Abstract: A clear coating composition for use over a colored basecoat having improved scratch resistance is disclosed. The coating composition comprises a film-forming polymer and a curing agent. The improvement is due to the incorporation in the clear coating composition of an adjuvant resin having functional groups reactive with the curing agent and positioned between the functional groups a moiety having a hydrocarbon chain of at least 10 contiguous carbon atoms.

Abstract: Additives comprising dispersed silica nanoparticles are disclosed. The silica nanoparticles are dispersed in an aminoplast, such as a modified aminoplast formed from the reaction between an aminoplast, a modifying component, and optionally a siloxane. The resulting additives can be added to coating compositions to provide improved mar and/or scratch resistance.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved multi-layer composite of two or more polymeric layers at least one of which is formed from a thermosetting composition. The composite includes at least a first polymeric layer formed on a substrate and a second polymeric layer over the first polymeric layer, wherein in the absence of a boron-containing compound, the first and second polymeric layers have poor interlayer adhesion. The improvement resides in the inclusion of at least one boron-containing compound in one or both of the first and second polymeric layers in an amount sufficient to improve the interlayer adhesion between the first and second polymeric layers. Also provided is an improved curable coating composition used to form a multi-layer composite coating of two or more cured coating layers, at least one of which is formed from the thermosetting composition. Related methods and coated substrates are also provided.