Solvents that are suitable for use with polyurethane-polyurea based rheology modifying agents of the type which, in the past, have generally been formulated as solids or viscous liquids. The present solvents enable the rheology modifying agents to be prepared and formulated in a liquid or solution form more suited to prepare coating formulations that include polyurethane-polyurea based rheology modifying agents. The present solvents are N-alkyl substituted caprolactams, including N-methyl caprolactam, N-ethyl caprolactam, N-butyl caprolactam, and mixtures thereof, which are aprotic, non-toxic, have good solvency for polar groups such as those found in polyurethanes and polyureas, are thermally stable, and have high boiling points and low vapor pressure.

Solvents that are suitable for use with polyurethane-polyurea based rheology modifying agents of the type which, in the past, have generally been formulated as solids or viscous liquids. The present solvents enable the rheology modifying agents to be prepared and formulated in a liquid or solution form more suited to prepare coating formulations that include polyurethane-polyurea based rheology modifying agents. The present solvents are N-alkyl substituted caprolactams, including N-methyl caprolactam, N-ethyl caprolactam, N-butyl caprolactam, and mixtures thereof, which are aprotic, non-toxic, have good solvency for polar groups such as those found in polyurethanes and polyureas, are thermally stable, and have high boiling points and low vapor pressure.

The problem addressed by this invention is to provide a laminate for molding having excellent moldability and post-curing properties of the hard-coat layer, and which can maintain the surface of the hard-coat layer in a satisfactory state while uncured. This problem is solved by a laminate for molding containing a hard-coat layer and a masking film affixed to the surface of the hard-coat layer, having an adhesive surface, which is the hard-coat layer-side surface of the masking film, with a surface free energy of at least 30.0 (mN/m) measured in accordance with the OWRK method, before being affixed. The hard-coat layer is in an uncured state.

The problem addressed by this invention is to provide a laminate for molding having excellent moldability and post-curing properties of the hard-coat layer, and which can maintain the surface of the hard-coat layer in a satisfactory state while uncured. This problem is solved by a laminate for molding containing a hard-coat layer and a masking film affixed to the surface of the hard-coat layer, having an adhesive surface, which is the hard-coat layer-side surface of the masking film, with a surface free energy of at least 30.0 (mN/m) measured in accordance with the OWRK method, before being affixed. The hard-coat layer is in an uncured state.

The present invention relates to a polymer comprising a polyacrylate homo- or co-polymer backbone incorporating at least one benzylic derivative which is covalently bonded to at least one end of the homo- or co-polymer backbone and its use as a flow and levelling agent, additive, dispersant etc.

The present invention relates to a polymer comprising a polyacrylate homo- or co-polymer backbone incorporating at least one benzylic derivative which is covalently bonded to at least one end of the homo- or co-polymer backbone and its use as a flow and levelling agent, additive, dispersant etc.

A universal slip and levelling additive having a recoatable or reprintable property contains polyoxyalkylene-polysiloxane copolymers of general formula (I)

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1=identical and/or different alkyl radicals having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably having 1-4 carbon atoms, particularly preferably having 1 or 2 carbon atoms; R═R.sup.1 and/or —C.sub.pH.sub.2pO[(C.sub.2H.sub.4O).sub.x(C.sub.3H.sub.6O).sub.y]R.sup.2, where p=2, 3 or 4, with the proviso that at least one R═—C.sub.pH.sub.2pO[(C.sub.2H.sub.4O).sub.x(C.sub.3H.sub.6O).sub.y]—; R.sup.2=alkyl radical having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; n≥45; m=1 to 5; and wherein x and y are selected such that the molecular weight of the polyoxyalkylene block [(C.sub.2H.sub.4O).sub.x(C.sub.3H.sub.6O).sub.y] is >3000 g/mol and the molar weight ratio of x to y is <0.8.

A universal slip and levelling additive having a recoatable or reprintable property contains polyoxyalkylene-polysiloxane copolymers of general formula (I)

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1=identical and/or different alkyl radicals having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably having 1-4 carbon atoms, particularly preferably having 1 or 2 carbon atoms; R═R.sup.1 and/or —C.sub.pH.sub.2pO[(C.sub.2H.sub.4O).sub.x(C.sub.3H.sub.6O).sub.y]R.sup.2, where p=2, 3 or 4, with the proviso that at least one R═—C.sub.pH.sub.2pO[(C.sub.2H.sub.4O).sub.x(C.sub.3H.sub.6O).sub.y]—; R.sup.2=alkyl radical having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; n≥45; m=1 to 5; and wherein x and y are selected such that the molecular weight of the polyoxyalkylene block [(C.sub.2H.sub.4O).sub.x(C.sub.3H.sub.6O).sub.y] is >3000 g/mol and the molar weight ratio of x to y is <0.8.

A water-based surface treatment agent is provided. The water-based surface treatment agent is suitable to be coated onto a surface of a synthetic leather. The water-based surface treatment agent at least includes waterborne polyurethane, silicone powder, and water. Based on 100 parts by weight of the water-based surface treatment agent, a content of the waterborne polyurethane is within 15 to 35 parts by weight, and a content of the silicone powder is within 3 to 20 parts by weight. A non-volatile matter content of the waterborne polyurethane is within a range from 20 wt % to 30 wt %. Each grain of the silicone powder has a particle size within a range from 0.2 μm to 15 μm, a specific gravity within a range from 0.9 to 1.5, a water content within a range from 0.1% to 0.5%, and a hardness (A) within a range from 30 to 90.

A water-based surface treatment agent is provided. The water-based surface treatment agent is suitable to be coated onto a surface of a synthetic leather. The water-based surface treatment agent at least includes waterborne polyurethane, silicone powder, and water. Based on 100 parts by weight of the water-based surface treatment agent, a content of the waterborne polyurethane is within 15 to 35 parts by weight, and a content of the silicone powder is within 3 to 20 parts by weight. A non-volatile matter content of the waterborne polyurethane is within a range from 20 wt % to 30 wt %. Each grain of the silicone powder has a particle size within a range from 0.2 μm to 15 μm, a specific gravity within a range from 0.9 to 1.5, a water content within a range from 0.1% to 0.5%, and a hardness (A) within a range from 30 to 90.