Abstract: The present invention provides an adhesion promoting agent which includes a graft copolymer formed by a halogenated polyolefin polymer with at least one reactive functionality and a substantially saturated hydrocarbon polymer having more than one reactive functionality. At least one reactive functionality of the saturated hydrocarbon polymer is reactive with the reactive functionality of the halogenated polyolefin to form the graft copolymer of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel compounds that can serve as highly efficient initiators for controlled radical (co)polymerization processes including atom transfer radical (co)polymerization processes. These compounds include di-(trimethylolpropane)-tetra-(2-haloisobutyrate) compounds. The present invention also is directed to controlled radical (co)polymerization processes in which novel (co)polymers are prepared using the novel compounds, as well as to the novel (co)polymer products of the process.

Abstract: A block copolymer including a block of residues of a low surface tension (meth)acrylate monomer; a block of residues of a monomer free of hydroxyl group and amine group residues; and, optionally, a third block of residues of a monomer free of hydroxyl groups and amine groups. The first, second and third blocks are made of different residues from each other and the block copolymer has a polydispersity index of less than 2.5. A controlled radical polymerization method is disclosed to make the low surface tension block copolymers. The method includes the steps of sequentially adding a first monomer composition that is free of hydroxyl groups and amine groups and a second monomer composition that includes the low surface tension monomer to a suitable atom transfer radical polymerization initiator and polymerizing the monomer compositions to form a block copolymer.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition that includes a first reactant having functional groups; a second reactant having functional groups coreactive with the functional groups of the first reactant; and a block copolymer flow control agent. The block copolymer includes a first block made up of residues of a radically polymerizable fluoroalkyl(meth)acrylate monomer, a second block made up of residues of a second radically polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and optionally a third block made up of residues of a third radically polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer. The first, second and third blocks are made of different residues from each other and the block copolymer has a polydispersity index of less than 2.5. Also disclosed is a method of coating a substrate including the steps of applying the present thermosetting composition to the substrate; coalescing the thermosetting composition to form a substantially continuous film; and curing said thermosetting composition by the application of heat.

Abstract: Processes for coating metal or polymeric substrates are provided which include the steps of: (a) applying a liquid basecoating composition to a surface of the metal substrate; (b) applying a first infrared radiation at a power density of 30 kilowatts per meter squared or less and a first air simultaneously to the basecoating composition for a first period of at least about 30 seconds, a first velocity of the air at the surface of the basecoating composition being about 4 meters per second or less, a first temperature of the metal substrate being increased at a first rate ranging from about 0.05° C. per second to about 0.3° C. per second to achieve a first peak metal temperature ranging from about 30° C. to about 60° C.

Abstract: Multi-component composite coating compositions are provided which comprise a base coat deposited from a pigmented film-forming composition and a transparent top coat applied over the base coat in which the transparent top coat is deposited from a film-forming composition comprising one ore more ungelled chain-extended organic polysiloxanes having reactive functional groups, and one or more curing agents having functional groups reactive with the functional groups of the polysiloxane. Additionally provided is a process for applying the multi-component composite coatings described above to a substrate. Substrates coated with the above-described multi-component composite coating compositions are also provided.

Abstract: Multi-component composite coating compositions are provided which comprise a base coat deposited from a pigmented film-forming composition and a transparent top coat applied over the base coat in which the transparent top coat is deposited from a film-forming composition comprising one ore more ungelled chain-extended organic polysiloxanes having reactive functional groups, and one or more curing agents having functional groups reactive with the functional groups of the polysiloxane. Additionally provided is a process for applying the multi-component composite coatings described above to a substrate. Substrates coated with the above-described multi-component composite coating compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for matching paint on a vehicle, having the steps of receiving in a central computer, from a remote terminal, vehicle identifying information relating to a specific vehicle and a first set of paint color data from a portion of the body of the vehicle. The central computer includes a processor, an electronic storage device in which a database is stored. The database includes vehicle identifying information for a plurality of vehicles, paint color data associated with respective vehicle identifying information, and paint formulations associated with paint color data. A first process by software in the computer determines a first best match paint formulation which relates submitted vehicle identifying information and submitted paint data to a paint formulation. The software in the computer determines a first best match paint formulation which is transmitted to the remote terminal.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition that includes: (a) a crosslinking agent having at least two functional groups reactive with hydroxyl groups; and (b) a non-gelled, hydroxyl functional polymer prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization. The polymer contains at least one of the following polymer chain structures: —{(M)p—(G)q}x—  or —{(G)q—(M)p}x— wherein M is a residue, that is free of hydroxyl functionality, of at least one monomer; G is a residue, that has hydroxyl functionality, of at least one monomer; p and q represent average numbers of residues occurring in a block of residues in each polymer chain structure; and p, q, and x are each independently selected for each structure such that the hydroxyl functional polymer has a number average molecular weight of at least 250.

