# US 8,771,785 B2 · Method for coating measurement

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- Number: US 8,771,785 B2
- Document ID: US8771785B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/509,917
- Filed: 2010-10-15
- Published: 2012-09-06
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2009-12-18
- Assignees: Axalta Coating Systems IP Co., LLC
- Applicants: Larry Eugene Steenhoek; Allan Blase Joseph Rodrigues; Gerard T. Brosmer; David Lee Griffus
- Inventors: Larry Eugene Steenhoek; Allan Blase Joseph Rodrigues; Gerard T. Brosmer; David Lee Griffus
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771785B2

## CPC

- G01N 33/32: Paints; Inks
- B05D 5/068: {achieved by multilayers (B05D5/066 takes precedence)}
- B05D 7/536: {each layer being cured, at least partially, separately}
- G01N 21/25: Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
- G01N 21/55: Specular reflectivity
- G01N 21/57: Measuring gloss
- G01N 21/8422: {Investigating thin films, e.g. matrix isolation method}
- B05D 1/286: {using a temporary backing to which the coating has been applied}
- B05D 7/04: to surfaces of films or sheets (producing layered products by applying coatings of pasty or pulverulent plastics B29C41/00)
- B05D 7/576: {each layer being cured, at least partially, separately}
- Y10T 428/14: Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
- Y10T 428/1414: Ceramic, glass, glasslike, vitreous
- Y10T 428/1424: Halogen containing compound
- Y10T 428/1438: Metal containing
- Y10T 428/1452: Polymer derived only from ethylenically unsaturated monomer
- Y10T 428/1467: Coloring agent
- Y10T 428/1476: Release layer
- Y10T 428/1486: Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method for obtaining characteristics of a target coating layer. Specifically, a clearcoat layer is provided over a target coating layer for measuring color and appearance characteristics of the target coating. The clearcoat layer can comprise materials from renewable resources. The present invention is also directed to a system for obtaining characteristics of the target coating layer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for obtaining characteristics of a target coating layer, said method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a removable front support layer having a lower surface and an upper surface;
b) providing a clearcoat layer having a first surface and a second surface, wherein at least a portion of said lower surface of the front support layer is affixed to said second surface of the clearcoat layer and removable from said clearcoat layer;
c) applying a target coating composition over at least a portion of said first surface of the clearcoat layer to form a wet coating layer thereon, wherein the wet coating layer comprises the target coating composition;
d) at least partially curing or drying said wet coating layer to form said target coating layer;
e) applying a back support layer over said target coating layer, wherein said target coating layer is positioned between said clearcoat layer and said back support layer, and wherein said back support layer comprises a primer layer; and
f) obtaining said characteristics of said target coating layer by measuring from the second surface of the clearcoat layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said clearcoat layer is produced by a process comprises the steps of:
applying at least one clearcoat composition over at least a portion of said lower surface of said removable front support layer to form a wet clearcoat layer thereon; and
curing said wet clearcoat layer to form said clearcoat layer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said clearcoat layer is produced by a process comprises the step of:
applying two or more clearcoat compositions over one or more portions of said lower surface of said removable front support layer to form said clearcoat layer, wherein the two or more clearcoat compositions can be the same or different.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said removable front support layer is produced from thermoplastic polymer, thermoset polymer, paper, metal, glass, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said removable front support layer is a polyester (PE) film, a polyethylene terephthalate polyester (PET) film, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film, a polypropene (PP) film, a polystyrene (PS) film, a thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) film, a metal film, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said target coating composition comprises one or more pigments, one or more effect pigments, or a combination thereof, wherein the effect pigment comprises a metallic pigment, a pearlescent pigment, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said wet coating layer is cured or dried at a temperature in a range of from 15° C. to 60° C.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said characteristics are color characteristics, appearance characteristics, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein said color characteristics comprise spectral reflectance, X, Y, Z values, L, a, b values, L*, a*, b* values, L, C, h values, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein said appearance characteristics comprise texture, sparkle, metallic effect, pearlescent effect, gloss, distinctness of image, coarseness, glint, glitter, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said characteristics are obtained by using a color measuring device, an appearance measuring device, or a color-appearance dual measuring device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said back support layer comprises an adhesive layer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein said back support layer is bound to said target coating layer via said adhesive layer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said back support layer comprises a magnetic layer.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of removing said removable front support layer prior to obtaining the characteristics of said target coating layer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said clearcoat layer is colorless, colored, or tinted.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein clearcoat layer is formed from a clearcoat composition comprising a polytrimethylene ether diol polymerized from bio-derived 1,3-propanediol.