Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making alpha-methylstyrene dimers by combining a cobalt catalyst, a free-radical initiator and an alpha-methylstyrene monomer, in an inert atmosphere, to form a mixture. The mixture is heated to a temperature in the range of 65° C. to 140° C. to form alpha methyl styrene dimers. The present invention also relates to the products produced by this inventive method.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the preparation of polymers of low polydispersity and/or controlled molecular weight and architecture employing living free radical polymerization initiated by an alkoxyamine initiator or nitroxide plus, optionally, a free radical initiator, the polymer produced thereby; selected nitroxide and alkoxyamine initiators; and a process for making the initiators; the polymeric products being useful in protective coatings.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved apparatus for treating the surface of particles by plasma-activated gas species to modify the particle surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a coating composition particularly useful as a clear coating applied over a pigmented base coating, wherein the clear coating has improved resistance to marring and to acid etching when exposed to natural weathering conditions. The clear coating is particularly useful as an automotive OEM clear coating or as a refinish clear coating. The coating has two components. Component A of the coating composition includes a melamine and an acrylosilane polymer of a polymerized monomers mixture, which includes an alkyl methacrylate, an alkyl acrylate, cycloaliphatic alkyl methacrylate, cycloaliphatic alkyl acrylate, styrene or any mixture of these monomers; hydroxy alkyl methacrylate, hydroxy alkyl acrylate or any mixtures of these monomers; and a mono-ethylenically unsaturated silane monomer. Component B of the composition includes an organic polyisocyanate as a crosslinking agent.

Abstract: A free-radical polymerization process for making macromonomers having the structure: comprising contacting: (a) CH2═CHY; (b) optionally, CH2═CXB; and (c) free-radicals, produced from a free-radical source; in which B, U, X, Y, Z, m, n and p are defined in the text; macromonomer quality being controlled by adjusting one or more of the following variables: molar ratios of a, b and c; temperature; monomer concentration; and conversion.

Abstract: A curable coating composition comprising functionalized oligomer components i and ii which cross-link at cure to form a three-dimensional network having chains of substantially uniform, controllable molecular weight between cross-links; oligomers i and ii having weight average molecular weights not exceeding about 3,000, a polydispersity for (i) not exceeding about 1.5, and functionalities that react with one another to cross-link i and ii at cure to yield coatings with an excellent balance of hardness and mar resistance.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a powder lacquer composition based on polyester by a) common or separate heating to a temperature of 120-200° C. of A) 99-40 wt. % polyester precondensates, and/or of monomers usable for the preparation thereof, B) 1-60 wt. % pigments and C) 0-10 wt. % wetting additives and/or further additives which are conventionally used for lacquers, wherein the percentages by weight total 100%, b) homogeneous mixing of the components A), B) and C) with the application of shear forces and with the heating temperature maintained, c) dispersion of the mixture obtained in a dispersing medium at a temperature equal to or above the melting temperature of the starting components A), B) and C) with further polycondensation of the polyester precondensate A), and/or of the monomers, d) cooling of the dispersion and addition of a conventional cross-linking agent for the polyester and optionally of conventional additives, within the temperature range 60 to 140° C.

Abstract: This invention concerns low viscosity aldimine and ketimine reactive diluents having multi-imine functionality, which are useful in automotive refinish coating compositions, including a process for making them and the coatings that contain them.

Abstract: A process for preparing microgel(s) that uses a wide range of activatable prepolymers; in the process, a polymer composition of crosslinked component A and soluble components B and C is formed from mono-olefinic and multi-olefinic monomers in the presence of catalyst and initiator; the process comprises: I) introducing mono-olefinic monomer, catalyst, and initiator into a reactor in the absence of multi-olefinic monomer and producing an activatable prepolymer, component B; II) contacting the product of I) with multi-olefinic monomer to produce components A and C, optionally in the presence of additional initiator; also optionally in the presence of additional mono-olefinic monomer and initiator; the ratio of components A/(B+C) can be controlled by varying the mole ratio of Component B/ multi-olefinic monomer from 0.05/1 up to 5/1, by decreasing the mole ratio to increase the ratio of A/(B+C), and increasing the mole ratio to decrease the ratio of A/(B+C).

