Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Balch

Thomas C. Balch has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7604837
    Abstract: A coating composition, particularly a clearcoat composition, which may be a two-component clearcoat composition, comprises a film-forming material, a crosslinking agent, and a nonlinear polysiloxane polymer having a functional group reactive with the crosslinking agent. The coating composition exhibits excellent scratch resistance and adhesion of repair coating layers and sealants, such as windshield sealants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Coatings AG
    Inventors: Thomas C. Balch, David K. Lau, Peter Betz, Gudrun Wiemann, Donald H. Campbell, Vicki Lynn Berry, Kenneth Christopher Fey, John B. Horstman, Randall Gene Schmidt, Lori Sutton-Poungthana, Gary Michael Wieber, Gerald Lawrence Witucki
  • Publication number: 20080171145
    Abstract: A two-tone painting method includes applying a powder primer to a substrate, followed by a powder basecoat applied dry-on-dry onto the powder primer. The powder basecoat is preferably applied in the same painting booth as the powder primer, i.e., without curing the powder primer. The powder basecoat includes a flake additive, such as a mica flake or a metal flake, which prevents surface irregularities from forming in the powder primer and the powder basecoat as a result of not curing the powder primer before applying the powder basecoat. The substrate is then masked, and a second basecoat is applied. The masking is then removed and a clearcoat is applied. The second basecoat and the clearcoat are then cured simultaneously in an oven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: BASF CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cynthia A. Stants, Thomas C. Balch
  • Patent number: 6852771
    Abstract: Coating composition comprising (a1) radiation curable component that polymerizes upon exposure to actinic radiation comprising at least two functional groups comprising at least one bond that is activatable upon exposure to actinic radiation, optionally, at least one isocyanate-reactive functional group, and optionally, at least one hydroxyl-reactive functional group; (a2) thermally curable binder component that polymerizes upon exposure to heat comprising at least two functional groups that are reactive with functional groups of component (a3), wherein at least 5% by weight based on a nonvolatile weight of component (a2) is component (X) that is a polymer with at least two functional groups (a21), a Tg of less than 0° C., and an equivalent weight of greater than 225; (a3) thermally curable crosslinking component comprising at least two functional groups that are reactive with functional groups of (a2); and (a4) optionally, at least one reactive diluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas C. Balch, Lyle A. Caillouette, Karl R. Gust
  • Patent number: 6822040
    Abstract: A basecoat composition includes an acrylic polymer prepared from a combination of monomers including at least about 30% by weight ethyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, or a combination of these. The basecoat composition also includes methylated melamine-formaldehyde resin and up to about 10% by weight of a butylated melamine-formaldehyde resin, based on the weight of the basecoat composition vehicle and butylated melamine resin. An at least partially cured layer of the basecoat composition offers improved adhesion with a coating composition layer applied over it and cured, whether the coating composition layer applied over it is another layer of the basecoat composition itself or a layer of a clearcoat composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Leslie G. Baugh, David K. K. Lau, Thomas C. Balch, Sergio E. Balatan, Walter H. Ohrbom, James A. Laugal, David J. Law
  • Publication number: 20030207956
    Abstract: Coating composition comprising (a1) radiation curable component that polymerizes upon exposure to actinic radiation comprising at least two functional groups comprising at least one bond that is activatable upon exposure to actinic radiation, optionally, at least one isocyanate-reactive functional group, and optionally, at least one hydroxyl-reactive functional group; (a2) thermally curable binder component that polymerizes upon exposure to heat comprising at least two functional groups that are reactive with functional groups of component (a3), wherein at least 5% by weight based on a nonvolatile weight of component (a2) is component (X) that is a polymer with at least two functional groups (a21), a Tg of less than 0° C., and an equivalent weight of greater than 225; (a3) thermally curable crosslinking component comprising at least two functional groups that are reactive with functional groups of (a2); and (a4) optionally, at least one reactive diluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas C. Balch, Lyle A. Caillouette, Karl R. Gust
  • Publication number: 20030060560
    Abstract: A basecoat composition includes an acrylic polymer prepared from a combination of monomers including at least about 30% by weight ethyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, or a combination of these. The basecoat composition may also include a combination of methylated melamine resin and butylated melamine resin. An at least partially cured layer of the basecoat composition offers improved adhesion with a coating composition layer applied over it and cured, whether the coating composition layer applied over it is another layer of the basecoat composition itself or a layer of a clearcoat composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Leslie G. Baugh, David K. K. Lau, Thomas C. Balch, Sergio E. Balatan, Walter H. Ohrbom, James A. Laugal, David J. Law
