Abstract: Waterborne top coat compositions, processes for preparing such compositions, and methods for forming top coats on substrates are provided. In an embodiment, a waterborne top coat composition includes water, pigment(s) and resin solids. The resin solids comprise about 60 to 100 wt. % of binder solids and 0 to about 40 wt. % of crosslinker solids, the binder solids comprising about 1 to about 40 wt. % of an acrylic/(meth)acryl copolymer hybrid binder, and about 60 to about 99 wt. % of one or more additional binders, the sum of the respective wt. % in each case equaling 100 wt. %.

Abstract: Methods and systems for robotically painting an object are provided. In one example, the method includes providing a scanner-robot arrangement. The scanner-robot arrangement includes a 3-D scanner, a robot, and at least one processor. The object is detected and an area to be painted is determined with the 3-D scanner in communication with the at least one processor. A robot path for painting the area is produced using the at least one processor. An applicator is held offset from the area of the object with the robot in communication with the at least one processor. The applicator is in fluid communication with a paint source that contains paint. The applicator is moved along the robot path with the robot in communication with the at least one processor while depositing the paint from the applicator onto the area of the object.

Abstract: A method includes applying a coating composition to a substrate through a high transfer efficiency applicator, wherein the coating composition comprises a polyamide wax; wherein the coating composition has a wet film thickness of at least about 30 microns measured at about 45 degrees without visible sag after cure, wherein the viscosity measured at a shear rate of about 1 s-1 recovers, after a high shear rate of about 10000 s-1 is applied for about 20 seconds, to within about 95% of a steady state viscosity achieved at greater than about 100 seconds of continuous shearing at about 1 s-1, in less than about 5 seconds; and wherein the coating composition has a complex viscosity measured at a temperature of about 60° C. that is reduced to from about 60 to about 500 mPa-s when the complex viscosity measured at about 30° C. is from about 800 to about 8000 mPa-s.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a matting agent level for a clearcoat formulation for repairing an object are disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: a) providing a database with multiple datasets, each dataset including a first gloss level value of a sample coating determined at a first measurement geometry and a matting agent level; b) determining a second gloss level value of the sample coating with a measurement arrangement at a second measurement geometry; c) associating the second gloss level value to the dataset of the sample coating; d) determining a third gloss level value of a target coating with the measurement arrangement at the second measurement geometry; e) selecting, from the database, a target dataset with a second gloss level value that is closest to the third gloss level value; and f) determining, from the target dataset, the matting agent level for the clearcoat formulation.

Abstract: A nozzle plate defines at least one nozzle connected to the nozzle plate at a base, wherein the at least one nozzle has a height and a top having an inner width and an outer width, wherein a ratio of the height to the inner width is greater than 5, and wherein the nozzle plate comprises a borosilicate glass. The nozzle plate is formed via a method including providing a silicon wafer having a surface; providing a borosilicate glass wafer having a surface; etching the surface of the silicon wafer to form a plurality of trenches in the surface; anodically bonding the etched surface of the silicon wafer to the surface of the borosilicate glass wafer to form a two layer composite; heating the two layer composite at a temperature of at least about 750° C.; and releasing the silicon wafer from the borosilicate glass to form the nozzle plate.

Abstract: A method of preparing a multi-layer coated article is disclosed. The method utilizes a high transfer efficiency applicator comprising a plurality of nozzles configured to apply a stream or droplets of a coating composition. The method includes providing a substrate bearing a partially-dehydrated aqueous coating layer, preparing a compatible coating composition, and applying the compatible coating composition to the substrate. The compatible coating composition is prepared by providing a test layer of the partially-dehydrated aqueous coating layer, applying a plurality of candidate cosolvents to the test layer, identifying at least one compatible cosolvent, and formulating the compatible coating composition as a waterborne fluid suitable for overspray-free application.