Abstract: Water-borne base coats, the resin solid of which contain 40 to 90 wt-% of a water-dilutable polyester binder, 0 to 50 wt-% of one or more additional binders, 0 to 20 wt-% of one or more paste resins and 10 to 40 wt-% of one or more cross-linking agents, wherein the water-dilutable polyester binder has a weight average molecular mass of 5000 to 50000, an acid value of 10 to 50 mg KOH/g, a hydroxyl value of 30 to 100 mg KOH/g and an average hydroxyl-functionality of 2 to 3 and consists of 5 to 25 wt-% of structural units —O—R—O— derived from one or more macrodiols having a hydroxyl value of 25 to 120 mg KOH/g, wherein R represents residues located between the terminal hydroxyl groups of the one or more macrodiols, are suitable for preparing water-borne base coat/clear coat-two-layer coatings, in particular water-borne base coat/powder clear coat two-layer coatings.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for making a reactive silane oligomer having low polydispersity, viscosity and volatility. The process utilizes reacting unsymmetrical difunctional silane monomers with water, diol monomers, or a combination thereof to make the reactive silane oligomer. The unsymmetrical difunctional silane monomers are with silane reactive groups having significantly different reactivities. Use of such reactive silane oligomers results in multi-component coating compositions having high miscibility, low VOC, low viscosity and high percentage of solids.

Abstract: This invention provides for a two-pack solvent based coating composition that cures in two stages when applied over substrates. The first stage of the cure takes place rapidly under ambient conditions to produce a coating surface that can be readily sanded or buffed. Thereafter, over a period of days a second stage cure takes place to produce a coating having excellent coating properties. Thus, a coated component, such as automotive body, can be speedily moved out from a spray booth without affecting the surface quality of the coated surface. As a result, coating operation productivity can be increased. The aforedescribed dual cure properties of the coating composition result from including in a binder component of the coating composition an acrylic polymer having secondary amine and hydroxyl functionalities. The composition is most suited for use in automotive refinish applications.

Abstract: Synthesis of linear acrylic polymers and copolymers having controlled molecular weight by the photoinitiated free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers in the presence of chain transfer agents to produce polymers useful in coating compositions and the like, including printing inks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making alpha-methylstyrene dimers by combining a cobalt catalyst, a free-radical initiator and an alpha-methylstyrene monomer, in an inert atmosphere, to form a mixture. The mixture is heated to a temperature in the range of 5° C. to 140° C. to form alpha methyl styrene dimers. The present invention also relates to the products produced by this inventive method.

Abstract: Process for the synthesis of block polymers, homopolymers and copolymers of narrow polydispersity having formula (1) by contacting selected vinyl monomer(s), vinyl-terminated compound(s) and free radicals in which effective control of production of polymer is achieved by controlling the mole ratio of vinyl monomer(s), vinyl-terminated compound(s) and free radicals relative to one another; and polymers produced thereby

Abstract: A high solids coating composition comprising a branched hydroxy-functional polyester oligomer and a curing agent; and the oligomer itself containing at least 20% by weight of the binder of at least one of the following tertiary acid ester end groups: where R1, R2 and R3 are independently selected from CH3 and CH2OH; the composition being suitable as an automobile clearcoat or pigmented topcoat.

Abstract: This invention concerns the preparation of polymers of low polydispersity and/or controlled molecular weight and architecture employing living free radical polymerization initiated by an alkoxyamine initiator or nitroxide plus, optionally a free radical initiator, the polymer produced thereby; selected nitroxide and alkoxyamine initiators; and a process for making the initiators; the polymeric products being useful in protective coatings.

Abstract: A sprayable coating composition that contains at least one soluble film-forming silicon-containing compound having, on average, more than one fuctionalized silicon group, a volatile organic carrier, a polymer microparticle component, and a catalyst; a substrate coated with the composition; a process for coating the substrate to provide a protective finish; the finish-protected substrate; certain oligomeric compounds and a process therefor.

Abstract: The invention concerns a graft copolymer emulsion which is anionically stabilized and which contains an amino-functional monomer. The graft copolymer, useful in a coating composition, has a weight average molecular weight of at least about 3,000 and comprises 20 to 95 weight percent of a polymer backbone and 5 to 80 weight percent of a macromonomer. The polymer backbone further comprises 0.5 to 30 weight percent of an amino-functional monomer and the macromonomer comprises at least about 5 weight percent of an unsaturated acid-functional monomer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a two-pack solvent-based ambient curable coating composition comprising a binder of a hydroxyl and crosslinking components. The hydroxyl component includes a linear or branched cycloaliphatic moiety-containing reactive oligomer or blend of oligomers with a weight average molecular weight not exceeding 3,000, a polydispersity not exceeding about 1.7 with at least 2 hydroxyl groups, at least 1, on average, being a primary hydroxyl group. The reactive oligomer is formed by the reaction of an oligomeric acid with monofunctional epoxy. The crosslinking component includes one or more of an oligomeric crosslinker containing at least 2 isocyanate groups. The coating composition of the invention is particularly suited in automotive refinish coatings.