold-rolling temperature of 25° C. and a hot-rolling temperature of 150° C. All the dispersion hardnesses reported in this application were determined by this modified DIN method.











TABLE 3









Dispersion




Status
hardness




















Sample 1:
non-inventive
123



Sample 2:
non-inventive
100



Sample 3:
non-inventive
103



Sample 4:
non-inventive
99



Sample 5:
non-inventive
101



Sample 6:
inventive
34



Sample 7:
inventive
29



Sample 8:
inventive
27



Sample 9:
inventive
28



Sample 10:
inventive
30



Sample 11:
inventive
41



Sample 12:
non-inventive
111



Sample 13:
non-inventive
108



Sample 14:
non-inventive
99



Sample 15:
inventive
70



Sample 16:
inventive
65



Sample 17:
inventive
60



Sample 18:
inventive
63



Sample 19:
inventive
70



Sample 20:
inventive
72










It is apparent from Table 3 that the non-inventive samples all have a dispersion hardness above 100 and hence are much higher than the inventive samples. It follows from this that the non-inventive samples are more difficult to disperse and more difficult to process than the inventive samples.
X-Ray Diffractometry Analysis
The x-ray diffractometry measurements were conducted in a PANalytical EMPYREAN theta/theta reflection diffractometer with a PIXcel detector, which is suitable for identification of crystalline phases.
Instrument Settings:













Diffractometer system
EMPYREAN


Measurement program
Scan 5-40 Standard_Reflexion VB.



irradiated length 17 mm, mask 15 mm


Start position [°2th.]
5


End position [°2th.]
40


Step width [°2th.]
0.0130


Step time [s]
48.2


Scan mode
continuous


OED operating mode
scanning


OED length [°2th.]
3.35


Type of divergence slit
automatic


Irradiated length [mm]
17.00


Sample length [mm]
10.00


Anode material
Cu


K-alpha 1 [Å]
1.54060


K-alpha 2 [Å]
1.54443


K-beta [Å]
1.39225


K-A2/K-A1 ratio
0.50000


Filter
nickel


Generator setting
40 mA, 40 kV


Goniometer radius [mm]
240.00


Focus-div. slot gap [mm]
100.00


Primary beam monochromator
none


Sample rotation
yes









Procedure

The pigments produced according to Synthesis Examples 1 to 11 were used to provide Samples 1 to 20.
The following samples were analysed by x-ray diffractometry:

    
    
        Sample 1:10 g Pigment A (100 mol % copper) non-inventive
        Sample 2: 10 g Pigment B (100 mol % nickel) non-inventive
        Sample 4: 10 g Pigment D (2 mol % copper/98 mol % nickel) non-inventive
        Sample 8: 10 g Pigment H (25 mol % copper/75 mol % nickel) inventive
        Sample 9: 10 g Pigment I (50 mol % copper/50 mol % nickel) inventive
        Sample 10: 10 g Pigment J (75 mol % copper/25 mol % nickel) inventive
        Sample 11: 10 g Pigment K (95 mol % copper/5 mol % nickel) inventive
        Sample 13: 0.2 g Pigment A and 9.8 g Pigment B (physical mixture of 2 mol % copper and 98 mol % nickel) inventive
        Sample 15: 0.5 g Pigment A and 9.5 g Pigment B (physical mixture of 5 mol % copper and 95 mol % nickel) non-inventive
        Sample 16: 1.5 g Pigment A and 8.5 g Pigment B (physical mixture of IS mol % copper and 85 mol % nickel) inventive
        Sample 17: 2.5 g Pigment A and 7.5 g Pigment B (physical mixture of 25 mol % copper and 75 mol % nickel) inventive
        Sample 18: 5.0 g Pigment A and 5.0 g Pigment B (physical mixture of 50 mol % copper and 50 mol % nickel) inventive
        Sample 19: 7.5 g Pigment A and 2.5 g Pigment B (physical mixture of 75 mol % copper and 25 mol % nickel) inventive
        Sample 20: 9.5 g Pigment A and 0.5 g Pigment B (physical mixture of 95 mol % copper and 5 mol % nickel) inventive.
    
    


For each of the theta/theta measurements, an amount of the sample to be tested was introduced into the recess of the sample holder. The surface of the sample was smoothed by means of a glass plate.
Then the sample holder was introduced into the sample changer of the diffractometer and the measurement was conducted. The theta values of the samples analysed were determined by the method described above. In this way, analyses of samples 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 were undertaken. The reflection values determined after the baseline correction were reported in Tables 4 to 17.







