Abstract: The presence of biological contaminants in a liquid coating composition is determined by measuring the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere above the liquid and comparing the measured carbon dioxide level to a baseline carbon dioxide level. A biocide can be added to the liquid when the measured carbon dioxide level reaches a predetermined value to control the level of biological contaminants in the liquid coating composition.

Abstract: The invention provides a photodegradation resistant curable electrodepositable coating composition which includes one or more ungelled, active hydrogen-containing cationic sulfonium salt group-containing resins which are electrodepositable on a cathode, and one or more curing agents having cationic groups or groups which are capable of forming cationic groups. The invention also provides processes for coating an electroconductive substrate with the coating composition, to form single layer or multi-layer composite coatings. Also provided is a multi-layer composite coating in which the electrodepositable coating composition is used to form the primer layer. The compositions have improved throw power versus typical sulfonium salt electrodepositable compositions.

Abstract: A curable film-forming composition of 5 to 95 weight percent (based on the total resin solids weight in the composition) of a crosslinking agent; 5 to 95 weight percent ot a polymer containing functional groups reactive with the crosslinking agent; and 0.01 to 15 weight percent of at least one additive selected from a reaction product of phosporous acid and: at least one diepoxide; at least one diepoxide and at least one anhydride; at least one diepoxide and at least one anhydride, chain extended with at least one diol; at least one monoepoxide and at least one anhydride, chain extended with at least one diepoxide; and mixtures thereof. The additives in the composition prevent thermal oxidation, minimizing visual effects (i.e., yellowing). A multi-component composite coating includes a base coat and a top coat which may be derived from the above curable film-forming composition.

Abstract: A circuit board layer 2 in accordance with the present invention includes a conductive sheet 4 sandwiched between an insulating top layer 10 and an insulating bottom layer 14. The top and bottom layers 10 and 14 and the conductive sheet 4 define the circuit board layer 2 having an edge that includes an edge 20 of the conductive sheet 4. An insulating edge layer 18 covers substantially all of the edge 20 of the conductive sheet 4.

Abstract: Provided is a process for creating a via through a substrate including the steps of (a) providing a substantially void-free film of a curable composition; (b) applying a resist onto the curable film; (c) imaging the resist in predetermined locations; (d) developing the resist to expose predetermined areas of the curable film; (e) removing the exposed areas of the curable film to form holes through the curable film; and (f) heating the curable film of step (e) to a temperature and for a time sufficient to cure the curable composition. Also disclosed is a process of fabricating a circuit assembly which includes building patterned circuit layers upon a substrate that has vias provided by the aformentioned process.

Abstract: A crosslinking agent is provided which is an ungelled reaction product of (a) an aminoplast resin and (b) a compound having active hydrogen groups reactive with the aminoplast resin (a) such that the crosslinking agent is essentially free of functional groups reactive with aminoplast resin and has a glass transition temperature of at least 10° C. Also provided is a method for preparing the crosslinking agent. Further provided is a curable powder coating composition including (A) a polymer having a glass transition temperature of at least 30° C. containing reactive functional groups and (B) the previously described crosslinking agent. Additionally provided is a multilayer composite coating composition including a base coat deposited from a film-forming composition and a top coat over the base coat deposited from the previously described powder coating composition. Coated substrates are also provided.

Abstract: Compositions are provided which contain (a) one or more polysiloxanes comprising at least one reactive functional group; a plurality of particles; and, optionally, one or more curing agents comprising at least one functional group that is reactive with any reactive functional group of polysiloxane (a). Additionally, a process for applying the multi-component composite coatings described above to a substrate and coated substrates are provided. A process for preparing the coating compositions also is provided. The multi-component composite coating compositions of the invention provide highly scratch resistant color-plus-clearcoatings capable of retaining scratch resistance after weathering.

