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 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: A method of preparing a coated article is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate bearing a partially-dehydrated aqueous coating layer. The method further includes providing a coating composition to a high transfer efficiency applicator, the high transfer efficiency applicator comprising a plurality of nozzles each being configured to apply a stream of the coating composition to a substrate substantially without atomization. The coating composition is a waterborne fluid that exhibits a near-Newtonian viscosity profile, and comprises a binder, a crosslinker, and a thickener. The method further includes applying the coating composition to the substrate with the high transfer efficiency applicator via disposing a plurality of lines of the coating composition onto the partially-dehydrated aqueous coating layer of the substrate via the plurality of nozzles, thereby forming an overspray free coating layer thereon.

Abstract: Coating compositions for application to a substrate utilizing an applicator are provided. An exemplary coating composition provided for application to a substrate utilizing an applicator with an application efficiency greater than 80% has a loss of volatiles after application through the applicator of less than about 1 weight percent based on a total weight of the coating composition. The coating composition includes a radiation-polymerizable binder; wherein the coating composition has a pre-application viscosity at a shear rate of 1000 s?1 of less than about 100 centipoise (cP); and wherein the coating composition has a post-radiation-exposure viscosity at a shear rate of 0.1 s?1 of from about 500 cP to about 150,000 cP.

Abstract: A coating composition for application to a substrate utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator. The coating composition includes a carrier, a binder, a corrosion inhibiting pigment. The coating composition has an Ohnesorge number (Oh) of from about 0.01 to about 12.6. The coating composition has a Reynolds number (Re) of from about 0.02 to about 6,200. The coating composition has a Deborah number (De) of from greater than 0 to about 1730.

Abstract: Methods and coating compositions for application to a substrate utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator are provided. An exemplary method includes providing the coating composition to the high transfer efficiency applicator; applying the coating composition onto the substrate utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator to form an applied layer, wherein a loss of volatiles after application through the high transfer efficiency applicator is less than about 1 weight percent based on a total weight of the coating composition; performing a partial polymerization via radiation of the applied layer; and after performing the partial polymerization of the applied layer, thermally curing and drying the applied layer. An exemplary coating composition has a pre-application viscosity, at a shear rate of 1000 s?1, of less than about 100 centipoise (cP), and a post-radiation-exposure viscosity at a shear rate of 0.1 s?1 of from about 500 cP to about 150,000 cP.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method of applying a first coating composition and a second coating composition to a substrate. The method includes providing the substrate defining a first target area and a second target area which define a gap there between of less than about 2 mm; applying the first coating composition via a first high transfer efficiency applicator to the first target area at a wet film thickness of from about 5 to about 150 microns; and applying the second coating composition via a second high transfer efficiency applicator to the second target area at a wet film thickness of from about 5 to about 150 microns to form a continuous layer of a combination of the first and second coating compositions that extends across the gap and also extends across at least an additional portion of the substrate.

Abstract: A system for applying a first coating composition and a second coating composition is provided herein. The system includes an atomizing applicator and a high transfer efficiency applicator defining a nozzle orifice. The system further includes a substrate assembly comprising a metal-containing substrate and a plastic-containing substrate. The metal-containing substrate is coupled to the plastic-containing substrate. The atomizing applicator is configured to apply the first coating composition to the metal-containing substrate. The high transfer efficiency applicator is configured to expel the second coating composition through the second nozzle orifice to the plastic-containing substrate.

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 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: Methods of coating a substrate are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a coating composition is applied to the substrate with a high transfer efficiency applicator to produce a coating layer, where the high transfer efficiency applicator and the substrate remain spatially separate while the coating composition is applied. A droplet of the coating composition expelled from the high transfer efficiency applicator has a particle size of about 10 microns or greater. The coating composition has a viscosity of from about 1,000 to about 1,000,000 centipoise when the coating composition is subject to a shear rate of about 0.1 reciprocal seconds (s?1). However, the coating composition is non-Newtonian such that a coating composition viscosity decreases when the shear rate is increased to the coating composition. The coating layer is impinged with a gas such that a coating layer surface moves upon impingement with the gas.

Abstract: A system for applying a coating composition to a substrate utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator is provided herein. The system includes a high transfer efficiency applicator defining a nozzle orifice. The coating composition comprises a carrier and a binder. The coating composition has a viscosity of from about 0.002 Pa*s to about 0.2 Pa*s, a density of from about 838 kg/m3 to about 1557 kg/m3, a surface tension of from about 0.015 N/m to about 0.05 N/m, and a relaxation time of from about 0.0005 s to about 0.02 s. The high transfer efficiency applicator is configured to expel the coating composition through the nozzle orifice to the substrate to form a coating layer. At least 80% of the droplets of the coating composition expelled from the high transfer efficiency applicator contact the substrate.

Abstract: A coating composition for application to a substrate utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator is provided herein. The coating composition includes monomeric, oligomeric, or polymeric compounds having a number average molecular weight of from about 400 to about 20,000 and having a free-radically polymerizable double bond. The coating composition further includes a photo initiator. The coating composition has an Ohnesorge number (Oh) of from about 0.01 to about 12.6. The coating composition has a Reynolds number (Re) of from about 0.02 to about 6,200. The coating composition has a Deborah number (De) of from greater than 0 to about 1730.

Abstract: A coating composition for application to a substrate utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator. The coating composition includes a carrier and a binder comprising an elastomeric resin in an amount of at least 50 weight %, wherein the elastomeric resin has an Elongation to Break of at least 500% according to DIN 53 504. The coating composition has an Ohnesorge number (Oh) of from about 0.01 to about 12.6. The coating composition has a Reynolds number (Re) of from about 0.02 to about 6,200. The coating composition has a Deborah number (De) of from greater than 0 to about 1730.

Abstract: A method of forming a coating composition for application to a substrate utilizing a high efficiency transfer applicator. The method includes identifying at least one of an Ohnesorge number (Oh) for the coating composition, a Reynolds number (Re) for the coating composition, or a Deborah number (De) for the coating composition. The method includes obtaining at least one of a viscosity (?) of the coating composition, a surface tension (?) of the coating composition, a density (?) of the coating composition, a relaxation time (?) of the coating composition, a nozzle diameter (D) of the high efficiency transfer applicator, or an impact velocity (v) of the high efficiency transfer applicator. The method includes forming the coating composition having at least one of the viscosity (?), the surface tension (?), or the density (?).

Abstract: A system for applying a coating composition to a substrate utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator is provided herein. The system includes a storage device for storing instructions for performing a matching protocol, and one or more data processors configured to execute the instructions to, receive, by one or more data processors, target image data of a target coating, the target image data generated by an electronic imaging device, and apply the target image data to a matching protocol to generate application instructions. The system further includes a high transfer efficiency applicator defining a nozzle orifice. The high transfer efficiency applicator is configured to expel the coating composition through the nozzle orifice to the substrate to form a coating layer. The high transfer efficiency applicator is configured expel the coating composition based on the application instructions.

Abstract: A coating composition for application to a substrate utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator. The coating composition includes a carrier and a binder. The coating composition has an Ohnesorge number (Oh) of from about 0.01 to about 12.6, the coating composition has a Reynolds number (Re) of from about 0.02 to about 6,200, and the coating composition has a Deborah number (De) of from greater than 0 to about 1730.

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