Low-Gloss, Flexible Clear Coats, Articles of Manufacture Having Low-Gloss, Two Coat Paint Systems, and Methods For Applying the Same

An article of manufacture having a low-gloss, two coat paint system, the article of manufacture comprising:

• an article of manufacture surface;
• a basecoat applied to the article of manufacture surface;
• and
• a low-gloss, flexible clear coat applied to a basecoat surface of the basecoat, wherein the low-gloss, flexible clear coat comprises:
• a base formula comprising a base resin and a cross-linker;
• a silica-based flattener comprising from 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the base formula to 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the base formula;
• and
• one or more flattener enhancing agents comprising from 0.25 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the base formula to 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the base formula, wherein the low-gloss, flexible clear coat comprises 90° flexibility and a 60° gloss finish from 22 gloss units to 34 gloss units when cured.

A method for applying a low-gloss, two coat paint system, the method comprising:

• applying a basecoat to a vehicle part;
• curing the basecoat on the vehicle part;
• applying a low-gloss, flexible clear coat to a basecoat surface of the basecoat, wherein the low-gloss, flexible clear coat comprises:
• a base formula comprising a base resin and a cross-linker;
• a silica-based flattener comprising from 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the base formula to 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the base formula;
• and
• one or more flattener enhancing agents comprising from 0.25 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the base formula to 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the base formula;
• and
• curing the low-gloss, flexible clear coat to the basecoat surface of the basecoat, wherein the low-gloss, flexible clear coat comprises 90° flexibility and a 60° gloss finish of 23 units to 33 units after curing.