Abstract: Flexible coatings are applied to the outer surfaces of automotive vehicles having metal and plastic portions from coating compositions having about 40 to 95% by weight of an epsilon-caprolactone modified acrylic polymer and about 5 to 45% by weight of an aminoplast resin cross-linking agent, the epsilon-caprolactone modified acrylic polymer having a number average molecular weight of about 1,000 to 6,000, hydroxyl contents from about 1 to 7% by weight, optionally about 0.1 to 4.0% by weight carboxyl contents and about 0.25 to 6 moles epsilon-caprolactone per mole of hydroxyl and/or carboxyl in the polymer, the coating composition having a solids content of about 35 to 68% by weight and a liquid carrier of about 32 to 65% by weight.

Abstract: Multilayer coatings having at least one base coating containing pigments and at least one transparent top coating are applied from coating compositions on the substrates and cured together. The coating composition contains:(a) a film-forming synthetic resin;(b) an organic solvent in which the synthetic resin is soluble; and(c) polymer microparticles having polar and/or ionic groups on their surfaces and a diameter of about 0.01 to 5 microns obtained by emulsion polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, these monomers having a portion comprising 2 or more double bonds per molecule and the microparticles are insoluble in the solution of (a) and (b).The base coat(s) have (d) pigments and the top coats are free of pigments.

Abstract: Flexible coatings are applied to the outer surfaces of automotive vehicles having metal and plastic portions from coating compositions having about 40 to 95% by weight of an epsilon-caprolactone modified acrylic polymer and about 5 to 45% by weight of an aminoplast resin cross-linking agent, the epsilon-caprolactone modified acrylic polymer having a number average molecular weight of about 1,000 to 6,000, hydroxyl contents from about 1 to 7% by weight, optionally about 0.1 to 4.0% by weight carboxyl contents and about 0.25 to 6 moles epsilon-caprolactone per mole of hydroxyl and/or carboxyl in the polymer, the coating composition having a solids content of about 35 to 68% by weight and a liquid carrier of about 32 to 65% by weight.

Abstract: Multilayer coatings having at least one base coating containing pigments and at least one transparent top coating are applied from coating compositions on the substrates and cured together. The coating composition contains:(a) a film-forming synthetic resin;(b) an organic solvent in which the synthetic resin is soluble; and(c) polymer microparticles having polar and/or ionic groups on their surfaces and a diameter of about 0.01 to 5 microns obtained by emulsion polymerization of ethylene unsaturated monomers, these monomers having a portion comprising 2 or more double bonds per molecule and the microparticles are insoluble in the solution of (a) and (b).The base coat(s) have (d) pigments and the top coats are free of pigments.

Abstract: A method of making a polyester or alkyd resin composition containing acrylic microgels comprises preparing an aqueous microgel emulsion of an acrylic resin which is crosslinked with a multifunctional crosslinking agent. The water from the emulsion can be removed by coagulation and/or azeotropic distillation with an organic solvent in which the microgel is insoluble and which forms an azeotrope with water. The resulting dehydrated microgel can be incorporated into a polyester or alkyd resin. Alternatively, the acrylic microgel emulsion can be incorporated into a water reducible alkyd resin.

Abstract: A method of making an acrylic microgel resin which comprises preparing an aqueous microgel emulsion of an acrylic resin which is crosslinked with a multifunctional crosslinking agent, removing water from the emulsion by coagulation and/or azeotropic distillation with an organic solvent in which the microgel is insoluble and which forms an azeotrope with water, and incorporating the thus dehydrated microgel into an acrylic resin which has been prepared by solution polymerization in organic solvent.

Abstract: A method of making an acrylic microgel resin which comprises preparing an aqueous microgel emulsion of an acrylic resin which is crosslinked with a multifunctional crosslinking agent, removing water from the emulsion by coagulation and/or azeotropic distillation with an organic solvent in which the microgel is insoluble and which forms an azeotrope with water, and incorporating the thus dehydrated microgel into an acrylic resin which has been prepared by solution polymerization in organic solvent.