Abstract: An aqueous coating composition is provided which comprises a generally lipophilic crosslinkable binder, optionally a chemical curing/crosslinking agent for the crosslinkable binder, and a special reactive amphiphatic emulsifier comprising a lipophilic backbone having separately pendant therefrom (a) at least one activated unsaturated group and (b) at least one of a specified class of hydrophilic polyoxyalkylene groups, and possessing an HLB value of at least 6.0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal pigment which allows the simpler use of liquid crystals in coating applications with greatly improved appearance uniformity of the liquid crystal effect. The liquid crystal pigment comprises a laminar particle which is at least partially coated with a liquid crystalline material, which has been precipitated from a solution onto the laminar particle.

Abstract: A thermochromic effect coating is provided which that it comprises an aqueous binder component including a flop effect pigment and an encapsulated thermochromic liquid crystal pigment. The particular combination in accordance with the present invention results in a coating with altered flop effect from the flop effect pigment as well as a more uniform color appearance from the liquid crystal pigment.

Abstract: A binder system is provided which is suitable for use as a waterborne coating, particularly as a topcoat over hydro-basecoats. The binder in accordance with the present invention comprises a water-soluble acrylic resin which has been modified using a monoisocyanate functional compound. The waterborne coating comprises this binder system in an aqueous base. The resulting waterborne coating exhibits high gloss, high solids content with low cosolvent content, good application characteristics, and good stone-chip and weathering resistance. The present waterborne coating also finds use, for example, as an electrocoat, primer/surfacer and/or solid color topcoat.