Polymeric vehicle for high solids coatings

A formulated coating composition having at least about 75 weight % solids, the formulated coating composition comprising:

• a polymeric vehicle and an organic solvent,
• the polymeric vehicle comprising
• at least one nonmesogenic substantially linear oligoester diol having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 275 to about 3000 and a polydispersity index of not more than about 2.6,
• at least one hardener selected from the group consisting of a mesogenic polyol, a crystalline polyol, a phenolic ester alcohol and mixtures thereof;
• at least one phenolic ester alcohol;
• and
• a crosslinker which is reactive with the substantially linear oligoester diol and hardener,
• the mesogenic polyol having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 186 to about 4000 and a polydispersity index of not more than 2.6 if it is dispersed in the formulated coating composition and a number average molecular weight of from about 186 to 1000 and a polydispersity index of not more than about 2.6 if it is a solution in the formulated coating composition, and the mesogenic polyol comprising from about 10 to about 50 weight percent mesogens, based upon the weight of the mesogenic polyol, if it is in solution in the formulated coating composition and comprising from about 5 to about 50 weight percent mesogens, based upon the weight of the mesogenic polyol, if it is dispersed in the formulated coating composition,
• the crystalline polyol being oligomeric or nonoligomeric and having from 5 to about 200 carbon atoms, the oligomeric crystalline polyol having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 400 to about 4000, the nonoligomeric polyol having a moleculear weight in the range of from 120 to about 500, and a solubility in the formulated coating composition of not more than 10 g/L at a temperature range of from about 0.degree. C. to about 40.degree. C.,
• the phenolic ester alcohol having at least two ester groups;
• at least one aliphatic hydroxy group and at least one phenolic hydroxy group,
• the oligoester diol, hardener and crosslinker being in a ratio effective to provide a mixture of the oligoester diol, the hardener and crosslinker with a viscosity in the range of from about 0.1 to about 20 Pa.s at from about 20.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C. at a shear rate of about 1000 seconds.sup.-1.

A method for providing a polymeric vehicle with a viscosity in the range of from about 0.1 to about 20 Pa.s at a shear rate of about 1,000 seconds.sup.-1 at a temperature range of from about 20.degree. C. to at least about 60.degree. C., the method comprising:

• mixing at least one nonmesogenic substantially linear oligoester diol, at least one hardener, at least one phenolic ester alcohol and at least one crosslinker,
• the substantially linear oligoester diol having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 275 to about 3,000 and a polydispersity index of not more than about 2.6,
• the hardener selected from the group consisting of a mesogenic polyol, a crystalline polyol, and mixtures thereof,
• the crosslinker being reactive with the substantially linear oligoester diol and hardener,
• the mesogenic polyol having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 186 to about 4000, a polydispersity index of not more than about 2.6 and comprising from about 5 to about 50 weight percent mesogens, based upon the weight of the mesogenic polyol,
• the crystalline polyol being oligomeric or nonoligomeric and having from 5 to about 200 carbon atoms, the oligomeric crystalline polyol having a number average moleculear weight in the range of from about 400 to about 4000, the nonoligomeric polyol having a molecular weight in the range of from 120 to about 500, the phenolic ester alcohol having at least two ester groups;
• at least one aliphatic hydroxy group and at least one phenolic hydroxy group,
• the oligoester diol, hardener and crosslinker being mixed in a ratio effective to provide a mixture of the oligoester diol, the hardener and crosslinker with a viscosity in the range of from about 0.1 to about 20 Pa.s at from about 20.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C. at a shear rate of at least about 1000 seconds.sup.-1.

A polymeric vehicle comprising:

• a blend of a nonmesogenic substantially linear oligoester diol having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 275 to about 3000 and a polydispersity index of not more than about 2.6;
• a hardener selected from the group consisting of a mesogenic polyol, a crystalline polyol, and mixtures thereof;
• and
• at least one phenolic ester alcohol, the blend effective for crosslinking through a crosslinker which is reactive with the substantially linear oligoester diol and hardener,
• the mesogenic polyol having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 186 to about 4000, a polydispersity index of not more than about 2.6 and comprising from about 5 to about 50 weight percent mesogens, based upon the weight of the mesogenic polyol,
• the crystalline polyol being oligomeric or nonoligomeric and having from 5 to about 200 carbon atoms, the oligomeric crystalline polyol having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 400 to about 4000, the nonoligomeric polyol having a moleculear weight in the range of from 120 to about 500, and a solubility in the formulated coating composition of not more than 10 g/L at a temperature range of from about 0.degree. C. to about 40.degree. C.,
• the phenolic ester alcohol having at least two ester groups;
• at least one aliphatic hydroxy group and at least one phenolic hydroxy group,
• the oligoester diol and the hardener being in a ratio effective to provide a mixture comprising the oligoester diol, the hardener and a crosslinker with a viscosity in the range of from about 0.1 to about 20 Pa.s at from about 20.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C. at a shear rate of about 1000 seconds.sup.-1.

A polymeric vehicle comprising:

• a blend of a nonmesogenic substantially linear oligoester diol having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 275 to about 3000 and a polydispersity index of not more than about 2.6;
• a hardener selected from the group consisting of a mesogenic polyol, a crystalline polyol and mixtures thereof, the blend effective for crosslinking through a crosslinker which is reactive with the substantially linear oligoester diol and hardener;
• and
• a phenolic ester alcohol,
• the mesogenic polyol having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 186 to about 4000, a polydispersity index of not more than about 2.6 and comprising from about 5 to about 50 weight percent mesogens, based upon the weight of the mesogenic polyol, the mesogenic polyol has mesogenic groups selected from the group consisting of formulas I, II, and III, wherein ##STR56## or covalently bonded combinations of general formula I;
• ##STR57## or covalently bonded combinations of general formula II;
• and combinations of formulas I, II and ##STR58## or covalent combinations of general formula III;
• wherein A is selected from the group consisting of ##STR59## B is selected from the group consisting of ##STR60## wherein c=an integer from 2 to 8;
• d=1 or 2;
• u=A;
• x=A;
• and
• q=integer from 1 to 3,
• the crystalline polyol being oligomeric or nonoligomeric and having from 5 to about 200 carbon atoms, the oligomeric crystalline polyol having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 400 to about 4000, the nonoligomeric polyol having a molecular weight in the range of from 120 to about 500, and a solubility in the formulated coating composition of not more than 10 g/L at a temperature range of from about 0.degree. C. to about 40.degree. C.,
• the oligoester diol, the hardener, and the second hardener being in a ratio effective to provide a mixture comprising the oligoester diol, the hardener, the second hardener and a crosslinker with a viscosity in the range of from about 0.1 to about 20 Pa.s at from about 20.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C. at a shear rate of about 1000 seconds.sup.-1.

A polymeric vehicle which is effective for providing a formulated coating composition having at least about 75 weight percent solids, the polymeric vehicle comprising:

• at least one nonmesogenic substantially linear oligoester diol having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 275 to about 3000 and a polydispersity index of not more than about 2.6;
• and
• at least one phenolic ester alcohol, the oligoester and the phenolic ester alcohol effective for crosslinking through a crosslinker which is reactive with the substantially linear oligoester diol and hardener,
• the phenolic ester alcohol having at least one aliphatic hydroxyl group and at least one phenolic hydroxyl group,
• the oligoester diol, phenolic ester alcohol and crosslinker being in a ratio effective to provide a mixture of the oligoester diol, the phenolic ester alcohol and crosslinker with a viscosity in the range of from about 0.1 to about 20 Pa.s at from about 20.degree. C. To about 60.degree. C. at a shear rate of about 1000 sec..sup.-1.