Avery Dennison Corporation

The Procter Gamble Company

Howard H Enlow

Frederick Young

Keith Lawson Truog

John E Roys

William J Buehne

Karl Josephy

James P Rettker

John J Markey

Russell J McCready

Scott W Huffer

John R Johnson

Paul J Martus

Frank Yenjir Shih

Roger A Fahlsing

Norman A Conti

A process for making functional or decorative flakes or platelets economically and at high production rates comprises applying a multi-layer sandwich of vapor deposited metal and release coats in alternating layers to a rotating chilled drum or suitable carrier medium contained in a vapor deposition chamber. The alternating metallized layers are applied by vapor deposition and the intervening release layers are preferably solvent soluble thermoplastic polymeric materials applied by vapor deposition sources contained in the vapor deposition chamber. The multi-layer sandwich built up in the vacuum chamber is removed from the drum or carrier and treated with a suitable organic solvent to dissolve the release coating from the metal in a stripping process that leaves the metal flakes essentially release coat free. The solvent and dissolved release material are then removed by centrifuging to produce a cake of concentrated flakes which can be air milled and let down in a preferred vehicle and further sized and homogenized for final use in inks, paints or coatings. In one embodiment the finished flakes comprise single-layer thin metal or metal alloy flakes or flakes of inorganic materials, and in another embodiment flakes are coated on both sides with protective polymeric coatings that were applied from suitable vacuum deposition sources or the like contained in the vapor deposition chamber.

Process for making angstrom scale and high aspect functional platelets

This disclosed invention relates to a dry paint transfer laminate, comprising: a dry paint film layer comprising a binder and a pigment, the dry paint film layer having an upper surface and a lower surface; an adhesive layer overlying the upper surface of the dry paint film layer; and a release liner overlying the lower surface of the dry paint film layer. Methods of making and using the laminate are disclosed.

Dry paint transfer laminate

A process for making a protective and decorative surfacing film comprises extrusion coating a solventless polymeric material from an extruder die to form an optically clear first layer on a polyester carrier sheet traveling past the extruder die opening. The extrusion coated first layer is immediately cooled on the carrier sheet to harden it, followed by applying a pigmented second layer to the first layer. The composite paint coat is transferred to a reinforcing backing sheet, after which the carrier sheet is separated from the paint coat to expose the outer surface of the first layer as a high gloss surface with a high distinctness-of-image, providing a transparent protective outer coat for the pigmented second layer. The pigmented second layer can be solvent cast and dried or extruded and hardened as a separate coating on the first layer. The composite paint coat can be bonded to a coextruded size coat and semi-rigid plastic substrate panel to form a thermoformable laminate. Techniques are disclosed for producing extruded clear films of exceedingly high optical clarity using a closed air flow transport and HEPA filtration system that removes airborne particles from the resin handling and extrusion process, thereby preventing micron-sized contaminants naturally present from many sources from entering the process and degrading ultimate film quality.

Extruded polymeric high transparency films

A process for making a protective and decorative surfacing film comprises extrusion coating a solid polymeric material to form an optically clear first layer ( ) on a smooth surface of a carrier sheet ( ). The extrusion coated first layer is immediately cooled, followed by applying a pigmented second material ( ) in thin film form. The composite paint coat is then transferred to a supportive backing, after which the carrier sheet is removed to expose the high gloss outer surface of the first layer. The second layer may be solvent cast, extrusion coated, or coextruded with the first layer.

Extrusion coating process for making protective and decorative films

An exterior automotive quality paint coat is laminated to the surface of a plastic car body member of panel. A dry paint transfer film is first laminated to a relatively thin semi-rigid thermoformable resinous backing sheet. The backing sheet side of the resulting laminate is then laminated to a relatively thick thermoformable substrate sheet comprising the same or a compatible polymeric material. The two sheets are joined by extruding the thick substrate sheet and using the heat of extrusion to then laminate the thin backing sheet to the thicker extruded substrate sheet. The resulting thick sheet laminate is then thermoformed, preferably by first heating the laminate to a forming temperature, followed by vacuum forming the laminate to a three-dimensional shape of the finished automotive part, such as a facia, ready to put on a vehicle.

Thick sheet lamination product for use in exterior automotive body panels

Extrusion coating process for making high transparency protective and decorative films

A process for making high aspect ratio metal flakes economically and at high production rates comprises applying a multi-layer sandwich of vapor deposited metal and release coats in alternating layers to a rotating chilled drum or suitable carrier medium contained in a vapor deposition chamber. The alternating metallized layers are applied by vapor deposition and the intervening release layers are preferably solvent or water soluble materials applied by suitable coating or vapor deposition sources contained in the vapor deposition chamber. The release coat materials can be a thermoplastic solvent-soluble polymer, a water soluble inorganic salt, or a high boiling point dissolvable wax-like substance. The multi-layer sandwich built up in the vacuum chamber is removed from the drum or carrier and treated with a suitable solvent or water to dissolve the release coating from the metal in a stripping process that leaves the metal flakes essentially release coat free. The solvent or water and dissolved release material are then removed by centrifuging to produce a cake of concentrated flakes which can be air milled and let down in a preferred vehicle and further sized and homogenized for final use in inks, paints or coatings. In one embodiment the finished flakes comprise single-layer thin metal flakes and in another embodiment the flakes are coated on both sides with protective polymeric coatings that were applied from suitable vacuum deposition sources or the like contained in the vapor deposition chamber. In an alternative embodiment the release coat can be a thermoset material which is lightly cross-linked in the vacuum chamber and then later treated with a depolymerizing solvent material that breaks the chemical bonds sufficiently to separate the layers.

