Described is a method for producing a multicoat color and/or effect paint system by (1) applying to a substrate a pigmented aqueous basecoat material, (2) forming a polymer film from the coating material applied in stage (1), (3) applying a clearcoat material to the resultant polymer film, and then (4) curing the polymer film together with the clearcoat film. The pigmented aqueous basecoat material comprises at least one alcohol having a structure: ##STR00001##
wherein R is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl radical, with the proviso that R is not an n-butyl radical. The at least one alcohol is used in an amount of 0.1% to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous basecoat material. Additionally, described are the corresponding coating materials and also the use of the alcohols in pigmented aqueous coating materials.

A coating composition having excellent trickle resistance which forms a coating film that exhibits excellent gloss stability. The coating composition contains a hydroxyl group-containing acrylic resin (A), a polyisocyanate compound (B), a matting agent (C), an organic solvent (D1) and an organic solvent (D2), and wherein the organic solvent (D1) has a specified boiling point and solubility parameter; the organic solvent (D2) has a specified boiling point and solubility parameter; and with respect to the contents of the organic solvent (D1) and the organic solvent (D2) based on 100 parts by mass of the total solid content of the hydroxyl group-containing acrylic resin (A) and the polyisocyanate compound (B), the content of the organic solvent (D1) is within the range of 5-40 parts by mass and the content of the organic solvent (D2) is within the range of 35-75 parts by mass.

A method of preparing a multi-layer coated article is disclosed. The method utilizes a high transfer efficiency applicator comprising a plurality of nozzles configured to apply a stream or droplets of a coating composition. The method includes providing a substrate bearing a partially-dehydrated aqueous coating layer, preparing a compatible coating composition, and applying the compatible coating composition to the substrate. The compatible coating composition is prepared by providing a test layer of the partially-dehydrated aqueous coating layer, applying a plurality of candidate cosolvents to the test layer, identifying at least one compatible cosolvent, and formulating the compatible coating composition as a waterborne fluid suitable for overspray-free application.

A method of forming a multilayer coating on a substrate is provided. The multilayer coating exhibits reduced strike-in and mottling. The method includes the steps of providing the substrate including a primer disposed thereon, applying a basecoat composition on the primer, applying a clearcoat composition on the basecoat composition, and curing the basecoat composition and the clearcoat composition to form the multilayer coating on the substrate. The basecoat composition includes a film forming resin, a pigment, and about 5% to about 75% by weight on binder of a cyclic lactone modified branched acrylic polymer having a hydroxyl monomer content of about 1% to 65% by weight, all or part of which has been reacted with a cyclic lactone, and having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 10,000 to about 150,000 g/mol.

A method and a device for manufacturing a base layer (3) having different degrees of hardness is disclosed. Further a workpiece with a base layer (3) manufactured by such method is disclosed.

Provided is a clear coating composition from which a coating film superior in color shift and appearance can be obtained. A clear coating composition comprising: a hydroxy group-containing acrylic resin (A); a polyisocyanate compound (B); and an organic solvent (C), wherein the hydroxy group-containing acrylic resin (A) includes a primary hydroxy group-containing acrylic resin (A1) and a secondary hydroxy group-containing acrylic resin (A2); the primary hydroxy group-containing acrylic resin (A1) has a weight average molecular weight of 6,000 or less; the secondary hydroxy group-containing acrylic resin (A2) has a weight average molecular weight of 6,000 or more; the organic solvent (C) includes a ketone compound having 7 or more carbon atoms (C1); and the clear coating composition has a solid concentration at a time of application of 55% by mass or more.

[Problem] To increase adhesive strength between an aqueous base coat layer and a clear coat layer in a coating method by a two-coat one-bake system where an aqueous base coat paint is coated, then a clear coat paint is coated, and these two coated films are simultaneously hardened, in comparison with the conventional method. [Solution] Provided is a coating method using a specific hardener in a clear coat paint. Namely, the hardener is characterized in that (1) it includes a reaction product of (i) a derivative of 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate including a trimer and virtually not including a diisocyanate monomer, and (ii) a compound having both an active hydrogen and a hydrophilic group; and (2) viscosity at 23 C. is not more than 1,000 mPa.Math.s. The compound having both an active hydrogen and a hydrophilic group herein is a compound having an active hydrogen-containing group and a sulfo group represented by formula (I), and preferably the sulfo group in a hardener is neutralized with a tertiary amine.
XRSO.sub.3HFormula (I)
(in the formula, X is an amino group, alkylamino group, cycloalkylamino group, or hydroxyl group, R is an aliphatic and/or alicyclic hydrocarbon group.)

A coating method for forming a laminated coating film including a lower layer formed on a base material and an upper layer formed on the lower layer including: preparing a thermosetting coating material as a lower layer-coating material and preparing a thermosetting coating material as an upper layer-coating material; forming an uncured laminated coating film by applying the lower layer-coating material and the upper layer-coating material on the base material using a wet-on-wet technique; and simultaneously curing the lower layer-coating material and the upper layer-coating material by baking the uncured laminated coating film. In the preparation step, the lower layer-coating material and the upper layer-coating material are selected so that an absolute value of a difference in shrinkage ratio between the lower layer and the upper layer coating materials is 2.0% or smaller at a late stage of the baking step.

To provide a coating composition, which is capable of providing a coating film on a resin part and on a steel plate part at the same time at lower temperatures than conventional coating compositions, and which is capable of providing a coating film that has excellent bending resistance. A clear coating composition, which contains a base material that contains an acrylic polyol, a crosslinking agent that is composed of an active methylene type blocked isocyanate and a melamine resin, and a curing catalyst. The mass ratio of the base material to the melamine resin is 1.5-9.0, and the mass percentage of the active methylene type blocked isocyanate in the composition is set within a specific range when the total of the mass percentage of the base material and the mass percentage of the melamine resin in the composition is taken as 100% by mass.

A coating composition includes a binder component (A), a flake-like aluminum pigment (B) having an average particle diameter (d50) of 18 m to 25 m, and a flake-like pigment (C) being a flake-like pigment other than flake-like aluminum pigments and having an average particle diameter (d50) of 8 m to 30 m. A content of the flake-like aluminum pigment (B) is 10 parts by mass to 50 parts by mass and a content of the flake-like pigment (C) is 0.5 parts by mass to 10 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the binder component (A). A content ratio (B)/(C) of the flake-like aluminum pigment (B) to the flake-like pigment (C) is 2/1 to 50/1 in terms of a solid content mass ratio.