Abstract: A method of forming a multilayer coating on a substrate is provided. The multilayer coating exhibits reduced strike-in and mottling. The method includes the steps of providing the substrate including a primer disposed thereon, applying a basecoat composition on the primer, applying a clearcoat composition on the basecoat composition, and curing the basecoat composition and the clearcoat composition to form the multilayer coating on the substrate. The basecoat composition includes a film forming resin, a pigment, and about 5% to about 75% by weight on binder of a cyclic lactone modified branched acrylic polymer having a hydroxyl monomer content of about 1% to 65% by weight, all or part of which has been reacted with a cyclic lactone, and having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 10,000 to about 150,000 g/mol.

Abstract: Waterborne top coat compositions, processes for preparing such compositions, and methods for forming top coats on substrates are provided. In an embodiment, a waterborne top coat composition includes water, pigment(s) and resin solids. The resin solids comprise about 60 to 100 wt. % of binder solids and 0 to about 40 wt. % of crosslinker solids, the binder solids comprising about 1 to about 40 wt. % of an acrylic/(meth)acryl copolymer hybrid binder, and about 60 to about 99 wt. % of one or more additional binders, the sum of the respective wt. % in each case equaling 100 wt. %.

Abstract: This invention relates to a crosslinking component for binder resins which is especially suitable to be used together with epoxy-group containing binders and/or (poly)isocyanates such as blocked (poly)isocyanates and which comprises at least two blocked isocyanate groups per molecule of the crosslinking component whereby at least one of the at least two blocked isocyanate groups is a group according to structural unit (I), wherein the ratio of structural units of formula (II), if present, to structural units of formula (I) is 0.40 or below. The cross-linking component may also be self-cross-linkable. The present invention further relates to a coating composition, e.g. a one-component coating composition comprising the crosslinking component and a method of its manufacture.

Abstract: Coating application systems and methods of using the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a coating application system includes a support system defined in an XYZ coordinate system, where the XYZ coordinate system includes an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis that are all perpendicular to each other. The X and Y axes define an XY plane at a zero Z axis position. The support system includes a first and second bar both of which run in the X direction of the XY plane. A traveling rod is connected to the first and second bars and is configured to run in the X direction. A plurality of printheads are connected to the traveling rod, where the plurality of printheads include a first and second printhead that are configured to articulate independent of each other.

Abstract: A system and method include receiving target image data associated with a target coating. A texture feature extraction analysis process is applied to the target image data to determine a target texture image feature. A machine learning model identifies one or more texture features for matching to a target coating.

Abstract: Methods for forming top coats include spray-applying a waterborne top coat composition on the substrate to form a top coat layer, wherein the waterborne top coat composition comprises water, pigment(s) and resin solids, the resin solids comprising about 60 to 100 wt. % of binder solids and 0 to about 40 wt. % of crosslinker solids, the binder solids comprising about 1 to about 40 wt. % of a urethanized polyester/(meth)acryl copolymer hybrid binder having a hydroxyl number of about 30 to about 200 mg KOH/g and a carboxyl number of about 8 to about 50 mg KOH/g, and about 60 to about 99 wt. % of one or more additional binders, the sum of the respective wt. % in each case equaling 100 wt. %; and curing the top coat layer to form a cured top coat.

Abstract: A method of applying a coating composition to a substrate utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator is disclosed and provides coated article. The high transfer efficiency applicator comprises a plurality of nozzles, each being configured to apply a stream or stream of droplets of the coating composition to a substrate substantially without atomization, and an infrared emitter. The method includes providing a coating composition for overspray-free application to the high transfer efficiency applicator, and applying the coating composition via disposing a plurality of lines of the coating composition onto the substrate via the plurality of nozzles. The method also includes irradiating the coating composition via the infrared emitter during and/or after application to give an irradiated coating composition, and thereby form an overspray free coating layer on the substrate.

