Irradiation detection and identification method and compositions useful therein

DETAILED DESCRIPTION We claim: 1.
A method for tagging one or a mixture of natural or synthetic materials comprising contacting the same with one or a mixture of substantially colorless tagging compounds, each of which is comprised of one or more non-ionic luminophore moieties (L) attached to at least one poly(oxyalkylene) moiety (--Y) by means of linking moiety (--X) selected from a convalent bond, --O--, --S--, --CON(R.
sub.
1)--, --SO.
sub.
2 N(R.
sub.
1)--, --COO--, --N(R.
sub.
2)--, --N--, or 1, 2, 5-triazin-2, 4-diylamino, wherein R.
sub.
1, is selected from hydrogen, Y, unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, or phenyl, wherein R.
sub.
2 is selected from R.
sub.
1, or --SO.
sub.
2 R.
sub.
3, wherein R.
sub.
3 is selected from unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl or phenyl; wherein said tagging compound has substantial UV radiation absorbance within the range of from about 300 to about 400 nm and reemits substantial visible light, said contacting effecting at least a temporary association between said material and said compound, and wherein said compound is present in an amount between about 0.
0001 and about 10 percent by weight of said material.
2.
The method of claim 1 wherein each said luminophore moiety is selected from; 1, 2-diarylethenes; 2-arylbenzazoles; 2(H)-1-benozypyran-2-ones (coumarins); 2(H)-1-benzoypyrane-2-imines (iminocoumarins); carbostyrils; 3(H)-1-naphtho[2,1-b]pyran -3-ones; 3(H)-naphthos[2,1-b]pyran-3-imines; aminophthalimides; 1, 8-naphthalenedicarboximides; 1, 4, 5, 8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid diimides; 2, 5-diarylthiophenes; 2, 5-diarylfurans; 2,5 diaryl-1,3,4-thiadiazoles; 2-arylbenzofurans; 2, 6-diphenylbenzodifurans; 2, 2-bis(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles); quinolines; quinoxalines; 3, 4diarylfuranones; distyrylarenes; 7(H)-benzanthracene-7-ones(benzanthrones); or polyarenes; and wherein Y is a poly(oxyalkylene) moiety comprised of at least 50 mole percent of monomeric units or mixtures thereof of the formula (-RO-) wherein R is selected from substituted or unsubstituted straight chain alkylenes of two to four carbons; wherein X linking moiety is selected from a convalent bond, --O--, --S--, --SO