TABLE 4







Sample 1: 10 g Pigment A (100 mol % copper) non-inventive











No.
Pos. [°2th.]
d [Å]
Int. [cts] 
Reg. int. [%]














1
7.1642 
12.33926
6048.88
48.99


2
8.2933 
10.66163
1326.40
10.74


3
10.1470
8.71045
234.38
1.90


4
11.2172
7.88824
565.30
4.58


5
11.8864
7.44562
2005.31
16.24


6
13.8025
6.41600
1820.02
14.74


7
16.5978
5.34123
1166.46
9.45


8
17.2368
5.14464
3472.07
28.12


9
17.6433
5.02700
3867.15
31.32


10
18.4468
4.80982
2762.42
22.37


11
19.7768
4.48926
732.05
5.93


12
20.5891
4.31393
849.15
6.88


12
22.0542
4.03055
286.56
2.32


14
22.5519
3.94271
156.18
1.26


15
24.1147
3.69062
3805.57
30.82


16
25.9834
3.42929
5427.34
43.95


17
27.3035
3.26371
1034.51
8.38


18
27.9030
3.19758
7715.85
62.49


19
28.2888
3.15484 
12348.07
100.00


20
28.5072
3.13116
7978.88
64.62


21
29.7316
3.00495
266.31
2.16


22
30.4339
2.93718
935.61
7.58


23
31.4385
2.84559
1516.84
12.28


24
34.5969
2.59270
2591.46
20.99


25
36.4177
2.46715
798.25
6.46


26
38.4042
2.34398
1311.27
10.62


27
39.4741
2.28099
855.19
6.93
















TABLE 5







Sample 2: 10 g Pigment B (100 mol % nickel) non-inventive











No.
Pos. [°2th.]
d [Å]
Int. [cts] 
Rel. int. [%]














1
8.4937
10.41046
10737.84
92.96


2
9.2193
9.59272
5937.69
51.40


3
9.9533
8.87958
713.64
6.18


4
15.3758
5.75807
2133.92
18.47


5
15.6201
5.67326
3580.93
31.00


6
16.4733
5.38130
3356.57
29.06


7
17.1275
5.17721
5106.25
44.21


8
17.8337
4.96963
1264.69
10.95


9
18.6258
4.76398
9912.31
85.81


10
19.1260
4.63666
2584.15
22.37


11
20.2938
4.37604
9150.29
79.21


12
23.2611
3.82409
6588.29
57.04


13
23.8331
3.73359
7138.31
61.80


14
24.9686
3.56631
3015.45
26.10


15
26.3622
3.38086
11551.25
100.00


16
27.2200
3.27624
10120.18
87.61


17
27.9441
3.19033
1697.71
14.70


18
30.1838
2.96095
3156.17
27.32


19
30.4187
2.93862
3540.55
30.65


20
31.4155
2.84526
1883.03
16.30


21
31.9223
2.80123
2459.97
21.30


22
32.2692
2.77420
2448.70
21.20


23
34.5979
2.59263
1200.82
10.40


24
35.8594
2.50426
1032.86
8.94


25
36.5485
2.45861
3095.45
26.80


26
37.6990
2.38618
5516.95
47.76


27
38.2824
2.34921
1075.19
9.31


28
39.8281
2.26153
769.37
6.66
















TABLE 6







Sample 4: 10 g Pigment D (2 mol % copper/


98 mol % nickel) non-inventive












Pos.
Int.

Rel. 


No.
[°2th.]
[cts] 
d [Å]
int. [%]














1
8.5946
7516.85
10.27996 
85.20


2
9.2861
820.91
9.51597
54.65


3
10.0112
517.23
8.82836
5.86


4
11.9468
346.30
7.40200
3.93


5
15.3892
1745.90
5.15310
19.79


6
15.7883
3089.99
5.60855
35.03


7
16.5176
1907.86 
5.36253
21.63


8
17.1183
3970.05 
5.17570
45.00


9
17.8270
1215.97 
4.97149
13.78


10
18.6696
8089.71 
4.74898
91.70


11
19.1936
2295.25 
4.62048
26.02


12
20.0228
1935.16 
4.43098
21.94


13
20.3282
7027.42 
4.36509
79.66


14
23.2469
6199.80
3.82323
70.28


15
23.9153
4953.90
3.71786
56.15


16
24.9167
2560.91 
3.57066
29.03


17
25.3152
683.99
3.51535
7.75


18
26.4065
8794.83 
3.37250
99.69


19
26.9426
1781.56 
3.30660
20.19


20
27.3492
8822.19 
3.25835
100.00


21
27.9061
873.89
3.19458
9.91


22
28.1715
998.34
3.16509
11.32


23
28.8625
517.72
3.09086
5.87


24
30.2050
2076.99 
2.95647
23.54


25
30.4702
2439.31
2.93135
27.65


26
31.3816
1007.28 
2.84826
11.42


27
31.7961
1747.78 
2.81206
19.81


28
32.3282
1432.38 
2.76698
16.24


29
34.5846
1615.07 
2.59145
18.31


30
35.6815
653.18
2.51426
7.40


31
35.9725
1147.89
2.49458
13.01


32
36.6010
2292.11 
2.45318
25.98


33
37.6161
2054.58
2.38928
23.29


34
37.8074
2557.36 
2.37762
28.99


35
38.2988
1053.73 
2.34824
11.94


36
38.9652
950.99
2.30960
10.78


37
39.7955
1030.17 
2.6330
11.68
















TABLE 7







Sample 8: 10 g Pigment H (25 mol % copper/


75 mol % nickel) inventive












Pos. 

