Abstract: A curable film-forming composition is provided, comprising: (a) a polymeric binder comprising reactive functional groups; (b) a curing agent comprising functional groups that are reactive with the reactive functional groups of (a); and (c) a polysiloxane resin comprising aromatic functional groups and terminal active hydrogen groups. In certain examples of the present invention, the polymeric binder (a) comprises an acrylic polyol prepared from a monomer mixture comprising a hydroxyl functional monomer, and the curable film-forming composition further comprises a rheology modifier comprising: (1) a non-aqueous dispersion of an internally crosslinked organic polymer; (2) a silica dispersion; and/or (3) a reaction product of an amine and an isocyanate. Also provided are coated substrates that include the curable film-forming compositions described above and methods for forming a composite coating on a substrate.

Abstract: An automated system and method for retaining images in a smart phone are disclosed. The system may then determine a no-reference quality score of the image using a PIQUE module. The PIQUE module utilizes block level features of the image to determine the no-reference quality score. The system may present the image and the no-reference quality score to the user and accept a feedback towards quality of the image. The system may utilize a supervised learning model for continually learning a user's perception of quality of the image, the no-reference quality score determined by the PIQUE module, and the user feedback. Based on the learning, the supervised learning model may adapt the no-reference quality score and successively the image may either be retained or isolated for deletion, based on the adapted quality score and a predefined threshold range.

Abstract: An electrode binder of a lithium ion secondary battery comprising an aqueous dispersion of: (a) a polyvinylidene binder; (b) a (meth)acrylic polymer dispersant; (c) a crosslinking agent comprising an aminoplast and/or a polycarbodiimide; and (d) an organic diluent. The (meth)acrylic polymer dispersant is prepared from a mixture of monomers comprising one or more carboxylic acid group-containing (meth)acrylic monomers and one or more hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylic monomers, and carboxylic acid groups on the (meth)acrylic polymer dispersant are at least partially neutralized with a base. The binder can be used in the assembly of electrodes of lithium ion secondary batteries.

Abstract: A coating composition including: an aqueous dispersion of self-crosslinkable core-shell particles, where the core-shell particles include (1) a polymeric core at least partially encapsulated by (2) a polymeric shell having urethane linkages, keto and/or aldo functional groups, and hydrazide functional groups, where the polymeric core is covalently bonded to at least a portion of the polymeric shell, and an acrylic polymer, where the acrylic polymer is non-reactive with the polymeric core and the polymeric shell. A substrate coated with a coating formed from the coating composition and a method of improving stain resistance of a substrate are also disclosed.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion includes an aqueous medium and self-crosslinkable core-shell particles dispersed in the aqueous medium. The core-shell particles include (1) a polymeric core at least partially encapsulated by (2) a polymeric shell having urethane linkages, keto and/or aldo functional groups, and hydrazide functional groups. Further, the polymeric core is covalently bonded to at least a portion of the polymeric shell.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to coated articles demonstrating a transmission of electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of 22 to 81 GHz in the range of 70% to 100%. The articles comprise substrates coated with curable film-forming compositions comprising a first film-forming polymer prepared from at least one hydrophobic monomer, a second film-forming polymer prepared from at least one hydrophobic monomer, and a curing agent. Upon application of the curable film-forming composition to the substrate to form a coating layer, the first film-forming polymer is distributed throughout the coating layer, and the concentration of the second film-forming polymer is greater at the surface of the coating layer than the concentration of the second film-forming polymer within the bulk of the coating layer. The present invention is also drawn to methods of mitigating contaminant build-up on a substrate using the curable film-forming compositions described above.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to curable film-forming compositions comprising a first film-forming polymer prepared from at least one hydrophobic monomer, a second film-forming polymer prepared from at least one hydrophobic monomer, and a curing agent. Upon application of the curable film-forming composition to a substrate to form a coating layer, the first film-forming polymer is distributed throughout the coating layer, and the concentration of the second film-forming polymer is greater at the surface of the coating layer than the concentration of the second film-forming polymer within the bulk of the coating layer. The invention is additionally drawn to substrates coated with the curable film-forming composition. The present invention is also drawn to methods of mitigating dirt build-up on a substrate, comprising applying to at least a portion of the substrate the curable film-forming composition described above and at least partially curing the curable film-forming composition.

