Color-and/or effect producing films, method for production and use thereof

Abstract

Single-layer or multilayer color and/or effect films comprising a color and/or effect layer, preparable by (1) continuously applying a component amount of a basecoat material (A) by means of a directed application technique to a carrier, the applicator (1) and the carrier being in relative motion with respect to one another, to construct a portion of the color and/or effect layer, (2) at least once, continuously applying the remainder of the basecoat material (A) and/or a basecoat material (B), which is different than the basecoat (A), to the component layer (1) formed by an application technique (2) which in the resulting component layer (2) induces no arrangement of the pigments in a preferential direction, the applicator (2) and the carrier being in relative motion with respect to one another, to further or fully construct the color and/or effect layer, and (3) drying or partly or fully curing the color and/or effect layer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A single-layer or multilayer color and/or effect film which consists of or comprises at least one color and/or effect layer preparable by 
 (1) continuously applying a component amount or the total amount of at least one basecoat material (A) by means of a directed application technique to a carrier, the applicator (1) and the carrier being in relative motion with respect to one another, to construct a portion of the color and/or effect layer,    (2) once, or at least twice, continuously applying the remainder of the basecoat material (A) and/or at least one basecoat material (B), which is different than the basecoat(s) (A), to the component layer (1), formed in step (1), by at least one application technique (2) which in the resulting component layer (2) induces no arrangement of the pigments in a preferential direction, the applicator(s) (2) and the carrier being in relative motion with respect to one another, to further or fully construct the color and/or effect layer, and    (3) drying or partly or fully curing the resulting color and/or effect layer.    
     
     
         2 . The film as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein step (2) can be carried out in time immediately after step (1), i.e., simultaneously with step (1).  
     
     
         3 . The film as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein step (2) can be carried out in time later after step (1), i.e., sequentially.  
     
     
         4 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the component layer (1) formed in step (1) has more than 50% of the thickness of the color and/or effect layer.  
     
     
         5 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the directed application techniques of step (1) are casting, knife coating, roller application or extrusion coating.  
     
     
         6 . The film as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the applicators (1) are casting devices, knife coaters, rollers or extruders.  
     
     
         7 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein the applicators (1) are stationary.  
     
     
         8 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  7 , wherein the carrier is temporary or permanent.  
     
     
         9 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  8 , wherein the carrier is a solid film or a film which is not yet solidified.  
     
     
         10 . The film as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the carrier film is composed of at least one thermoplastic.  
     
     
         11 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  10 , wherein the component layer (1) is vented before step (2).  
     
     
         12 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  11 , wherein the assembly comprising carrier and component layer (1) is wound up before step (2).  
     
     
         13 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  12 , wherein the assembly comprising carrier, component layer (1) and first component layer (2) is wound up before the further step (2).  
     
     
         14 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  12 , wherein the layer formed in the first step (2) is the complete color and/or effect layer (2).  
     
     
         15 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  14 , wherein the application techniques (2) are spray application techniques and the applicators (2) are spray applicators.  
     
     
         16 . The film as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the spray applicators (2) are electrostatic or pneumatic devices.  
     
     
         17 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  16 , wherein the applicator(s) (2) is or are arranged directly downstream of the applicator (1).  
     
     
         18 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  17 , wherein the applicator(s) (2) is or are arranged stationarily.  
     
     
         19 . The film as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the stationary applicator(s) (2) is or are arranged transversely and/or obliquely to the direction of motion of the assembly comprising carrier and component layer (1) and also, where appropriate, first component layer (2).  
     
     
         20 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  17 , wherein the applicator(s) (2) is or are arranged in such a way as to be movable backward and forward transversely and/or obliquely to the direction of motion of the assembly comprising carrier and component layer (1) and also, where appropriate, first component layer (2).  
     
     
         21 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  20 , wherein the applicator(s) (2) is or are movable in the vertical plane.  
     
