# US 8,771,462 B2 · Coated thermoplastic articles with removable coating > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,462 B2 - Document ID: US8771462B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/383,358 - Filed: 2011-08-10 - Published: 2013-11-14 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-10 - Assignees: Empire Technology Development LLC - Applicants: Angele Sjong - Inventors: Angele Sjong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771462B2 ## CPC - C08J 7/043: Improving the adhesiveness of the coatings per se, e.g. forming primers (adhesives in the form of films or foils characterised by the primer layers between the polymer carriers and the adhesives C09J7/50) - B05D 5/00: Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces to obtain special surface effects, finishes or structures - B32B 7/04: Interconnection of layers - B32B 7/06: permitting easy separation - B32B 27/08: of synthetic resin - B32B 27/18: characterised by the use of special additives - C08G 83/008: {Supramolecular polymers} - C08J 7/0423: {with at least one layer of inorganic material and at least one layer of a composition containing a polymer binder} - C08J 7/046: Forming abrasion-resistant coatings; Forming surface-hardening coatings - C08J 2483/04: Polysiloxanes - Y10T 29/49757: by burning or heating - Y10T 29/49821: by altering or destroying work part or connector - Y10T 156/1153: Temperature change for delamination [e.g., heating during delaminating, etc.] - Y10T 156/1158: Electromagnetic radiation applied to work for delamination [e.g., microwave, uv, ir, etc.] - Y10T 428/31663: As siloxane, silicone or silane - C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29) - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present disclosure generally describes techniques suitable for use in the construction or recycling of composite materials, such as thermoplastics. A coated thermoplastic article may comprise a thermoplastic portion coupled to a supramolecular polymer interface layer, with a coating layer applied to a surface of the supramolecular polymer interface layer. Application of heat to the coated thermoplastic article may cause the supramolecular polymer interface layer to undergo a phase change, allowing the coating layer to be removed from the thermoplastic portion. Application of force to the coated thermoplastic article may enhance the removal of the coating layer. Embodiments of methods, compositions, articles and/or systems may be disclosed and claimed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermoplastic article with a removable coating, comprising: a thermoplastic object; a supramolecular polymer interface layer disposed on an outer surface of the thermoplastic object, wherein the supramolecular polymer interface layer has a first melt temperature and the thermoplastic object has a second melt temperature, the second melt temperature being greater than the first melt temperature; and a coating layer coated on the supramolecular polymer interface layer, wherein the supramolecular polymer comprises a plurality of monomers with at least one flexible linker and an alkoxy group coupled to the coating layer, or the coating layer comprises an organic-inorganic hybrid coating. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermoplastic article of claim 1, wherein the alkoxy group comprises a silicon alkoxy group. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermoplastic article of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic object comprises a selected one of an automotive instrument panel cover, an automotive instrument control, or an automotive interior trim. ### Claim 4 A method for making a thermoplastic article with a removable coating, the method comprising: applying a supramolecular polymer to an outer surface of a thermoplastic object at a first application temperature, wherein the supramolecular polymer has a melt temperature lower than the first application temperature; cooling the applied supramolecular polymer to a second application temperature lower than the melt temperature to form an interface layer of the thermoplastic object; and applying a coating to the interface layer, wherein the coating comprises an organic-inorganic hybrid coating, or the supramolecular polymer comprises a plurality of monomers with at least one flexible linker and an alkoxy group that bonds to the coating layer in response to exposure of the colloidal suspension on the solid interface to UV light. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein applying the coating includes applying a colloidal suspension to the interface layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the colloidal suspension comprises silica. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further including exposing the colloidal suspension on the interface layer to UV light. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein applying the supramolecular polymer comprises spraying the supramolecular polymer at the first application temperature onto the outer surface of the thermoplastic object. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein applying the colloidal suspension to the interface layer comprises spraying the interface layer with the colloidal suspension. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the thermoplastic object has a melt temperature higher than the melt temperature of the supramolecular polymer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the thermoplastic article comprises a selected one of an automotive instrument panel cover, an automotive instrument control, or an automotive interior trim. ### Claim 12 A method for removing a coating layer from a coated thermoplastic article, the method comprising: applying heat to the coated thermoplastic article; and applying force to the coating layer of the coated thermoplastic article, wherein a thermoplastic portion of the coated thermoplastic article is coupled to a supramolecular polymer interface disposed between the coating layer and an outer surface of the thermoplastic portion, wherein the supramolecular polymer has a first melt temperature, and the thermoplastic portion has a second melt temperature that is higher than the first melt temperature, wherein applying heat comprises heating the supramolecular polymer interface to a third temperature equal to or greater than the first melt temperature and less than the second melt temperature; wherein applying heat to the coated thermoplastic article comprises applying electromagnetic radiation to the supramolecular polymer interface, and wherein the thermoplastic article comprises a selected one of an automotive instrument panel cover, an automotive instrument control, or an automotive interior trim. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein applying the electromagnetic radiation to the supramolecular polymer interface comprises exposing the coated thermoplastic article to one or more laser beams. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein applying heat to the thermoplastic article comprises applying a heated fluid to the coated thermoplastic article. ### Claim 15 A method for removing a coating layer from a coated thermoplastic article, the method comprising: applying heat to the coated thermoplastic article; and applying force to the coating layer of the coated thermoplastic article, wherein a thermoplastic portion of the coated thermoplastic article is coupled to a supramolecular polymer interface disposed between the coating layer and an outer surface of the thermoplastic portion, wherein the supramolecular polymer has a first melt temperature, and the thermoplastic portion has a second melt temperature that is higher than the first melt temperature, wherein applying heat comprises heating the supramolecular polymer interface to a third temperature equal to or greater than the first melt temperature and less than the second melt temperature; wherein applying force to the coating layer comprises applying mechanical force to uncouple the coating layer from the outer surface of the thermoplastic portion, and wherein applying heat and mechanical force to the coated thermoplastic article comprises tumbling the coated thermoplastic article in a heated chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein applying force comprises applying mechanical force to the coating layer along a plane of the supramolecular polymer interface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further including removing the coating layer and the supramolecular polymer interface from the thermoplastic portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further including removing the supramolecular polymer from the coating layer.