Abstract: An adhesive composition comprising an epoxy compound and a compound comprising at least one aminimide functional group is disclosed. The compound comprising the at least one aminimide functional group is present in an amount from 2-8% by weight based on total weight of the adhesive composition and reacts with the epoxy compound upon activation by an external energy source. The adhesive composition also may comprise an amidine salt.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of preparing an aminimide. An epoxy compound is reacted with a hydrazine compound comprising a trivalent nitrogen, and an anhydride functional material or a cyclic compound containing a carbonyl group and at least one heteroatom alpha to the carbonyl group at a temperature greater than 20° C. to form the aminimide. At least one of the epoxy compound and the anhydride functional material or the cyclic compound is polymeric.

Abstract: Multi-layer coatings comprising polymerization reaction products of 1,1-di-activated vinyl compounds are described. Also provided are processes for coating substrates with curable compositions comprising 1,1-di-activated vinyl compounds. Also provided are articles coated with this composition.

Abstract: A method for applying a multilayer coating comprising a basecoat and a clearcoat is disclosed. The basecoat is a curable aqueous composition comprising (1) polymeric particles containing carboxylic acid functionality and prepared from ethylenically unsaturated compounds including a multi-ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and (2) a polycarbodiimide. Also provided is a multilayer coated substrate.

Abstract: Coatings comprising an uncured branched polyester-urethane resin prepared by free radical polymerization of an unsaturated polyester prepolymer having a polyol segment, an unsaturated polycarboxylic acid and/or an anhydride and/or ester thereof, and a urethane segment, wherein the polymerization occurs primarily by reaction of the unsaturation are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of preparing an alkoxy silane functional ionic liquid comprising reacting a halogenated compound comprising a halogen and an active hydrogen functional group, an isocyanato functional alkoxy silane, and an ionizable compound capable forming an ionic bond with the halogen to form the alkoxy silane functional ionic liquid. The present invention is also directed to alkoxy silane functional ionic liquids.

Abstract: An adhesive composition comprising an epoxy compound and a compound comprising at least one aminimide functional group is disclosed. The compound comprising the at least one aminimide functional group is present in an amount from 2-8% by weight based on total weight of the adhesive composition and reacts with the epoxy compound upon activation by an external energy source. The adhesive composition also may comprise an amidine salt.

Abstract: Method and system for tracking moving objects in a video with non-stationary background is provided. The method comprises estimation of non-stationary background and determining an approximate foreground for each image that learns the background model over time by incorporating various constraints on image pixels. Then, weights based upon spatio-temporal statistical properties of the extracted foreground blobs and blob edge overlap are used to identify and track with bounding boxes displayed for one or more true objects.

Abstract: A curable film-forming composition is provided, comprising: (a) an acrylic polyol prepared from a monomer mixture comprising a hydroxyl functional monomer, wherein the hydroxyl functional monomer comprises a hydroxyalkyl group with an alkyl chain of at least four carbon atoms; (b) a rheology modifier comprising: (1) a non-aqueous dispersion of an internally crosslinked organic polymer; and (2) a reaction product of an amine and an isocyanate; and (c) a curing agent comprising functional groups that are reactive with hydroxyl functional groups. Also provided are a multi-component composite coating that includes the curable film-forming composition described above and methods for forming a composite coating on a substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of preparing an aminimide. An epoxy compound is reacted with a hydrazine compound comprising a trivalent nitrogen, and an anhydride functional material or a cyclic compound containing a carbonyl group and at least one heteroatom alpha to the carbonyl group at a temperature greater than 20° C. to form the aminimide. At least one of the epoxy compound and the anhydride functional material or the cyclic compound is polymeric.

Abstract: An alkoxysilane functionalized polysiloxane polymer can be prepared from a mixture of reactants including: a) a polysiloxane polymer having two or more reactive functional groups selected from -A-NH2, -A-OH, -A-N?C?O, -A-COOH, or combinations thereof; and b) at least one alkoxysilane having a functional group that is reactive with the reactive functional groups on the polysiloxane polymer. The alkoxysilane functionalized polysiloxane polymer can be combined with additional components to form a coating composition.

Abstract: Polyisocyanate-cured coating compositions containing 1,1-di-activated vinyl compounds are described. Also provided are coatings formed from coating compositions comprising 1,1-di-activated vinyl compounds, including multi-layer coatings. Also provided are processes for coating substrates with coating compositions comprising 1,1-di-activated vinyl compounds. Also provided are articles employing the coatings described herein.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of preparing an alkoxy silane functional ionic liquid comprising reacting a halogenated compound comprising a halogen and an active hydrogen functional group, an isocyanato functional alkoxy silane, and an ionizable compound capable forming an ionic bond with the halogen to form the alkoxy silane functional ionic liquid. The present invention is also directed to alkoxy silane functional ionic liquids.