Int. 
Rel. 


No.
[°2th.]
d [Å]
[cts]
int. [%]














1
7.2710
12.15820
2392.52
18.30


2
8.5541
10.33713
10893.97
83.31


3
9.2949
9.51488
6229.90
47.64


4
9.9710
8.87118
999.94
7.65


5
11.9130
7.42905
863.56
6.60


6
13.8392
6.39906
717.49
5.49


7
15.3800
5.76128
2519.60
19.27


8
15.7084
5.64157
3977.90
30.42


9
16.5464
5.35771
3326.08
25.44


10
17.0756
5.19284
6261.22
47.88


11
17.7472
4.99780
2756.92
21.08


12
18.6420
4.75988
12033.84
92.03


13
19.1687
4.63028
3252.55
24.87


14
20.0419
4.43046
4149.24
31.73


15
20.3372
4.36679 
9092.17
69.53


16
23.1918
3.83536 
7977.55
61.01


17
23.8781
3.72666 
8379.12 
64.08


18
24.9900
3.56330
3740.54
28.61


19
25.7782
3.45611 
4434.32
33.91


20
26.4129
3.37448 
13076.32 
100.00


21
27.3765
3.25786 
10873.33
83.15


22
28.0530
3.18081 
6428.02
49.16


23
28.6941
3.11119
1997.28
15.27


24
30.3055
2.94933 
4985.09
38.12


25
30.3085
2.93017 
4168.37
31.88


26
31.3863
2.85020 
3123.05
23.88


27
31.8013
2.81395 
2794.72
21.37


28
32.3015
2.77150
2134.87
16.33


29
34.6252
2.59065 
3133.79
23.97


30
35.9560
2.49776 
2188.93
16.74


31
36.6026
2.45510
3241.48
24.79


32
37.7888
2.38072
4820.50
36.86


33
38.3204
2.34891
1780.43
13.62
















TABLE 8







Sample 9: 10 g Pigment I (50 mol % copper/ 


50 mol % nickel) inventive













No.
Pos. [°2th.]
d [Å]
Int. [cts] 
Rel. int. [%]

















1
7.1791
12.31365
3106.83
33.58



2
8.5717
10.31601
7135.09
77.12



3
9.2890
9.52092
4039.06
43.66



4
9.9821
8.86137
632.82
6.84



5
11.9372
7.41407
1134.83
12.27



6
13.7761
6.42824
1063.24
11.49



7
15.4098
5.75023
1691.76
18.29



8
15.8270
5.59955
2287.59
24.73



9
16.5019
5.37205
2516.45
27.20



10
17.0969
5.18641
5260.51
56.86



11
17.7647
4.99293
2701.37
29.20



12
18.6639
4.75435
8525.37
92.15



13
19.1665
4.63079
2210.54
23.89



14
20.0218
4.43487
2527.56
27.32



15
20.3341
4.36746
6548.82
70.78



16
23.2387
3.82773
5191.84
56.12



17
23.9951
3.70874
6139.95
66.37



18
24.9921
3.56301
2680.30
28.97



19
25.8447
3.44737
5493.79
59.38



20
26.4532
3.36943
8485.20
91.71



21
27.2617
3.27132
8696.42
94.00



22
28.2206
3.16231
9251.73
100.00



23
30.5265
2.92848 
3131.63
33.85



24
31.4059
2.84847
2660.28 
28.75



25
31.8159
2.81268
2069.32
22.37



26
32.3799
2.76497 
1202.25
12.99



27
34.6612
2.58804 
2694.22
29.12



28
35.9523
2.49800 
1599.56 
17.29



29
36.6071
2.45481 
2629.24
28.42



30
37.8744
2.37554 
3336.93
36.07



31
38.3318
2.34823
1708.50 
18.47

















TABLE 9







Sample 10: 10 g Pigment J (75 mol % copper/


25 mol % nickel) inventive.













