Coated articles and multi-layer coatings

Abstract

Articles are disclosed wherein a color-imparting non-hiding coating layer is deposited on a surface thereof. The coating layer is deposited from a protective coating composition comprising color-imparting particles having a maximum haze of about 10% and a film-forming resin. Methods of using the coatings, and the substrates coated therewith, are also disclosed.

1 . A multi-layer coating comprising:
 (a) a color-imparting, non-hiding coating layer deposited from a protective coating composition comprising an aqueous dispersion comprising color-imparting particles stably dispersed in aqueous medium in admixture with one or more polymers, and   (b) a clear coat layer deposited over at least a portion of the color-imparting, non-hiding layer.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-layer coating of  claim 1  in which the color-imparting particles are dispersed in aqueous medium by:
 (a) admixing the color-imparting particles with
 (1) one or more polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers, or 
 (2) a mixture of one or more polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomers with one or more polymers, or 
 (3) one or more polymers to form an admixture; 
 
 (b) subjecting the admixture to high stress, shear conditions to particularize the admixture into microparticles; and 
 (c) polymerizing the ethylenically unsaturated monomers when present 
 (d) dispersing the particles in aqueous medium. 
 
     
     
         3 . The multi-layer coating of  claim 1  in which the color-imparting particles are present in the aqueous dispersion in an amount of 0.1 to 50 percent by weight based on total solids present in the aqueous dispersion. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-layer coating of  claim 2  in which the polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomers include a carboxylic acid group-containing monomer and/or the one or more polymers contain a carboxylic acid group. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-layer coating of  claim 4  in which the carboxylic acid group is (meth)acrylic acid. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-layer coating of  claim 1  in which the one or more polymers contain a functional group that is reactive with a curing agent. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-layer coating of  claim 6  wherein the functional groups are selected from the group consisting of epoxy groups, carboxylic acid groups, hydroxyl groups, isocyanate groups, amide groups, carbamate groups, carboxylate groups and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-layer coating of  claim 6  in which the aqueous dispersion contains a curing agent. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-layer coating of  claim 8  in which the curing agent is an aminoplast and/or a polyisocyanate including blocked polyisocyanates. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-layer coating of  claim 1  in which the one or more polymers are present in the aqueous dispersion in amounts of 10 to 70 percent by weight based on total weight of solids in the aqueous dispersion. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-layer coating of  claim 1  wherein the color-imparting particles have an average primary particle size less than 150 nanometers. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-layer coating of  claim 1  applied over a reflective surface comprising a reflective material having a total reflectance of at least 30 percent. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-layer coating of  claim 12  wherein the reflective material is a base coat deposited from a coating composition. 
     
     
         14 . A substrate coated with the multi-layer coating of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A substrate coated with the multi-layer coating of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         16 . The multi-layer coating of  claim 1  in which the one or more polymers are selected from acrylic polymers, polyester polymers, polyurethane polymers, polyether polymers, including mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A method of forming and aqueous dispersion of color imparting particles comprising:
 (a) admixing the color-imparting particles with
 (1) one or more polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomers, or 
 (2) a mixture of one or more polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers with one or more polymers, or 
 (3) one or more polymers to form an admixture; 
   (b) subjecting the admixture to high stress, shear conditions to particularize the admixture into microparticles; and   (e) polymerizing the ethylenically unsaturated monomers when present   (f) dispersing the particles in aqueous medium.   
     
     
         18 . The method  claim 17  in which the color-imparting particles are present in the aqueous dispersion in an amount of 0.1 to 50 percent by weight based on total solids present in the aqueous dispersion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  in which the polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers include a carboxylic acid group-containing monomer and/or the one or more polymers contain a carboxylic acid group. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  in which the carboxylic acid group is (meth)acrylic acid. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  in which the polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers and/or the one or more polymers contain a functional group that is reactive with a curing agent. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the functional groups are selected from the group consisting of epoxy groups, carboxylic acid groups, hydroxyl groups, isocyanate groups, amide groups, carbamate groups, carboxylate groups and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  in which the aqueous dispersion contains a curing agent. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  in which the curing agent is an aminoplast and/or a polyisocyanate including blocked polyisocyanates. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17  in which the one or more polymers are present in the aqueous dispersion in amounts of 10 to 70 percent by weight based on total weight of solids in the aqueous dispersion. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the color-imparting particles have an average primary particle size less than 150 nanometers. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 17  in which the aqueous dispersion is deposited as a coating over a substrate. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  in which the substrate is a reflective surface comprising having a total reflectance of at least 30 percent. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  in which the reflective surface is a base coat deposited from a coating composition. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  in which a clear coat is deposited over the coating. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  in which a clear coat is deposited over the coating.