Metal laminates, in particular flexible metal laminates pre-coated with powder-base paints and capable of being plastically deformed

A metal laminate pre-coated with a layer of 30 to 95 .mu.m obtained by applying a powder-base paint and capable of being plastically deformed without any loss of continuity of the paint layer, the paint layer comprising:

• at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a filler, a pigment, and the mixtures thereof;
• wherein said filler and said pigment are at least partially constituted by one or more products selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic oxides, hydroxides, silicates and mixtures thereof having a structure selected from the group consisting of lamellar and acicular and mixtures thereof;
• the total amount of said products being comprised within the range of from 5% to 35% by weight relative to the total weight of said paint layer, and within the range of from 14.5% to 100% by weight, relative to the total weight of the fillers and pigments contained in said paint layer;
• said products being constituted by particles of such dimensions that the value of their average equivalent sphere diameter is comprised within the range of from 0.2 to 4 .mu.m, and the value of their average length is less than or equal to 6 .mu.m, and in which the ratio of the largest dimension to the smallest dimension is comprised within the range of from 10 to 30.

A metal laminate pre-coated with a layer of 30 to 95 .mu.m obtained by applying a powder-base paint and capable of being plastically deformed without any loss of continuity of the paint layer, the paint layer comprising:

• at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a filler, a pigment, and the mixtures thereof;
• wherein said filler and said pigment are at least partially constituted by one or more products selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic oxides, hydroxides, silicates and mixtures thereof having a structure selected from the group consisting of lamellar and acicular and mixtures thereof;
• the total amount of said products being comprised within the range of from 1% to 40% by weight relative to the total weight of said paint layer, and within the range of from 2.5% to 100% by weight, relative to the total weight of the fillers and pigments contained in said paint layer;
• said products being constituted by particles of such dimensions that the value of their average equivalent sphere diameter is comprised within the range of from 0.2 to 4 .mu.m, and the value of their average length is less than or equal to 6 .mu.m, and in which the ratio of the largest dimension to the smallest dimension is comprised within the range of from 3 to 50.

A process for manufacturing a laminate of a substrate selected from the group consisting of aluminum and steel pre-coated with powder-base paint comprising the steps of:

• pretreating said substrate according to the usual practices for obtaining a good adhesion;
• and
• applying to said substrate at least one layer being a powder-base paint comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a filler, a pigment and the mixtures thereof, wherein said filler and said pigment are at least partially constituted by products which have a structure selected from the group consisting of lamellar and acicular and mixtures thereof,
• the total amount of said products being comprised within the range of from 1% to 40% by weight relative to the total weight of said paint layer, and within the range of from 2.5% to 100% by weight, relative to the total weight of the fillers and pigments contained in said paint layer,
• said products being constituted by particles of such dimensions that the value of their average equivalent sphere diameter is comprised within the range of from 0.2 to 4 .mu.m, and the value of their average length is less than or equal to 6 .mu.m, and in which the ratio of the largest dimension to the smallest dimension is comprised within the range of from 3 to 50.