No.
Pos. [°2th.]
d [Å]
Int. [cts] 
Rel. int. [%]

















1
7.2241
12.23699
5314.18
41.23



2
8.2582
10.70687
1913.03
14.84



3
8.5484
10.34402
2842.56
22.05



4
9.2690
9.54136
1412.13
10.95



5
10.8560
8.14988
191.96
1.49



6
11.9050
7.43401
1690.14
13.11



7
13.7946
6.41964
1780.54
13.81



8
15.8000
5.60907
563.56
4.37



9
16.5820
5.34629
1480.43
11.48



10
17.2188
5.14997
3962.66
30.74



11
17.6987
5.01140
3468.92
26.91



12
18.5867
4.77392
4433.07
34.39



13
20.3259
4.36920
3256.73
25.26



14
23.1971
3.83449
1960.57
15.21



15
24.0162
3.70554
5435.10
42.16



16
24.9744
3.56549
1361.80
10.56



17
25.9309
3.43611
6485.94
50.32



18
26.3646
3.38056
4321.32
33.52



19
27.2460
3.27317
4527.63
35.12



20
28.2287
3.16142
12890.62
100.00



21
30.3496
2.94515
2277.50
17.67



22
31.3756
2.85115
1915.17
14.86



23
34.6454
2.58919
2960.72
22.97



24
35.9671
2.49701
919.94
7.14



25
36.5951
2.45559
1646.54
12.77



26
37.8157
2.37909
1446.17
11.22



27
38.3848
2.34511
1246.37
9.67



28
39.5202
2.28032
655.22
5.08

















TABLE 10







Sample 11: 10 g Pigment K (95 mol % copper/


5 mol % nickel) inventive













No.
Pos. [°2th.]
d [Å]
Int. [cts] 
Rel. int. [%]

















1
7.2334
12.22125
5682.20
48.52



2
8.5783
10.30799
841.81
7.19



3
9.2764
9.53382
272.58
2.33



4
10.2416
8.63738
314.23
2.68



5
11.9466
7.40824
2146.99
18.33



6
13.7722
6.43007
1819.19
15.53



7
16.6012
5.34015
1244.01
10.62



8
17.2030
5.15465
3195.49
27.29



9
17.7435
4.99885
3402.98
29.06



10
18.6277
4.76351
2657.97
22.70



11
19.8001
4.48402
567.03
4.84



12
20.5360
4.32498
1167.64
9.97



13
22.0636
4.02886
280.63
2.40



14
23.9871
3.70996
4214.67
35.99



15
25.9087
3.43900
5272.60
45.02



16
26.0448
3.42133
5495.94
46.93



17
27.2816
3.26898
1795.98
15.34



18
27.9360
3.19387
7633.82
65.19



19
28.2995
3.15367
11710.98
100.00



20
28.5419
3.12744
7204.97
61.52



21
30.4739
2.93342
1280.91
10.94



22
31.4328
2.84609
1500.43
12.81



23
34.6259
2.59060
2893.20
24.71



24
36.5506
2.45848
896.65
7.66



25
38.2854
2.35098
1272.83
10.87

















TABLE 11







Sample 13: 0.2 g Pigment A and 9.8 g Pigment B (physical mixture 


of 2 mol % copper and 98 mol % nickel) non-inventive











No.
Pos. [°2th.]
d value [Å]
Int. [cts] 
Rel. int. [%]














1
8.57
10.315
69558
100.0


2
9.24
9.565
33990
48.9


3
9.93
8.898
5063
7.3


4
11.90
7.432
2017
2.9


5
15.70
5.638
17047
24.5


6
16.50
5.368
12187
17.5


7
17.09
5.185
19824
28.5


8
17.77
4.987
7482
10.8


9
18.62
4.761
31578
45.4


10
19.09
4.644
12626
18.2


11
20.01
4.435
9000
12.9


12
20.30
4.371
24544
35.3


13
23.28
3.818
17736
25.5


14
23.86 
3.726
16407
23.6


15
24.91
3.572
8762
12.6


16
26.37
3.377
25488
36.6


17
27.28
3.267
22281 
32.0


18
27.80
3.205
4671
6.7


19
28.33
3.148
3312
4.8


20
28.87
3.090
1055
1.5


21
30.32
2.945
8106
11.7


22
31.41
2.846
3883
5.6


23
31.76
2.815 
4848
7.0


24
32.32
2.768
2463
3.5


25
34.53
1.595
3226
4.6


26
35.90
2.500
3308
4.8


27
36.56
2.456
5778
8.3


28
37.73
2.382
9371
13.5


29 
38.23
2.352
1824
7.6


30
38.97
2.309
1785
2.6


31
39.96
2.254
5409
7.8
















TABLE 12







Sample 15: 0.5 g Pigment A and 9.5 g Pigment B (physical 


mixture of 5 mol % copper and 95 mol % nickel) inventive











No.
Pos. [°2th.]
d value [Å]
Int. [cts] 
Rel. int. [%]














