Multi-component composite coating composition and coated substrate

A substrate having on at least a portion of a surface thereof a multi-component composite coating composition comprising a basecoat deposited from an aqueous basecoat coating composition and a transparent topcoat applied over the basecoat in which the transparent topcoat is deposited from a topcoat coating composition, the basecoat coating composition comprising:

• (a) at least one crosslinkable film-forming resin selected from the group consisting of:
• i. an aqueous dispersion of polymeric microparticles comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers polymerized in the presence of a polyurethane polymer,
• ii. acrylic polymers,
• iii. polyurethane polymers,
• iv. polyamide polymers, and
• v. polyether polymers and mixtures thereof;
• (b) at least one amphiphilic adjuvant having an acid value of less than 30 and being present in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 25 weight percent on a basis of total resin solids of the aqueous coating composition, said adjuvant selected from at least one of:
• i. the reaction product of isostearic acid, trimethylolpropane, and 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid,
• ii. the reaction product of at least one polycarboxylic acid, at least one polyol and at least one hydrocarbon alcohol comprising at least seven contiguous atoms,
• iii. the reaction product of at least one amine comprising at least seven contiguous carbon atoms and at least one reactant selected from the group consisting of carbonates, and polycarboxylic acids and polyols, and
• iv. the reaction product of isostearic acid and glycidol, said adjuvant comprising:
• (a) a water-soluble polar end comprising at least one terminal hydroxyl group;
• and
• (b) a water insoluble hydrocarbon end comprising at least seven contiguous carbon atoms;
• and
• (c) a crosslinker,
• wherein the coating composition is characterized in that the film-forming resin and adjuvant are present in the aqueous medium.