     
         22 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  21 , wherein the application direction(s) of the applicator(s) (2) is or are vertical and/or oblique with respect to the plane of the assembly comprising carrier and component layer (1) and also, where appropriate, component layer (2).  
     
     
         23 . The film as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the application direction(s) is or are aligned in and/or against the direction of motion of the assembly comprising carrier and component layer (1) and also, where appropriate, first component layer (2).  
     
     
         24 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 15  to  23 , wherein the basecoat spray jet clouds produced by the applicator(s) (2) overlap.  
     
     
         25 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 16  to  24 , wherein the pneumatically produced basecoat spray jet cloud(s) is or are set in periodic motion relative to its or their spraying direction and relative to the carrier.  
     
     
         26 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  25 , wherein the color and/or effect layer is covered with a clearcoat film or with a clearcoat.  
     
     
         27 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  26 , which has the automotive construction comprising electrocoat or anticorrosion layer, primer-surfacer coat or anti stonechip primer, if desired, basecoat, and clearcoat.  
     
     
         28 . A single-layer or multilayer color and/or effect film which consists of or comprises at least one color and/or effect layer comprising 
 (1) at least one component layer (1) comprising at least one color and/or effect pigment (1) in anisotropic distribution, and    (2) at least one component layer (2) comprising the pigment or pigments (1) and/or at least one different color and/or effect pigment (2) in isotropic distribution.    
     
     
         29 . The film as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the pigments (1) and/or (2) have an aspect ratio >1.  
     
     
         30 . The film as claimed in  claim 28  or  29 , wherein pigments (1) in component layer (1) are aligned in a preferential direction.  
     
     
         31 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 28  to  30 , wherein the color and/or effect layer is joined to a permanent carrier.  
     
     
         32 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 28  to  31 , wherein the color and/or effect layer is joined to a clearcoat film.  
     
     
         33 . The film as claimed in any of  claims 28  to  32 , which has the automotive construction comprising electrocoat or anticorrosion layer, primer-surfacer coat or antistonechip primer, if desired, basecoat, and clearcoat.  
     
     
         34 . A process for preparing a single-layer or multilayer color and/or effect film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  33 , which comprises 
 (1) continuously applying a component amount or the total amount of at least one basecoat material (A) by means of a directed application technique to a carrier, the applicator (1) and the carrier being in relative motion with respect to one another, to construct a portion of the color and/or effect layer,  
 (2) once, or at least twice, continuously applying the remainder of the basecoat material (A) and/or at least one basecoat material (B), which is different than the basecoat(s) (A), to the component layer (1), formed in step (1), by at least one application technique (2) which in the resulting component layer (2) induces no arrangement of the pigments in a preferential direction, the applicator(s) (2) and the carrier being in relative motion with respect to one another, to further or fully construct the color and/or effect layer, and  
 (3) drying or partly or fully curing the resulting color and/or effect layer.  
 
     
     
         35 . The process as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein component layer (1) is vented before step (2).  
     
     
         36 . The process as claimed in  claim 34  or  35 , wherein the assembly comprising carrier and color and/or effect layer is wound up onto rolls.  
     
     
         37 . The process as claimed in any of  claims 34  to  36 , wherein the color and/or effect layer is detached from the carrier.  
     
     
         38 . The process as claimed in any of  claims 34  to  37 , wherein the color and/or effect layer is joined to a clearcoat film or a clearcoat.  
     
     
         39 . The use of a film as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  33  or of a film prepared by the process as claimed in any of  claims 34  to  38  for the decorative and/or protective coating of motor vehicle bodies and parts thereof, the interior and exterior of motor vehicles, the inside and outside of buildings, doors, windows, furniture, and also in the context of the industrial coating of small parts, coils, containers, packaging, electrical components, and white goods.  
     
     
         40 . The use as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the films are used as a multilayer color and/or effect basecoat/clearcoat system of coating motor vehicle bodies and parts thereof