Microtrace
What is a Microtaggant?
Taggant And Microtaggant

Microtaggant encoded particles magnified hundreds of times – actual particle size down to 20 microns


The Microtrace Microtaggant® brand Identification Particles are a microscopic, traceable, anti-counterfeit technology. Microtaggants are highly versatile in their use and application. In basic form, Microtaggants are a unique numeric code sequence in a multiple colored layer format. In more complex forms, Microtaggants deliver multiple layers of security through the incorporation of several taggant technologies.

We'll work with you to deliver the Microtaggant technology in a format that best suits your product or process. There are three ways in which Microtrace can work with your organization:

  • Deliver Microtaggant in bulk format for your incorporation in or on your product
  • Work with your current material suppliers (plastic resins, films, adhesives, labels, etc.) to incorporate the technology
  • Deliver custom, ready-to-use plastic resins, films, adhesives, printing inks and papers.

The beauty of the Microtaggant is its simplicity and straightforward means of positive identification. Anyone who can distinguish colors can be your field expert in Microtaggant identification.

Microtrace is the only authorized producer of the Microtaggant Identification Particle and the sole authorized source for issuing code sequences. For security, identification and authentication, look no further. For more information about this dynamic technology and what Microtrace can do for you, contact Microtrace today.

Microtaggant Facts

Custom Microtaggant codes are created for every Microtrace customer. To ensure security of your unique code, every Microtaggant code is certified and registered on our central database. Whether one or thousands of unique codes are needed, we'll work with you to create the best solution for you.

Microtrace can produce over 37 million unique codes and incorporate various "energy sensitive" taggant technologies into the particles that act as a code within a code. Optional features such as fluorescent, magnetic and other components may be added to aid in the location and retrieval of code material. Microtaggants are detectable in the field or lab using a variety of readers.

Microtaggant Identification particles range in size from over 1,000 microns for explosives tracing down to under 20 microns for select applications.

DID YOU KNOW? The word "taggant" originated from the Microtrace trademark "Microtaggant®"

The American Heritage® Dictionary
Definition of "Taggant"
SYLLABICATION: tag·gant
NOUN: Any of various substances, such as microscopic pieces of multilayered colored plastic, added to a product to indicate its source of manufacture: added taggants to explosives to deter terrorism.
ETYMOLOGY: Short for Microtaggant, trademark for tags identifying explosives.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Microtaggant Types

Microtrace offers 3 basic types of Microtaggant Identification Particles in addition to the standard Microtaggant. All Microtaggants are available in Industrial Bulk and Print Grade formats

Energy Sensitive Microtaggants: Microtrace is the only company that can provide you with multiple taggant technologies, including nanotechnology materials, in a single delivery format. This enables Microtrace to incorporate multiple codes in a single Microtaggant particle for multiple levels of security. No other technology delivers such robust identification and authentication capabilities.

High Temperature Microtaggant: stable at 430°C for extended exposures. (Standard Microtaggant stable to 350°C for short exposures)

Bio Compatible Microtaggants: Meets the standards for ISO 10993.

Pattern recognition can be utilized with any Microtaggant Identification Particle to provide an additional level of security by creating a unique "fingerprint" on each item that cannot be duplicated. Applications of this method include ID cards, passports, autographed sports memorabilia and high-security applications. Contact us for more information.
Anti-counterfeit technology that incorporates multiple levels of security into a single particle. This is accomplished through DNA technologies, nanotechnologies, elemental codes, spectral signatures, chemical markings. Color codes, forensic markers, and covert invisible markers. Anti-stokes, up-converting phosphors, down converting phosphors, raman signatures, micro-tag, spectral codes, micro-tag,quantum dots, UV materials and IR materials may also be used. RFID tags (radio frequency identification tags) do not offer security to protect against product counterfeiting or diversion. Compounded plastic resins. A traceable, anti-counterfeit technology that incorporates multiple technologies into a single microscopic particle. Highly versatile in its use and application. May be incorporated in plastics, films, adhesives, holographic films, labels, inks, directly into products. manufacturer, covert security, overt security, anti-counterfeit technology, 3M technology, machine readable, security thread, fluorescent, IR, security fibres, micro-printing, fluorescent ink, microscopic encoded particle, non organic, molecular fingerprint, anti-terrorism technology, multiple levels of security, Microtrace, semi conducting nanocrytals, nanotechnology, raman shift, nanobarcode, quantum dots, qdots, nano materials, 3M, phosphorescent additives, unique illumination, brand protection, microscopic barcode, spectral signature, anti-counterfeit, micro-tag, micro-tagging, fluorescent, IR, UV, phosphor, RFID, infrared material, invisible code, forensic marker, chemical DNA, unique codes, DNA encoded marker, microscopic code particle, microscopic color-coded particle, micro-tag, DNA codes, synthetic DNA, spectral code, raman code, chemical marking technology, unique codes, chemical coding, color shifting ink, DNA technology, nanocrystals, optical pigments, dyes, unique fingerprint, unique identifier, phosphor, unique codes, fluorescent, IR, micro-tag, unique codes.