In collaboration with SABIC Innovative Plastics, scientists at GE Global Research have developed a new class of holographic materials that could enable the Secure ID card of the future. Because the materials can be processed in plastic this new technology could serve as a next generation platform for a variety of IDs or financial cards including driver’s licenses and credit cards.
This Secure ID technology uses volume holography to store information in a high security format. Holograms are commonly used today for a variety of ID and card applications to verify their authenticity. However, because they are only stamped on the surface of a card, their authenticity can be compromised. GE-SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Secure ID technology stores holograms within the card material itself, making it virtually impossible for a card to be altered.
“Whether you’re buying something at the store, passing through an airport checkpoint, or presenting proof of health insurance at the doctor’s office, virtually all of our common, everyday transactions are carried out using plastic,” said Dr. Moitreyee Sinha, manager, Functional and Optical Materials Lab. “GE-SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Secure ID card technology will provide a true step change in the level of security, making it virtually impossible to steal a person’s identity or tamper with their cards in any way.”
The GE-SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Secure ID Card also could enable other new applications in the security and authentication sectors. For example, fingerprinting and biometric scans used today to fast track airport screening, could be accelerated and made more robust by storing these records on the Secure ID card as a high resolution holographic image.
“We can store 3-D images of a person’s face, record their fingerprints and even create unique animations within our holographic plastic materials,” said Sinha. “We also can control the visibility of what a person can see on the card. This will enable varying levels of security features that are needed for different applications.”
By processing holographic materials in plastic, these holographic materials can be directly laminated to a card, injection molded into a part, extruded into film or cast into a very thin film. Having these capabilities is opening up many potential applications for both GE and SABIC Innovative Plastics’ holographic technology. Commercialization of this new class of holographic materials is expected by 2012.