Process for making high aspect ratio reflective metal flakes

A process for making a protective and decorative surfacing film comprises extrusion coating a solid polymeric material from an extruder die to form an optically clear first layer of uniform film thickness on a smooth surface of a carrier sheet traveling continuously past the extruder die opening. The extrusion coated first layer is immediately cooled on the carrier sheet to harden it, followed by applying a pigmented second layer in thin film form to the first layer to form a composite paint coat in which the first and second layers are bonded to each other. The composite paint coat is then transferred to a supportive backing sheet or substrate panel, after which the carrier sheet is separated from the paint coat, to expose the outer surface of the first layer as a high gloss surface with a high distinctness-of-image, providing a transparent protective outer coat for the underlying pigmented second layer. The pigmented second layer can be solvent cast and dried or extruded and hardened as a separate coating on the extrusion coated first layer. Alternatively, the second layer can be formed with the first layer as a coextrusion which is extrusion coated onto the smooth surface of the release coated carrier sheet that travels past the extruder die.

Extrusion process for protective coatings for outdoor siding panels and the like

An exterior automotive quality paint coat is laminated to the surface of a plastic car body member of panel. A dry paint transfer film is first laminated to a relatively thin semi-rigid thermoformable resinous backing sheet. The backing sheet side of the resulting laminate is then laminated to a relatively thick thermoformable substrate sheet of the same or a compatible polymeric material. The two sheets are joined by extruding the thick substrate sheet and using the heat of extrusion to then laminate the thin backing sheet to the thicker extruded substrate sheet. The resulting thick sheet laminate is then thermoformed, preferably by first heating the laminate to a forming temperature, followed by vacuum forming the laminate to a three-dimensional shape of the finished automotive part, such as a fascia, ready to put on a vehicle.

Thick sheet laminating process for making exterior automotive body panels

A flexible decorative sheet for use in surfacing an automobile body panel includes a first polyester carrier sheet having a high gloss surface, a clear coat of a weatherable optically-clear polymer containing fluorocarbon resin and an acrylic resin coated on the surface of the first carrier sheet, a tie coat on the clear coat, and a color coat containing a chlorinated polymer with dispersed pigments cast on the tie coat and dried. A pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is formed on a second polyester carrier sheet and then laminated to the exposed face of the color coat to form a pressure-sensitive, adhesive-backed composite paint coat between the outer carrier sheets which form protective removable backing sheets for the resulting laminate. The decorative sheet is applied to a substrate panel by pressure-sensitive adhesive bonding techniques, with the clear coat serving as a glossy, weatherable protective outer layer for the underlying color coat. The PVC-containing color coat enhances room temperature elongation of the finished film to enable application of the laminate to three-dimensionally contoured surfaces. The resulting paint finish has a defect-free, weatherable and durable outer surface with high gloss and high distinctness of image, meeting requirements for exterior automotive use.

Exterior automotive laminate with pressure-sensitive adhesive

A process for making a thermoformable conductive plastic laminate for use in making plastic parts adapted for electrostatic spray painting of a uniform high quality paint finish includes forming a matte release coated casting sheet, casting an electrically conductive polymer in thin film form on the casting sheet, drying to form a conductive primer coat, and transfer-laminating the conductive coating to a thin, thermoformable plastic face sheet. The matte release coat has a fine particulate filler that transfers a micro-roughened matte surface to the conductive primer coat. The conductive primer includes a polyester resin containing a fine particulate conductive material such as carbon black and, preferably, an anti-blocking agent such as fumed silica. The primer coated face sheet can be thermoformed and bonded to a underlying plastic substrate panel. The conductive primer has sufficient elongation and maintains uniform electrical surface conductivity and film thickness throughout the transfer-laminating, thermoforming and substrate panel-cladding process. The uniform surface resistivity of the conductive primer film is sufficient to permit electrostatic spray painting of the finished contoured panel and in one embodiment produces a Class 'A' quality exterior automotive paint finish on the resulting panel.

Thermoformable conductive laminate and process

A process for making a thermoformable conductive plastic laminate for use in making plastic parts adapted for electrostatic spray painting of a uniform high quality paint finish includes forming a matte release coated casting sheet, casting an electrically conductive polymer in thin film form on the casting sheet, drying to form a conductive primer coat, and transfer-laminating the conductive coating to a thin, thermoformable plastic face sheet. The matte release coat has a fine particulate filler that transfers a micro-toughened matte surface to the conductive primer coat. The conductive primer includes a polyester resin containing a fine particulate conductive material such as carbon black and, preferably, an anti-blocking agent such as fumed silica. The primer coated face sheet can be thermoformed and bonded to a underlying plastic substrate panel. The conductive primer has sufficient elongation and maintains uniform electrical surface conductivity and film thickness throughout the transfer-laminating, thermoforming and substrate panel-cladding process. The uniform surface resistivity of the conductive primer film is sufficient to permit electrostatic spray painting of the finished contoured panel and in one embodiment produces a Class 'A' quality exterior automotive paint finish on the resulting panel.

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Munster, IN, United States of America

Howard H Enlow