The quality of an automotive sun shade is frequently determined by the reflective paint used in the manufacturing of the sun shade. This invention discloses a method of polishing reflective metallic paint after its application onto the material of automotive sun shades leading to an improvement in the reflective potential of the surface of the paint. The outcome is a measureable improvement in product performance.

A method of applying a coating composition to a substrate utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator include the steps of providing the high transfer efficiency applicator comprising an array of nozzles wherein each nozzle defines a nozzle orifice having a diameter of from 0.00002 m to 0.0004, providing the coating composition, and applying the coating composition to the substrate through the nozzle orifice without atomization such that at least 99.9% of the applied coating composition contacts the substrate to form a coating layer having a wet thickness of at least 5 microns, wherein the coating composition includes a carrier, a binder, and a radar reflective pigment or a LiDAR reflective pigment. The coating composition has an Ohnesorge number (Oh) of from about 0.01 to about 12.6, a Reynolds number (Re) of from about 0.02 to about 6,200, and a Deborah number (De) of from greater than 0 to about 1730.

A coating composition includes: (i) a film-forming resin; (ii) an infrared reflective pigment; and (iii) an infrared fluorescent pigment or dye different from the infrared reflective pigment. A multi-layer coating including the coating composition, and a substrate at least partially coated with the coating composition is also disclosed. A method of detecting an article at least partially coated with the coating composition is also disclosed.

There are provided a decorative object and a manufacturing method thereof, which includes: an object to be decorated; a printed layer covering at least a part of a surface of the object to be decorated; and a color clear layer covering the printed layer. In accordance with changes in a transmission distance by which light is transmitted through the color clear layer, a slight change in appearances of the decorative object can be caused.

A method of forming a vapour deposited polymeric conformal coating on a surface of a part (23). The method comprises placing the part (23) and a flow control screen in a deposition chamber (22); dispersing a gas into the chamber (22) from which the polymeric coating is deposited on the surface. The flow control screen is spaced apart from the surface and is configured to control a localised flow of the gas in the chamber so as to impose a structure on the deposited coating.

A coiled metal substrate with a faux galvanized surface appearance. The faux galvanized surface of the substrate including a spangle print pattern of polyvinylidene fluoride (PFDV) flexographically applied to the metal substrate. Atop the PFDV print pattern is semi-transparent coating of fluoroethylene vinyl ether (FEVE) flexographically applied atop the spangle print pattern of PFDV.

An outer surface of a part of an airframe includes a mixed region in which a first color similar to a color applied to an adjacent region and a second color having a lower absorption rate of sunlight than the first color are mixed in a predetermined color distribution pattern. A reflective material that contributes to an increase in a reflection rate of sunlight is added to a part to which at least the first color is applied in the mixed region.

A system for applying a first coating composition and a second coating composition. The system includes a first high transfer efficiency applicator defining a first nozzle orifice and a second high transfer efficiency applicator defining a second nozzle orifice. The system further includes a substrate defining a target area. The first high transfer efficiency applicator is configured to expel the first coating composition through the first nozzle orifice to the target area of the substrate to form a first coating layer. The second high transfer efficiency applicator is configured to expel the second coating composition through the second nozzle orifice to the first coating layer to form a second coating layer.

According to various embodiments, a cover is sealed over a metasurface on a substrate to create a sealed chamber. Liquid crystal, or another tunable refractive index dielectric material, is positioned within the sealed chamber around optical structures of the metasurface before or after the cover is sealed. For example, the liquid crystal may be injected through small vias or holes to fill a sealed chamber. In some embodiments, a glass cover is shaped or patterned with photoresist to protrude into the sealed chamber to reduce the thickness of the liquid crystal used to fill the sealed chamber. A driver to control the metasurface may be, for example, integrated within the substrate, be attached to exposed bond pads of the metasurface, and/or be embodied as a control layer connected to the metasurface through the substrate by through-substrate vias (TSVs).

One or more aspects of the present disclosure provide articles of manufacture and components of articles that incorporate an optical element that imparts a structural color to the component or the article. The component comprises a thermoplastic polymeric material, and can include or be made to have a textured surface.