Multi-layer coating process to achieve a highly saturated color appearance on a vehicle

• US 20040028823A1
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dutt, Wilfried
• Application Number:
  US10/216,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20040028823A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/385.5
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 7/574 at least some layers being let to dry at least partially before applying the next layer B05D7/577 takes precedence

Abstract

A process and materials for coating motor vehicles with a multi-layer tricoat finish that achieves high color saturation, with excellent depth of color and glamour, without sacrificing weatherability. The process eliminates the use of a tinted clearcoat and its associated problems.

Claims

1. A process for coating an automotive substrate with a tricoat finish to achieve a highly saturated color appearance, comprising:

(a) applying a first solid color or effect color basecoat composition to a surface of an automotive substrate;

(b) thereafter applying a second, different, transparent or semi-transparent basecoat composition;

(c) subjecting the combined basecoats to an intermediate drying step;

(d) applying over said basecoat layer, an untinted clear coat composition; and

(e) curing the tricoat finish together in a single bake.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the second transparent or semi-transparent basecoat is free of flake pigments.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein said second transparent or semi-transparent basecoat is a different color from the first basecoat.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein said second transparent or semi-transparent basecoat is unpigmented.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein said second transparent or semi-transparent basecoat is in the same color area as the first basecoat.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein said second transparent or semi-transparent basecoat is in a different color area as the first basecoat.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein said first basecoat layer is with or without flake or other effect pigment(s).

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the paint application line is a modular or continuous in-line system.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein the first and second basecoats are waterborne basecoats.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein the first and second basecoats are solventborne basecoats.

11. The process of claim 1 wherein the clear coat comprises melamine and polyol system;

a polyol and isocyanate system;

a melamine, polyol, and silane system;

or an epoxy acid system.

12. The process of claim 1 wherein the clearcoat is a solvent borne, waterborne or powder clearcoat.

13. The process of claim 1 wherein the first basecoat has hiding.

14. The process of claim 1 wherein the first and second basecoats are applied over each other without an intermediate drying step.

15. The process of claim 1 wherein the process is run in a single wet-on-wet-on-wet pass on a continuously moving in-line automotive coatings line.

17. An automotive substrate coated with a tricoat finish according to the process of claim 1 or claim 16.

16. A process for eliminating the use of tinted clearcoats by coating an automotive substrate with a tricoat finish to achieve highly saturated color appearance, comprising:

(a) applying a first waterborne basecoat composition to a surface of an automotive substrate;

(b) thereafter applying a second, different, transparent waterborne basecoat composition without flake pigments to replace a tinted clearcoat;

(c) subjecting the combined basecoats to an intermediate drying step;

(d) applying over said basecoat layer, an untinted clear coat composition; and

(e) curing the three coat finish together in a final bake.