1
7.33
12.055
870
1.36


2
8.64
10.226
64027
100.00


3
9.33
9.471
32924
51.42


4
10.02
8.818
5103
7.97


5
11.94
7.407
2220
3.47


6
15.69
5.644
14754
23.04


7
15.94
5.554
7381
11.53


8
16.58
5.341
9062
14.15


9
17.18
5.157
19948
31.15


10
17.83
4.971
6930
10.82


11
18.72
4.738
33355
52.09


12
19.19
4.621
10406
16.25


13
20.09
4.417
4603
7.19


14
20.40
4.350
26331
41.12


15
23.34
3.809
16394
25.60


16
23.95
3.712
17343
27.09


17
24.98
3.562
8354
13.05


18
26.46
3.366
24732
38.63


19
27.38
3.255
23049
36.00


20
27.91
3.194
7027
10.97


21
28.51
3.129
2633
4.11


22
28.90
3.086
1372
2.14


23
30.36
2.941
7492
11.70


24
30.51
2.928
5369
8.39


25
31.50
2.838
2834
4.43


26
31.85
2.808
5362
8.37


27
32.33 
2.767
4020
6.28


28
34.64
2.588
3243
5.06


29 
35.98
2.494
2693
4.21


30 
36.66
2.449
5111
7.98


31
37.81
2.377 
8592
13.42


32 
38.30
2.348
1761
2.75


33
38.99
2.308
1456
2.27


34 
39.99 
2.253 
4812
7.52
















TABLE 13







Sample 16: 1.5 g Pigment A and 8.5 g Pigment B (physical 


mixture of 15 mol % copper and 85 mol % nickel) inventive











No.
Pos. [°2th.]
d value [Å]
Int. [cts] 
Rel. int. [%]














1
7.18
12.304
5022
8.37


2
8.57
10.313
59973
100.00


3
9.25
9.552
28868
48.14


4
9.96
8.871
4257
7.10


5
11.19
7.897
956
1.59


6
11.87
7.447
3162
5.27


7
13.69
6.462
636
1.06


8
15.40
5.752
7540
12.57


9
15.76
5.618
10185
16.98


10
16.50
5.367
10705
17.85


11
17.11
5.179
18843
31.42


12
17.74
4.995
6808
11.35


13
18.63
4.758
29108
48.53


14
19.11
4.640
10159
16.94


15
20.35
4.361
23739
39.58


16
23.29
3.817
14112
23.53


17
23.89
3.722
15984
26.65


18
24.90
3.572
7354
12.26


19
26.40
3.374
21940
36.58


20
27.29
3.265
20253
33.77


21
27.84
3.202
6580
10.97


22
28.31
3.150
6845
11.41


23
28.45
3.135
2755
4.59


24
30.22
2.955
5503
9.18


25
30.41
2.937
6309
10.52


26
31.38
2.848
3447
5.75


27
31.73
2.818
4430
7.39


28
32.29
2.770
3468
5.78


29
34.55
2.594
3151
5.25


30
35.90
2.500
2743
4.57


31
36.56
2.456
4937
8.23


32
37.75
2.381
8111
13.52


33
38.26
2.351
2152
3.59


34
38.92
2.312
2209
3.68


35
39.90
2.258
4952
8.26
















TABLE 14







Sample 17: 2.5 g Pigment A and 7.5 g Pigment B (physical 


mixture of 25 mol % copper and 75 mol % nickel) inventive











No.
Pos. [°2th.]
d [Å]
Int. [cts] 
Rel. int. [%]