Abstract: A crosslinking agent is provided, prepared by reacting (A) an aminoplast resin; (B) a reactive urethane group-containing adduct of a polyfunctional polymer and monoisocyanate, and (C) at least one other compound having active hydrogen groups reactive with aminoplast resin (A). Compound (C) is selected from: (i) compounds having the structure (I):  wherein X is aromatic; R1, R2, and R3 each independently represents H, (cyclo)alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, or an active hydrogen-containing group, (ii) compounds having the structure (II) or (III):  where R′ and R″ each independently represents an aromatic group or an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and (iii) compounds different from (i) and (ii), having a melting point of at least 80° C. Further provided are methods for preparing the crosslinking agent, curable compositions containing the crosslinking agent, and coated substrates.

Abstract: A crosslinking agent is provided, prepared by reacting (A) an aminoplast resin; (B) a reactive urethane group-containing adduct and (C) at least one other compound having active hydrogen groups reactive with aminoplast resin (A). Compound (C) is selected from: (i) compounds having the structure (I):  wherein X is aromatic; R1, R2, and R3 each independently represents H, (cyclo)alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, or an active hydrogen-containing group, (ii) compounds having the structure (II) or (III):  where R′ and R″ each independently represents an aromatic group or an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and (iii) compounds different from (i) and (ii), having a melting point of at least 80° C. Further provided are methods for preparing the crosslinking agent curable compositions containing the crosslinking agent, and coated substrates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a weldable, coated metal substrate having a pretreatment coating including a reaction product of at least one epoxy-functional material and at least one phosphorus-containing material or amine-containing material and a weldable coating having an electroconductive pigment and a binder deposited thereon.

Abstract: A latex emulsion that includes crosslinked polymeric microparticles dispersed in an aqueous continuous phase. The microparticles are prepared from a monomer mix of a crosslinking monomer, a monomer having hydrophilic functional groups, and one or more other monomers. Also disclosed is a thermosetting composition that includes a first reactant that has reactive functional groups; a curing agent that has at least two functional groups reactive with the functional groups of the first reactant; and the latex emulsion of crosslinked polymeric microparticles dispersed in an aqueous continuous phase. The thermosetting composition may be used to coat a substrate. The coating may be a multi-layer composite coating that includes a base coat layer deposited from a pigmented film-forming base coat composition containing the thermosetting composition; and a substantially pigment free top coat layer deposited over a portion of the base coat layer from a substantially pigment free top coat composition.

Abstract: Coating compositions are provided which are formed from components comprising (a) at least one polysiloxane comprising at least one reactive functional group; (b) at least one reactant comprising at least one functional group that is reactive with at least one functional group selected from the at least one reactive functional group of the at least one polysiloxane and at least one functional group of at least one reactant; and (c) a plurality of particles, wherein each component is different, and wherein the at least one reactive functional group of the at least one polysiloxane and the at least one functional group of the at least one reactant are substantially nonreactive with the particles. A multi-component composite coating composition formed from a basecoat and a topcoat deposited from the curable coating composition also is provided.

Abstract: An aqueous composition for pretreating and depositing a coating on metal substrates is provided. The coating composition includes from about 1,500 to about 55,000 ppm based on the aqueous composition of a Group IIA dissolved metal ion, from about 100 to about 200,000 ppm based on the aqueous composition of a dissolved complex metal fluoride ion wherein the metal atom is selected from Group IIIA, Group IVA, Group IVB metals, Group VA, Group VB metals; and water. The composition is substantially free of Group IIA metal fluoride precipitate. This is desirably achieved by including in the aqueous composition a complex metal salt which is different than the salt associated with the complex metal fluoride ion, with the complex metal salt being capable of complexing free fluoride ions to prevent a precipitation reaction with the Group IIA metal ion. A method of preparing such an aqueous coating composition is further provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrodepositable coating composition having a resinous phase dispersed in an aqueous medium. The resinous phase includes (a) an ungelled, active hydrogen-containing, ionic salt group-containing resin; and (b) a curing agent reactive with the active hydrogens of the resin (a). The resinous phase has a covalently bonded halogen content based on total weight of resin solids present in the resinous phase such that when the composition is electrodeposited and cured, the cured film passes flame resistance testing in accordance with IPC-TM-650, and has a dielectric constant of less than or equal to 3.50. The invention also is directed to a method for forming a dielectric coating on an electroconductive substrate using the electrodepositable coating composition, as well as to a substrate coated with the electrodepositable composition.

