Protective and decorative sheet material having a transparent topcoat

A flexible and stretchable sheet material adapted for use in a thermoforming process in which it is stretched to conform to a three-dimensional substrate and bonded thereto so as to form a smooth and wrinkle-free protective and decorative coating thereon, said sheet material comprising:

• (1) a thin, essentially planar, stretchable, thermoplastic polymeric carrier film of substantially uniform thickness;
• and
• (2) a thin protective and decorative paint layer of substantially uniform thickness on one surface of said thermoplastic polymeric carrier film, said paint layer comprising light reflective metallic flakes incorporated in a film-forming binder;
• (3) a substantially clear topcoat layer of at least 0.1 millimeter uniform thickness adhered to said paint layer;
• said thermoplastic polymeric carrier film having heat-softening and tensile elongation properties which adapt it to use in said thermoforming process;
• said paint layer and said topcoat layer having heat-softening and tensile elongation properties that are compatible with those of said thermoplastic polymeric carrier film so as to permit symmetrical elongation, whereby said sheet material can undergo substantial elongation by the application of stretching forces without crazing or delamination of said paint layer or said topcoat layer.