Coating adhesion promotors and methods of coating a substrate are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method of coating a substrate includes applying an adhesion promotor over a primer, where the primer overlies the substrate. The adhesion promotor includes water. A first colored coat is applied over the adhesion promotor, and the first colored coat is flash dried. Tape is applied in a pattern over the first colored coat prior to the first colored coat fully curing. A second colored coat is applied over the first colored coat and over the tape, and the tape is removed from the first colored coat prior to the first colored coat fully curing.

A masking device for covering a masking area. The masking device includes a first member, a second member, and a third member. The masking device further includes a base defining a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface defines a continuous masking surface. The masking device further includes a pull tab extending away from the top surface of the base. The bottom surface includes an adhesive. The bottom surface is configured for removable attachment to the masking area.

Provided is a paint-protective coating material formed from a liquid coating composition. The coating composition comprises, as its base polymer, a polymer (A) that is a polymerization product of monomers comprising an acrylic monomer. The paint-protective coating material has a storage modulus at 70? C. of 0.40 MPa or higher and 1.30 or lower, a storage modulus at 23? C. of 250 MPa or higher and 800 MPa or lower, and a storage modulus at ?30? C. of 2300 MPa or less.

A slotted nozzle for discharging a liquid adhesive to a narrow edge of a substrate includes a nozzle body, a nozzle slot formed in the nozzle body, a passage in the nozzle body for supplying the adhesive to the nozzle slot, and a slot-shaped outlet opening of the nozzle slot. The nozzle body is configured in the region of averted ends of the nozzle slot that are based on the longitudinal extent of the nozzle slot in such a manner that an increased outlet of the adhesive through the outlet opening takes place in the region of the averted ends of the nozzle slot.

A tape assembly for masking an object to be painted and method of use is provided. The tape assembly is defined by a tape body having an anterior side, a posterior side, a body first edge, and an opposing body second edge. The tape body includes a first portion including a first substrate having a first adhesive layer on a posterior side of the first substrate, a second portion including a second substrate having a second adhesive layer on an anterior side of the second substrate, and a third portion including a third substrate having a third adhesive layer on a posterior side of the third substrate. The first and third portions partially overlap with the second portion in opposing first and second overlapping regions, respectively.

A method of fabricating a protected construction panel prior to the construction panel being used in construction, the method comprising applying a removable coating onto a surface of the construction panel to form a removable coating layer on said construction panel. A construction panel for use in the construction of a building or the like comprising a removable coating layer located on a surface of said construction panel.

An applicator die for creating undivided ribbons of polymeric film and a method of using the die to apply an emulsified polymeric material in ribbons to a fully or partially finished surface of an automobile body. In one application, the ribbon is applied as a peelable film to an automobile body and in another application, a ribbon is applied to a rocker panel as an anti-chip coating. For both applications, the applicator die has an internal gallery and an outlet slot with flared edge surfaces to emit a laminarized ribbon of polymer-based material at a distance from the target surface where the opposite edges of the ribbon have become essentially parallel.

A method for forming a structural-strain sensor network on a structure is provided. The sensor network has plural nanocomposite sensing elements having high sensitivity, and can be quickly fabricated. The method comprises attaching a molding layer having openings onto the surface, and filling the openings with a coating material made of nanocomposite hybrid material. After immobilizing the coating material in the openings, the sensing elements are formed and the molding layer is removed. Electrical wires are formed on the surface such that two opposite electrodes are formed on each sensing element. The resistance between the two electrodes indicates a strain experienced. The sensor network finds applications in identifying a damaged location or an impact location on the structure for structural health monitoring. Voltage waveforms measured at the sensing elements are analyzed to estimate the damaged location or the impact location according to a guided-wave propagation model.

An applicator die for creating and applying laminarized ribbons of polymeric film to a target surface, such as but not limited to a surface of an automobile body component. In one embodiment, the protective film is an aqueous emulsion of polyvinyl acetate and is used to create a continuous peelable film to protect a surface. In another embodiment, the polymeric is polyvinyl chloride and it is applied to create an anti-chip coating. The applicator die has an internal supply gallery and an outlet slot of complex shape to emit a laminarized ribbon of polymer-based material that allows the material to be applied directly to the target surface without masking. A robot is used to control movement of the die. The die includes temperature control.

A masking device for covering a masking area. The masking device includes a first member, a second member, and a third member. The masking device further includes a base defining a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface defines a continuous masking surface. The masking device further includes a pull tab extending away from the top surface of the base. The bottom surface includes an adhesive. The bottom surface is configured for removable attachment to the masking area.