1
7.2221
12.24045 
1321.18
11.62


2
8.5786
10.30770
9697.65
85.31


3
9.2855
9.52447
5985.91
52.66


4
9.9895
8.85476
887.12
7.80


5
11.9191
7.42526
987.98
8.69


6
13.8091
6.41296
450.70
3.97


7
15.3892
5.75786
2403.68
21.15


8
15.7551
5.62497
3785.02
33.30


9
16.5388
5.36015
2853.11
25.10


10
17.1513
5.17008
5621.47
49.45


11
17.8473
4.97001
2230.01
19.62


12
18.7154
4.74137
9156.94
80.56


13
19.1633
4.63157
3248.53
28.58


14
20.3218
4.37006
9094.76
80.01


15
23.2388
3.82770
7372.36
64.86


16
24.0287
3.70363
5696.96
50.12


17
24.9665
3.56661
3337.66
29.36


18
26.4191
3.37372
11218.79
98.70


19
27.3472
3.26129
11366.99
100.00


20
28.2703
3.15686
5040.63
44.34


21
30.1729
2.96200
2852.45
25.09


22
30.5010
2.93088
3504.79
30.83


23
31.3931
2.84960
2165.80
19.05


24
31.7707
2.81659
2816.54
24.78


25
32.3438
2.76798
1737.15
15.28


26
34.5882
2.59334
2461.86
21.66


27
36.0287
2.49288
1967.07
17.31


28
36.5742
2.45695
2835.23
24.94


29
37.6568
2.38678
3640.81
32.03


30
37.8169
2.37902
4251.23
37.40


31
38.3144
2.34926
1460.86
12.85


32
38.9970
2.30970
900.01
7.92
















TABLE 15







Sample 18: 5.0 g Pigment A and 5.0 g Pigment B (physical 


mixture of 50 mol % copper and 50 mol % nickel) inventive











No.
Pos. [°2th.]
d [Å]
Int. [cts] 
Rel. int. [%]














1
7.1177
12.41971
2801.95
33.55


2
8.6017
10.28002
5858.96
70.16


3
9.2954
9.51435
3515.38
42.10


4
9.9526
8.88750 
485.52
5.81


5
11.9689 
7.39450
1276.92
15.29


6
13.7470 
6.44176
938.88 
11.24


7
15.3483 
5.77312
1137.06
13.62


8
15.7287 
5.63434
2264.80
27.12


9
16.5181 
5.36681
2020.42
24.20


10
17.0933 
5.18748
4218.60
50.52


11
17.7917 
4.98542
2424.52
29.03


12
18.6999 
4.74528
6532.82
78.23


13
19.2067 
4.62120
1817.77
21.77


14
20.3428 
4.36561
5933.68
71.06


15
23.2096 
3.83246
4497.26
53.86


16
23.8812 
3.72618
5459.97
65.39


17
24.0172
3.70539
5103.09
61.11


18
24.9564 
3.56802
1976.60
23.67


19
25.9489 
3.43377
4544.85
54.43


20
26.4169 
3.37398
7784.52
93.22


21
27.3423 
1.26186 
7757.24
92.90


22
28.2350 
3.16073
8350.38
100.00


23
30.4960 
2.93135
2825.66
33.84


24
31.3844 
2.85037
2135.93
25.58


25
31.8694 
2.80809
2026.33
24.27


26
32.3176
2.77016
1305.90
15.64


27
34.5962 
2.59275
2412.23
28.89


28
35.9916 
2.49537
1323.59
15.85


29
36.5934 
2.45570
2084.42
24.96


30
37.7761 
2.38149
2657.48
31.82


31
38.3420 
2.34763
1304.45
15.62


32
38.9866 
2.31029
475.25 
5.69
















TABLE 16







Sample 19: 7.5 g Pigment A and 2.5 g Pigment B (physical 


mixture of 75 mol % copper and 25 mol % nickel) inventive











No.
Pos. [°2th.]
d [Å]
Int. [cts] 
Rel. int. [%]














1
7.2180
4253.49
12.24737
39.37


2
8.6125
2793.07
10.26715
25.85


3
9.2479
1557.69
9.56310
14.42


4
10.0409
171.75
8.80954
1.59


5
11.2046
362.67
7.89708
3.36


6
11.8878
1638.89
7.44475
15.17


7
13.7735
1370.92
6.42942
12.69


8
15.8458
758.65
5.59298
7.02


9
16.4990
1312.09
5.37297
12.15


10
17.1152
3200.88
5.18089
29.63


11
17.6904
2856.14
5.01374
26.44


12
18.6616
4167.30 
4.75493
38.58


13
19.2036
739.04
4.62194
6.84


14
20.3378
3231.71 
4.36666
29.91


15
23.1636
1779.18 
3.83997
16.47


16
23.9830
4602.61 
3.71059
42.60


17
24.9729
1024.05 
3.56571
9.48


18
25.9483
5208.99 
3.43384
48.22


19
26.4446
4202.14 
3.37051
38.90


20
27.3456
4615.61 
3.26147
42.73


21
27.9166
7832.61
3.19605
72.50


22
28.2885
10803.05
3.15487
100.00


23
30.5056
1942.14 
2.93045
17.98


24
31.4096
1680.05
2.84813
15.55


25
34.6011
2548.42
2.59239
23.59


26
35.9487
733.61
2.49825
6.79


27
36.5780
1475.25 
2.45670
13.66


28
37.8001
1354.14 
2.38004
12.53


29
38.3734
1106.62 
2.34579
10.24
















TABLE 17







Sample 20: 9.5 g Pigment A and 0.5 g Pigment B (physical 


mixture of 95 mol % copper and 5 mol % nickel) inventive











No.
Pos. [°2th.]
d [Å]
Int. [cts] 
Rel. int. [%]














