A method for forming a multilayer coating film comprising the steps of: (1) applying a base paint (X) to a substrate to form a base coating film, (2) applying an effect pigment dispersion (Y) to the base coating film formed in step (1) to form an effect coating film, (3) applying a clear paint (Z) to the effect coating film formed in step (2) to form a clear coating film, and (4) heating the uncured base coating film, the uncured effect coating film, and the uncured clear coating film formed in steps (1) to (3) to thereby simultaneously cure these three coating films; wherein the effect pigment dispersion (Y) contains water, a black pigment (A), a vapor deposition metal flake pigment (B), and a rheology control agent (C).

Provided is a VMP aluminum slurry that can satisfy metallic texture achieving high designability and demand characteristics of adhesion level with a base material. It has been found that when a coating material formed using a VMP aluminum slurry containing a specific dicarboxylic acid is made into a coating film, the adhesion with a base material is particularly excellent, and the VMP aluminum slurry of the present invention has been completed. The VMP aluminum slurry contains a dicarboxylic acid having an octanol/water partition coefficient (log Pow) of −1 to 1 and a carbon chain of 2 to 5 carbon atoms between two carboxy groups, a VMP (vacuum metallized pigment) aluminum pigment, and a solvent.

Provided is a metal-particle dispersion composition as a composition containing dispersed metal particles and being suitable for use in aqueous coating compositions, etc., the metal-particle dispersion composition comprising 10-80 mass % metal particles, 0.01-10 mass % organic titanate compound in a chelate form, 1-40 mass % water, and 2-30 mass % organic solvent having a higher boiling point than water, the amounts being based on the whole composition, wherein the organic titanate compound is an organic compound represented by Ti(OR).sub.4 (the OR groups include at least one chelatable substituent based on triethanolamine) and the organic solvent having a higher boiling point than water is a C.sub.7 or lower alcohol compound.

Provided is a metal-particle dispersion composition as a composition containing dispersed metal particles and being suitable for use in aqueous coating compositions, etc., the metal-particle dispersion composition comprising 10-80 mass % metal particles, 0.01-10 mass % organic titanate compound in a chelate form, 1-40 mass % water, and 2-30 mass % organic solvent having a higher boiling point than water, the amounts being based on the whole composition, wherein the organic titanate compound is an organic compound represented by Ti(OR).sub.4 (the OR groups include at least one chelatable substituent based on triethanolamine) and the organic solvent having a higher boiling point than water is a C.sub.7 or lower alcohol compound.

A method for increasing a detection distance of a surface of an object illuminated by near-IR electromagnetic radiation, including: (a) directing near-IR electromagnetic radiation from a near-IR electromagnetic radiation source towards an object at least partially coated with a near-IR reflective coating that increases a near-IR electromagnetic radiation detection distance by at least 15% as measured at a wavelength in a near-IR range as compared to the same object coated with a color matched coating which absorbs more of the same near-IR radiation, where the color matched coating has a ΔE color matched value of 1.5 or less when compared to the near-IR reflective coating; and (b) detecting reflected near-IR electromagnetic radiation reflected from the near-IR reflective coating. A system for detecting proximity of vehicles is also disclosed.

An oxidized zinc pigment has been developed that can be used in a waterborne coating. The zinc metal allows for improved stability in waterborne systems while retaining the level of activity required for an anticorrosive material. This pigment is oxidized enough to prevent corrosion and still be dispersed in the waterborne coating, while still allowing for cathodic and anodic corrosion protection in the coating once applied to a metal surface. This zinc pigment may also be used in a waterborne ink or coating system and also for coated metal articles.

Composite compositions comprising metal nanoparticles and/or microparticles and a binder are provided. Composites are tunable to achieved specific desired characteristics, such as sintering temperature, melting temperature, print resolution, and surface binding capabilities. Preferably, the metal particles may be produced using plasma-based technology. The composites are spreadable or printable and are especially useful in the field of electronics. The composites are capable of being used to form highly conductive wires or traces in electronic components. Preferably, the resulting metal structure has a low level of metal oxidation. The disclosure also includes methods for producing composite materials.

Provided is a silver powder which has an appropriate viscosity range at the time of paste production, can be easily kneaded, and prevents the occurrence of flakes. The silver powder to be used has a specific surface area ratio SA.sub.B/SA.sub.S of 0.5 to 0.9, wherein SA.sub.B is a specific surface area measured by the BET method, and SA.sub.S is a specific surface area calculated from a mean primary-particle diameter D.sub.S measured with a scanning electron microscope. Furthermore, the silver powder preferably has a degree of aggregation of 1.5 to 5.0, the degree being obtained in such a manner that a volume median diameter D.sub.50 measured by laser diffraction scattering is divided by the foregoing Ds.

A method of forming a passivated pigment slurry includes combining a resin and a pigment to form a pigment-resin slurry, wherein the pigment includes a plurality of flakes each having a surface. After combining, the method includes mixing the pigment-resin slurry and an orthosilicate to form a coated pigment-resin slurry. The coated pigment-resin slurry includes the resin and a coated pigment including the plurality of flakes each encapsulated by a first layer formed from silica and disposed on the surface. The method further includes reacting the coated pigment-resin slurry and an organosilane compound having a hydrolysable group and an organic functional group to coat the first layer and thereby form the passivated pigment slurry. The passivated pigment slurry includes the resin and a passivated pigment including the plurality of flakes each coated with a second layer disposed on the first layer.

A method suitable for mass production of nanoparticles with a uniform particle diameter is provided. It is an object to provide a powder of the nanoparticle obtained by this method, a dispersion containing the nanoparticles, and a paste containing the nanoparticles. There is provided a method for manufacturing silver particles including the step of reducing silver in a silver solution containing a protective agent composed of an organic material and a copper component in an amount of 1 to 1,000 ppm relative to the amount of silver to obtain particles having an average particle diameter (D.sub.TEM) of 5 to 100 nm as measured using a transmission electron microscope.