Abstract: The invention provides powder coatings having at least 25% by weight of an epoxy functional particulate component (a) having a Tg of at least 50° C. and of the structure: wherein n is a number from 0 to 15, and R1 is selected from the group consisting of linear, branched or cycloaliphatic C2-C20 alkyl groups and mixtures thereof, based on the total weight of all epoxy functional particulate components in the powder coating composition. The powder-coating compositions of the invention are suitable for use as primers over electrocoat and under composite basecoat/clearcoat systems. Powder primers of the invention provide simultaneous improvements in yellowing, chip resistance, UV durability and color stability.

Abstract: A urethane coating is formed by a reaction of a hydroxy-functional resin and a blocked isocyanate crosslinker. A method of catalyzing this reaction includes forming a polymeric ligand from the resin and/or the crosslinker.

Abstract: Disclosed is a film-forming composition comprising a binder and a pigment mixture present in a pigment to binder ratio of at least 0.8. The pigment mixture consists of at least 80% of titanium dioxide by weight and no more than 20% by weight of non-titanium dioxide pigments, based on the total weight of the pigment mixture, said non-titanium dioxide pigments being selected from the group consisting of carbon black, talc, barium sulfate, magnesium silicate, and combinations comprising two or more of the foregoing. The composition has an adjusted VOC of no more than 100 g/L, is free of all pigments other than those in the pigment mixture, has a viscosity of no more than 200 cps at 384 sec?1, and provides a cured film having an elasticity of at least 20%. The composition provides multilayer coating systems having improved chip performance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for evaluating chip performance of a cured coating system. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a coated substrate comprising a substrate and a cured film of a first coating composition thereon, measuring elastic work energy (We/Wtot) of the cured film, and calculating a % C.P. of the cured film via the formula: % C.P.=7.61636?0.225473 (We/Wtot) wherein a % C.P. of equal to or less than about 3.5% correlates to a total paint loss of equal to or less than 5% of a coating system comprising the first coating composition. The disclosed method predicts the gravelometer chip performance of a cured multilayer coating system comprising a first coating composition and a topcoat by measuring the measuring elastic work energy (We/Wtot) of the cured first coating system alone. In one embodiment, chip performance can be predicted without topcoat application and independent of topcoat composition.

Abstract: An aqueous thermosetting primer composition includes a polyurethane polymer, an acrylic polymer polymerized in a wax having crosslinkable functionality, and a crosslinking component that is reactive with the wax and at least one of the polyurethane polymer and the acrylic polymer. The polyurethane polymer has a glass transition temperature of 0° C. or less. The acrylic polymer has a glass transition temperature that is at least about 20° C. higher than the glass transition temperature of polyurethane resin. The invention further provides a composite coating having as a primer layer a cured layer of the primer composition of the invention and having at least one topcoat layer.

Abstract: A powder coating composition comprising at least about 0.1% by weight of a reaction product of an aminoplast and a compound having one carbamate group has improved smoothness.