1
7.3128
12.08875
4850.82
36.89


2
8.2253
10.74958
1187.07
9.03


3
8.6065
10.27428
826.19
6.28


4
9.2837
9.52632
290.33
2.21


5
10.2965
8.59146
252.42
1.92


6
11.1918
7.90606
314.79
2.39


7
11.9301
7.41841
1844.03
14.02


8
13.7460
6.44227
1687.36
12.83


9
16.6133
5.33628
1158.19
8.81


10
17.2765
5.13289
3507.38
26.67


11
17.6323
5.03011
3660.00
27.83


12
18.4777
4.80184
2658.10
20.22


13
19.7762
4.48939
686.98
5.22


14
20.3727
4.35926
1160.28
8.82


15
22.0731
4.02715
362.39
2.76


16
24.0122
3.70614
3895.68
29.63


17
26.0255
3.42383
5819.55
44.26


18
27.8905
3.19898
8323.08
63.30


19
28.2646
3.15748
13148.99
100.00


20
28.4691
3.13527
9029.64
68.67


21
29.7554
3.00260 
289.60 
2.20


22
30.4860
2.93228
1316.08
10.01


23
31.4454 
2.844981
1551.73
11.80


24
34.6287
2.59039
2562.10
19.49


25
36.5649
2.45755 
896.67
6.82


26
38.4436 
2.34166
1102.24
8.38









In Tables 4 to 17, in the first column, the reflections measured were numbered serially. In column 2, the positions of the reflections measured were stated as 2theta values; in column 3, the 2theta values determined were converted by means of the Bragg equation to d values for the interplanar spacings. In the fourth and fifth columns are the values of the intensities measured (peak height of the reflection above the baseline), firstly as absolute values in the unit of “counts” [cts] and in terms of their relative intensity in percent.

## Claims

1. A metal azo pigment comprising adducts of:
at least two metal azo compounds of the formula (I) which differ at least in the metal ion Me, or tautomeric forms thereof,





in which
R1 and R2 are each independently OH, NH2 or NHR5,
R3 and R4 are each independently ═O or ═NR5,
R5 is hydrogen or alkyl, and
Me is a di- or trivalent metal ion selected from the group of Ni2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Al3+2/3, Fe2+, Fe3+2/3, Co2+ and Co3+2/3,

with the proviso that:
an amount of metal ions from the group of Cu2+ and Ni2+ is 95 to 100 mol % and the amount of metal ions selected from the group of Zn2+, Al3+2/3, Fe2+, Fe3+2/3, Co2+ and Co3+2/3 is 0 to 5 mol %, based in each case on one mole of all compounds of the formula (I), and
the molar ratio of Cu2+ to Ni2+ metal ions in the sum total of the compounds of the formula (I) is 19:1 to 1:19, and


at least one compound of the formula (II)





in which R6 is hydrogen or alkyl, and

wherein the metal azo pigment has a specific surface area of 50 to 200 m2/g.

2. The metal azo pigments according to claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of Cu2+ to Ni2+ metal ions in the sum total of the compounds of the formula (I) is 1:9 to 4:1.

3. The metal azo pigments according to claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of Cu2+ to Ni2+ metal ions in the sum total of the compounds of the formula (I) is 19:1 to 1:5.

4. The metal azo pigments according to claim 1, wherein:
R1 and R2 are OH,
R3 and R4 are ═O, and
R6 is hydrogen.

5. The metal azo pigments according to claim 1, wherein:
Me is a metal ion from the group of Cu2+ and Ni2+, and
the amount of metal ions from the group of Cu2+ and Ni2+ is 100 mol %, based on one mole of all compounds of the formula (I).

6. The metal azo pigments according to claim 1, comprising 0.05 to 4 mol of compounds of the formula (II) per mole of compounds of the formula (I).

7. The metal azo pigments according to claim 1, wherein:
the pigments have, in the x-ray diffractogram, at an interplanar spacing of d=12.2 (±0.2) Å, a signal S1 having an intensity I1, which exceeds the background value by 3 times the square root of this value;
R5 is hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl;
R6 is hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl or —OH mono- or polysubstituted alkyl;
Me is a metal ion from the group of Cu2+ and Ni2+;
the amount of metal ions from the group of Cu2+ and Ni2+ is 100 mol %, based on one mole of all compounds of the formula (I);
the molar ratio of Cu2+ to Ni2+ metal ions in the sum total of the compounds of the formula (I) is 1:3 to 2:1;
the pigments comprise 1.0 to 2.0 mol of compounds of the formula (II) per mole of compounds of the formula (I); and
the pigments have a specific surface area of 80 to 160 m2.

