A credential, such as a passport or an identification card, is provided, for example by impregnation or coating, with a phosphorescent composition which includes at least two phosphorescence activators which exhibit different emission characteristics both with respect to wavelength and lifetime so that, when the composition is irradiated, the initial afterglow changes color, for example from green to blue.

A polyester film having an inorganic coating and an overcoating which contains 1. a vinylidene chloride copolymer, and 2. a minor amount of a linear polyester resin prepared by condensing a glycol and a polyfunctional acid, at least 70% of the polyfunctional acid being an aromatic acid. The overcoating adheres to the inorganic coating as well the side of the polyester film not having the inorganic coating.

A data bearing card having a magnetizable, transparent, colorless coating thereon is disclosed. The coating can comprise a transparent, colorless plastic matrix containing a dispersed particulate crystalline phase. The dispersed phase is prepared by mixing 20-60% of a rare earth compound containing a colorless ferromagnetic atom such as gadolinium with 0.1-5% of titanium dioxide or zirconium oxide, 0.05-2.5% of an inorganic fluoride salt and the balance up to 100% of a glass forming matrix such as inorganic borates. The mixture is heated above its melting point to form a homogeneous melt and subsequently crystallized. The resulting crystalline product can be ground to any desired particle size for dispersion in the transparent plastic matrix. In general, the coating composition is useful in all applications where magnetic coatings are presently used. A distinct advantage is its colorless, transparent appearance which extends the range of uses to those applications where it is necessary and/or desirable to have a magnetic coating which is aesthetically pleasing or which is transparent. It is particularly important to form magnetic stripes on data cards such as credit cards, key cards for obtaining access to vending machines and restricted areas, bank checks, inventory control tags, etc. without the concomitant disadvantage of dark coloring, such as the unsightly dark brown associated with iron oxide.

A laminated article comprising a magnetic impulse record element secured to a vinyl plastic member through an interface of a composition containing polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol. The interface contributes to the formation of a record element of improved quality when the latter is transferred as a magnetic coating from a carrier to the vinyl plastic member in a hot stamping operation.