Abstract: Provided is a crosslinking agent which is the ungelled reaction product of a polyester polyol and an aminotriazine compound having one or less non-alkylated NH bond per triazine ring. The polyester polyol is the reaction product of a cycloaliphatic polyol and a cyclic polycarboxylic acid or anhydride. The crosslinking agent is essentially free of hydroxyl functionality and has a glass transition temperature of at least 10° C. Further provided is a powder coating composition including a solid particulate film-forming mixture of a polymer containing reactive functional groups and having a Tg of at least 30° C., and the crosslinking agent. Additionally provided is a multi-layer composite coating composition having a basecoat layer deposited from a basecoat film-forming composition and a topcoat over the basecoat deposited from the previously described powder coating composition. Coated substrates are also provided.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for measuring and/or adjusting the cleaning performance of a cleaning liquid. One method of the invention includes determining a control value (i.e., the number of drops of the cleaning liquid to provide a selected volume) indicative of when the cleaning performance of the cleaning liquid is at or approaching an unacceptable level. At least one substrate can be contacted with the cleaning liquid and a drop number for the cleaning liquid (i.e., the number of drops of the cleaning liquid to provide the selected volume) again measured. At least one cleaning agent, such as at least one surfactant, can be added to the cleaning liquid when the measured drop number is at or near the control value. In one embodiment, the cleaning agent can be added until the measured drop number is at or near a baseline drop number for the cleaning liquid (i.e., the number of drops of the cleaning liquid when cleaning performance is acceptable).

Abstract: A curable emulsion coating composition essentially free of chromium is provided. The composition comprises a continuous waterborne phase and a discontinuous phase. The discontinuous phase comprises at least one water-insoluble, particulate film-forming thermoplastic resin, at least one water-insoluble, film-forming thermosetting resin, and at least one water-insoluble alkali metal salt of a heavy metal-containing acid. The heavy metal may be selected from titanium, zirconium, and mixtures thereof. The heavy metal salt is present in the coating composition in an amount of 0.05 to 15 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. The composition is suitable for use over a variety of metal substrates as a pretreatment coating or as a direct-to-metal primer. Also provided is a process for coating a metal substrate by contacting the substrate with the curable composition described above and heating the coated substrate to a peak metal temperature of 170 to 350° F. (77 to 177° C.).

Abstract: Processes for forming a coating on electroconductive flat blanks having two major surfaces and sheared edges are provided. Also provided is a process for forming a multi-composite coating on a pre-sheared, electroconductive, flat blank having two major surfaces and sheared edges. Methods for forming and coating metal blanks are also provided. The present invention further provides a pre-sheared, flat electroconductive blank having two major surfaces and coated with a multi-layer composite coating composition on one major surface. The present invention also provides a method for coating a continuous metal strip, optionally, thereafter forming a coated blank therefrom, and, optionally, applying a second coating to the blank.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a multi-layer circuit assembly is provided comprising the following steps: (a) providing a perforate electrically conductive core having a via density of 500 to 10,000 holes/square inch (75 to 1550 holes/square centimeter); (b) applying a dielectric coating onto all exposed surfaces of the electrically conductive core to form a conformal coating on all exposed surfaces of the electrically conductive core; (c) ablating the surface of the dielectric coating in a predetermined pattern to expose sections of the electrically conductive core; (d) applying a layer of metal to all surfaces to form metallized vias through the electrically conductive core; and (e) applying a resinous photosensitive layer to the metal layer. Additional processing steps such as circuitization may be included.

Abstract: A crosslinking agent having reactive benzoxazine groups is provided. The crosslinking agent is an ungelled reaction product of aminoplast resin, a polyhydric aromatic compound, and at least one compound having active hydrogen groups reactive with aminoplast resin which is selected from at least one of: (i) compounds having the structure (I): where X is aromatic; R1, R2, and R3 each independently represents H, (cyclo)alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, or an active hydrogen-containing group; (ii) compounds having structure (II) or (III): where R′ and R″ each independently represents an aromatic group or an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and (iii) compounds different from (i) and (ii) and having a melting point of at least 80° C. Curable powder coating composition and multilayer composite coating compositions are also provided, as well as coated substrates.