초록 ▼

A thermoplastic and thermoformable pigment-containing metallic automotive paint is solvent cast and dried to form a finished metallic automotive paint coat for a decorative film used in a thermoforming process to form an exterior paint layer on a molded plastic automotive body panel. The paint coat

A thermoplastic and thermoformable pigment-containing metallic automotive paint is solvent cast and dried to form a finished metallic automotive paint coat for a decorative film used in a thermoforming process to form an exterior paint layer on a molded plastic automotive body panel. The paint coat contains a pigment uniformly dispersed in a polymeric binder material preferably comprising an alloy of a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) copolymer and an acrylic resin in which the PVDF copolymer is provided as a dispersion in the acrylic resin. Preferably, the dispersed form of the PVDF copolymer has a particle size of about eleven microns or less, and more preferably a mean particle size range of about 3 to about 4.5 microns. The dispersion ratio is preferably from 80% to 20% PVDF copolymer and from 20% to 80% acrylic resin, respectively, by a weight. A low molecular weight form of the PVDF copolymer is preferred and characterized by a melt viscosity of 17,000 to 20,000 poise at 230.degree. C. Reflective flakes are uniformly dispersed in the polymeric dispersion material and the dispersion form of the PVDF copolymer inhibits parallel orientation of the reflective flakes to produce a more random orientation that achieves a metallic appearance similar to standard spray painted metallic paint coats.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A process for controlling the metallic appearance of a metallic automotive paint film containing reflective flakes to achieve a random orientation of the reflective flakes, the process comprising:casting a layer of a thermoplastic and thermoformable pigment-containing metallic auto

[ We claim:] [1.] A process for controlling the metallic appearance of a metallic automotive paint film containing reflective flakes to achieve a random orientation of the reflective flakes, the process comprising:casting a layer of a thermoplastic and thermoformable pigment-containing metallic automotive paint coat onto a carrier;the cast paint coat comprising a dispersion of a fluorinated polymeric material in a solvent-based solution of an optically clear weatherable resinous material, the dispersed fluorinated polymeric material having a mean particle size of about eleven microns or lower and being uniformly dispersed in the solution of resinous material, the cast paint coat further comprising a pigment uniformly dispersed in the paint coat to provide coloration, and reflective flakes uniformly dispersed in the paint coat to impart to the paint film a metallic appearance; anddrying the cast paint coat to fuse the paint coat and thereby form a finished metallic automotive paint film in which the parallel orientation of the reflective flakes to one another is inhibited such that the flake orientation of the finished paint film provides a randomly oriented distribution of the reflective flakes.