  • Patent number: 6040360
    Abstract: A coating composition comprising stabilized inorganic pigments is provided. The coating comprises a pigment treated with a pigment treatment composition of a polyester havng an acid number between 15 and 50 or a phosphate ester or pyrophosphate ester, having an acid number between 10 and 50, solvent, and an amino functional resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory G. Menovcik, Thomas C. Balch, Hilary P. Davis, Paul Dudek
  • Patent number: 5876493
    Abstract: A method for stabilizing inorganic pigments in aqueous media and waterborne coating compositions is provided. The method comprises forming a pigment treatment composition of a polyester havng an acid number between 15 mg KOH/g and 50 mg KOH/g or a phosphate ester or pyrophosphate ester, having an acid number between 10 mg KOH/g and 50 mg KOH/g, solvent, and an amino functional resin. The composition is then deposited on the pigment. The treated pigment is stable in an aqueous environment and is suitable for waterborne coating compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory G. Menovcik, Thomas C. Balch, Hilary P. Davis, Paul Dudek
  • Patent number: 5066732
    Abstract: This invention, therefore, relates to the field of polyurethane coatings for use in automobile basecoat/clearcoat systems. In particular, this invention relates to water-dispersible polyurethane resins having polyether sidechains which may be utilized in basecoat compositions as principal resins or grind resins. These polyurethane resins may be laterally stabilized or terminally stabilized. The terminally stabilized resins of this invention are preferably employed as principal resins in basecoat compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: BASF Corporation, Inmont Division
    Inventors: Thomas G. Savino, Thomas C. Balch, Alan J. Steinmetz, Sergio E. Balatin, Nicholas Caiozzo
  • Patent number: 4946910
    Abstract: This invention, therefore, relates to the field of polyurethane coatings for use in automobile basecoat/clearcoat systems. In particular, this invention relates to water-dispersible polyurethane resins having polyether sidechains which may be utilized in basecoat compositions as principal resins or grind resins. These polyurethane resins may be laterally stabilized or terminally stabilized. The terminally stabilized resins of this invention are preferably employed as principal resins in basecoat compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: BASF Corporation, Inmont Division
    Inventors: Thomas G. Savino, Thomas C. Balch, Alan L. Steinmetz, Sergio E. Balatin, Nicholas Caiozzo
  • Patent number: 4794147
    Abstract: This invention, therefore, relates to the field of polyurethane coatings for use in automobile basecoat/clearcoat systems. In particular, this invention relates to water-dispersible polyurethane resins having polyether sidechains which may be utilized in basecoat compositions as principal resins or grind resins. These polyurethane resins may be laterally stabilized or terminally stabilized. The terminally stabilized resins of this invention are preferably employed as principal resins in basecoat compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: BASF Corporation, Inmont Division
    Inventors: Thomas G. Savino, Thomas C. Balch, Alan L. Steinmetz, Sergio E. Balatin, Nicholas Caiozzo
  • Patent number: 4791168
    Abstract: This invention, therefore, relates to the field of polyurethane coatings for use in automobile basecoat/clearcoat systems. In particular, this invention relates to the discovery that incorporating a long-chain carboxylic acid of at least 50% by weight of the carboxylic acid component used to make polyester resins which are further incorporated into polyurethane resins provides basecoat composition exhibiting low temperature flash characteristics. These low temperature flash characteristics are exhibited even where the basecoat is deposited at 50-90% relative humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: BASF Corporation, Inmont Division
    Inventors: Timothy Salatin, Thomas C. Balch, Michael C. Knight, Michael D. Shesterkin, John S. Van Antwerp, Paul E. Lamberty, Robert A. Aamodt
  • Patent number: RE34730
    Abstract: This invention, therefore, relates to the field of polyurethane coatings for use in automobile basecoat/clearcoat systems. In particular, this invention relates to the discovery that incorporating a long-chain carboxylic acid of at least 50% by weight of the carboxylic acid component used to make polyester resins which are further incorporated into polyurethane resins provides basecoat composition exhibiting low temperature flash characteristics. These low temperature flash characteristics are exhibited even where the basecoat is deposited at 50-90% relative humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: BASF Corporation, Inmont Division
    Inventors: Timothy Salatin, Thomas C. Balch, Michael C. Knight, Michael D. Shesterkin, John S. Van Antwerp, Paul E. Lamberty, Robert A. Aamodt