Multilayer Articles and Methods of Making and Using the Same

A method of making a multilayer article, the method comprising:

• providing a thermoformable substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite its first major surface, a base layer being adhered to the second major surface of the thermoformable substrate, the base layer comprising a first polymeric material.
• contacting a curable composition with the base layer and a forming web to form a rolling bank of the curable composition disposed between the base layer and the forming web, the curable composition comprising a curable polymeric material precursor;
• passing at least a portion of each of the thermoformable substrate, the base layer, the forming web, and the curable composition through a nip to provide a curable layer precursor while said at least a portion of the curable composition is sandwiched between the base layer and the forming web;
• and
• at least partially curing the curable layer precursor to provide a transparent protective layer comprising a second polymeric material.

A multilayer article comprising:

• a thermoformable substrate having first major surface and a second major surface opposite its first major surface;
• an adhesive layer;
• a base layer having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite its first major surface, the first major surface of the base layer being permanently adhered to the second major surface by the adhesive layer, the base layer comprising a first polymeric material;
• a transparent protective layer having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite its first major surface, the first major surface of the transparent protective layer contacting and permanently adhered to the second major surface of the base layer, the transparent protective layer comprising a second polymeric material, the second polymeric material comprising a polyurethane, the polyurethane having hard segments in an amount of from 35 to 65 percent by weight;
• and
• at least one of the thermoformable substrate and the base layer comprising a colorant, a combination of the base layer and the thermoformable substrate being opaque or translucent, and:
• i) each of the first and second major surfaces of the base layer being a substantial inverse image of a major surface of first and second respective corresponding forming webs;
• ii) each of the first and second major surfaces of the transparent protective layer being a substantial inverse image of a major surface of third and fourth respective corresponding forming webs;
• or
• iii) both i) and ii).