Abstract: Disclosed are thermosetting compositions which are comprised of a resinous phase dispersed in an aqueous medium, the resinous phase comprising (a) an ungelled active hydrogen group-containing polymer which contains amine salt groups, the polymer having been prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization in the presence of an initiator having at least one radically transferable group, and (b) a curing agent having at least two functional groups which are reactive with the active hydrogen groups of (a). The active hydrogen group-containing polymers of the thermosetting compositions, which are prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization, have narrow molecular weight distributions and well-defined, specifically tailored polymer architecture which can provide enhanced crosslink density and dispersibility of the thermosetting compositions. Also disclosed is a method of electrocoating a conductive substrate using the thermosetting compositions of the invention, and a substrate coated by this method.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition is provided comprising: (a) a crosslinking agent having at least two functional groups that are reactive with epoxides; and (b) a non-gelled, epoxy functional polymer prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization, in the presence of an initiator having at least one radically transferable group.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition comprising a co-reactable solid, particulate mixture of (a) capped polyisocyanate crosslinking agent, e.g., a trimer of 1-isocyanato-3,3,5 -trimethyl-5-isocyanatomethylcyclohexane capped with e-caprolactam or 1H-2,5-dimethyl pyrazole, and (b) hydroxy functional polymer, is described. The hydroxy functional polymer is prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization and has well defined polymer chain architecture and polydispersity index of less than 2.5. The thermosetting compositions of the present invention have utility as powder coatings compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed are thermosetting compositions which are comprised of a resinous phase dispersed in an aqueous medium, the resinous phase comprising (a) an ungelled active hydrogen group-containing polymer which contains onium salt groups, the polymer having been prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization in the presence of an initiator having at least one radically transferable group, and (b) a curing agent having at least two functional groups which are reactive with the active hydrogen groups of (a). The active hydrogen group-containing polymers of the thermosetting compositions, which are prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization, have narrow molecular weight distributions and well-defined, specifically tailored polymer architecture which can provide enhanced crosslink density and dispersibility of the thermosetting compositions. Also disclosed is a method of electrocoating a conductive substrate using the thermosetting compositions of the invention, and a substrate coated by this method.

Abstract: A multi-component composite coating composition comprising a base coat deposited from a pigmented film-forming composition and a transparent top coat applied over the base coat in which the base coat is a thermosetting composition comprising a co-reactable solid, particulate mixture of (i) an epoxy functional polymer containing at least one of the polymer chain structures -[(M)p-(G)q]x- or -[(G)q-(M)p]x- wherein M is an oxirane-free residue of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, G is a glycidyl-functional ethylenically unsaturated monomer, p and q each independently has a value of 0 to typically less than 100, and x has a value of at least 1 to typically less than 100, the total value of p, q and x selected such that said epoxy functional polymer has a number average molecular weight of at least 250, and (ii) a co-reactant having functional groups reactive with the epoxy groups of (i).

Abstract: A pigment dispersion that includes a pigment, an aqueous carrier, and a pigment dispersant. The pigment dispersant is prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization initiated and has the polymer chain structure: &phgr;—(G)p—(E)a—T where G is a residue of at least One ethylenically unsaturated monomer; E is a hydrophilic residue of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer; &phgr; is a hydrophobic residue of or derived from an initiator; T is or is derived from a radically transferable group from the initiator, p and s represent average numbers of residues occurring in a block of residues; p and s are each individually selected such that said pigment dispersant has a number average molecular weight of at least 250.

Abstract: A film-forming composition, typically a topcoat, having improved adhesion to certain commercially available adhesives. The composition includes a curable film-forming polymer, typically an acrylic and/or a polyester polymer, with carbamate and/or urea groups. The composition further includes a material containing one or more hydrolyzable silyl groups. The hydrolyzable silyl group-containing material optionally can be a polymeric or oligomeric. Also disclosed are a method of applying the above-described film-forming composition to a substrate and the coated article prepared by such a method.

Abstract: A pigment dispersion comprising pigment, an aqueous carrier selected from water and a mixture of water and at least one organic solvent, and a pigment dispersant is described. The pigment dispersant is prepared by controlled radical polymerization, e.g., atom transfer radical polymerization, of a radically polymerizable monomer in the presence of a polymeric initiator having at least one radically transferable group. The polymeric initiator forms the polymeric backbone segment of the pigment dispersant, and the monomer forms polymeric segments that are pendent to the polymeric backbone segment. The pigment dispersant has comb-like architecture in which the polymeric backbone segment is hydrophilic, and at least a portion of each pendent polymeric segment is hydrophobic.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrodepositable composition of a resinous phase dispersed in an aqueous medium. The resinous phase includes an ionic polyester polymer prepared from a) an aromatic and/or cycloaliphatic carboxylic acid compound having at least two aromatic and/or secondary aliphatic carboxyl groups, b) a branched aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or araliphatic compound containing at least two aliphatic hydroxyl groups, the aliphatic hydroxyl groups being either secondary or tertiary hydroxyl groups or primary hydroxyl groups attached to a carbon adjacent to a tertiary or quaternary carbon, c) a compound including an ionic salt group or a group which is converted to an ionic salt group, and d) optionally, at least one hydroxyl substituted carboxylic compound comprising at least one tertiary aliphatic carboxyl group and at least two aliphatic hydroxyl groups.

Abstract: An electrodeposition process is provided for applying an elastomeric thermosetting, film-forming polymer to a corrosion-resistant electrically conductive substrate that is free of an electrodeposited coating. The elastomeric polymer typically is a polyurethane, a polyurea or a poly(urethane urea). The film-forming coating applied by this process provides chip resistance to the substrate. A coated article that is prepared according to the process is also provided.

Abstract: A method for determining the thickness of a dryable or curable film-forming coating by incorporating a fluorescent component into the coating. The fluorescent component is either a resin solid of the coating, a fluorescent dye or a fluorescent dye attached to a resin solid of the coating. The coating is exposed to ultraviolet or visible light which causes the fluorescent component to fluoresce. The intensity of the fluorescence of the coating is measured and the thickness or weight of the coating is determined from a known mathematical relationship between the fluorescence intensity of the coating when exposed to the light and the thickness or weight of the coating. Additionally, a curable or dryable film-forming coating composition including a curable or dryable organic resin reacted with a fluorescent tag is provided.