Abstract: A method of applying a coating composition to a substrate utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator include the steps of providing the high transfer efficiency applicator comprising an array of nozzles wherein each nozzle defines a nozzle orifice having a diameter of from 0.00002 m to 0.0004, providing the coating composition, and applying the coating composition to the substrate through the nozzle orifice without atomization such that at least 99.9% of the applied coating composition contacts the substrate to form a coating layer having a wet thickness of at least 5 microns, wherein the coating composition includes a carrier, a binder, and a radar reflective pigment or a LiDAR reflective pigment. The coating composition has an Ohnesorge number (Oh) of from about 0.01 to about 12.6, a Reynolds number (Re) of from about 0.02 to about 6,200, and a Deborah number (De) of from greater than 0 to about 1730.

Abstract: Water-borne sealer compositions, multilayer coated substrates, and methods for building up a multilayer coating on a substrate are provided. In one example, a water-borne sealer composition includes an acrylic latex resin, a polyurethane dispersion (PUD), and water. The acrylic latex resin is free of a core-shell latex. The PUD includes a hydroxyl functional reaction product of polyisocyanate and a polyol including a polycarbonate diol.

Abstract: A polymer includes the reaction product of A, B, and C and optionally D and/or E wherein: A is a polyepoxide that is: the condensation product of phenol, formaldehyde, and epichlorohydrin; the condensation product of bisphenol A, formaldehyde, and epichlorohydrin; or a combination of said condensation products; B is a polymer that is: an acrylic polymer with one or two terminal carboxylic acid groups; a polyester with one carboxylic acid group; or a combination of said polymers; and C is an anchoring compound that is: a primary amine; a secondary amine; a monocarboxylic acid; a cyclic imide; or a combination thereof; D is an alkylating agent; and E is a polyether with a terminal primary amine group. This polymer is included in a composition that further includes a compound such as a particulate solid.

Abstract: A fuel truck is used to deliver fuel to vehicles parked at one or more locations. While the fuel truck is servicing vehicles, a user of the fuel truck uses a mobile device to assist in the management of fuel delivery. Specifically, each vehicle being serviced has a tag that is a capable of being read by the mobile device. The tag communicates information that identifies the vehicle, and the mobile device communicates with a meter on the fuel truck to track how much fuel is delivered to the identified vehicle. The mobile device also controls the meter such that fuel is allowed to flow only when the mobile device is aware of which vehicle is receiving the fuel. Thus, over time, the mobile device is able to track accurately which vehicle is receiving fuel so that the amount of fuel delivered to each vehicle can be precisely determined.

Abstract: A system and method include receiving target image data associated with a target coating. A texture feature extraction analysis process is applied to the target image data to determine a target texture image feature. A machine learning model identifies one or more texture features for matching to a target coating.

Abstract: A computing system and associated methodology of evaluating and matching colored sparkle appearance of coatings containing at least one effect pigment type are disclosed. The methodology processes a digital image of a coating sample obtain pixel-specific sparkle point data and pixel-specific background data, both of which are formatted in accordance with an advanced color appearance model that corresponds to human color perception. A colored sparkle visual scaling value is calculated from the pixel-specific data, wherein the visual scaling value indicates colored sparkle characteristics of the coating sample. The visual scaling value of the coating sample is compared against the visual scaling value of a previously-characterized candidate coating specimen. The results of the comparison are used to determine how well the candidate coating specimen matches (in colored sparkle characteristics) the coating sample.

Abstract: A system for applying a first, a second, and a third coating composition. The system includes a first high transfer efficiency applicator defining a first nozzle orifice. The system further includes a second high transfer efficiency applicator defining a second nozzle orifice. The system further includes a third high transfer efficiency applicator defining a third nozzle orifice. The system further includes a substrate defining a target area. The first, the second, and the third high transfer efficiency applicators are configured to expel the first coating composition through the first nozzle orifice to the target area of the substrate, through the second nozzle orifice to the target area of the substrate, and through the third nozzle orifice to the target area of the substrate.