8. A process for producing the metal azo pigment according to Cam 1, the process comprising reacting at least one compound of the formula (III), or tautomers thereof,



in which
X is an alkali metal ion,
R1 and R2 are each independently OH, NH2 or NHR5,

R3 and R4 are each independently ═O or ═NR5, and
R5 is hydrogen or alkyl,

in the presence of at least one compound of the formula (II)



in which R is hydrogen or alkyl,

simultaneously or successively with 0.05 to 0.95 mol of at least one nickel salt per mole of compound of the formula (III) and 0.05 to 0.95 mol of at least one copper salt per mole of compound of the formula (III), where the total molar amount of copper salt and nickel salt is 100 mol %.

9. The process according to claim 8, wherein:
X is a sodium or potassium ion;
R5 is C1-C4-alkyl; and
R6 is hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl, or —OH mono- or polysubstituted alkyl.

10. The process according to claim 9, wherein the at least one compound of the formula (III) or tautomers thereof is reacted in the presence of at least one compound of the formula (II) simultaneously or successively with 0.05 to 0.95 mol of the at least one nickel salt, 0.05 to 0.95 mol of the at least one copper salt, and up to 0.05 mol of at least one further metal salt selected from the group of the zinc, aluminium, iron and cobalt salts, per mole of compound of the formula (III), and where the amount of copper salt and nickel salt is chosen such that the total molar amount of the copper salt, the nickel salt, and the at least one of zinc, aluminium, iron and cobalt salts is 100 mol %.

11. A pigment preparation comprising at least one metal azo pigment according to claim 1, and at least one auxiliary and/or additive from the group of surface-active agents, surface-covering agents, bases and solvents.

12. The pigment preparation according to claim 11, further comprising C.I. Pigment Green 36 and/or C.I. Pigment Green 58.

13. A process for producing the pigment preparation according to claim 11, the process comprising mixing the at least one metal azo pigment with the at least one auxiliary and/or additive.

14. The process for producing the pigment preparation according to claim 11, further comprising mixing the at least one metal azo pigment, the at least one auxiliary and/or additive, at least one further pigment, and at least one organic compound selected from the group of the terpenes, terpenoids, fatty acid esters and the group of the homo- or copolymers.

15. A method for producing colour filters, the method comprising:
preparing printing ink with the pigment preparations according to claim 11; and
depositing the printing ink on a filter substrate by at least one of photolithography, offset printing, mechanical printing, piezo-mechanical printing and thermal inkjet printing.

16. A method for colouring pigmented preparations, the method comprising mixing the metal azo pigment according to claim 1 into the pigmented preparations, wherein the pigmented preparations comprise inkjet inks, colour filters for liquid-crystal displays, printing inks, distempers or emulsion paints, bulk colouring for synthetic, semisynthetic, natural macromolecular substances including polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyamide, polyethylene or polypropylene, pigments for the spin dyeing of natural, regenerated or synthetic fibres, including cellulose, polyester, polycarbonate, polyacrylonitrile or polyamide fibres, and pigments for printing of textiles and paper.

17. An article of manufacture comprising at least one metal azo pigment according to claim 1, wherein the article of manufacture includes colour filters, liquid crystal displays, photoresists and printing inks.

18. A photoresist comprising at least one metal azo pigment according to claim 1, at least one photocurable monomer, and at least one photoinitiator.

19. A process for producing colour filters for liquid-crystal displays, the process comprising:
grinding at least one metal azo pigment according to claim 1 in an organic solvent, optionally with addition of a binder resin and/or dispersant to produce a colour mixture,
adding photocurable monomers, photoreaction initiators and optionally further binder and/or solvent to the colour mixture to give a photoresist,
applying the photoresist to a suitable substrate to produce a photoresist material,
exposing the photoresist by means of a photomask to produce an exposed photoresist material, and
curing and developed the exposed photoresist material to produce a finished colour filter.

20. A metal azo pigment comprising adducts of:
at least two different metal azo compounds of the formula (I) or tautomeric forms thereof, which differ at least in the metal ion Me,





in which
R1 and R2 are each independently OH, NH2 or NHR5,
R3 and R4 are each independently ═O or ═NR5,
R5 is hydrogen or alkyl, and
Me is a di- or trivalent metal on selected from the group of Ni2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Al3+2/3, Fe2+, Fe3+2/3, Co2+ and Co+2/3,

with the proviso that:
an amount of metal ions from the group of Cu2+ and Ni2+ is 95 to 100 mol % and the amount of metal ions selected from the group of Zn2+, Al3+2/3, Fe2+, Fe3+2/3, Co2+ and Co3+2/3 is 0 to 5 mol %, based in each case on one mole of all compounds of the formula (I), and
the molar ratio of Cu2+ to Ni2+ metal ions in the sum total of the compounds of the formula (I) is 19:1 to 1:<5.25, and


at least one compound of the formula (II)





in which R is hydrogen or alkyl.