Dry paint transfer process and product

Claim 2

A thermoformable laminate for use in forming an outer portion of an exterior car body panel, the laminate comprising a thin, semirigid backing sheet (72) made from a synthetic resinous material, and a flexible decorative sheet material (41) on the backing sheet (72), characterized in that the decorative sheet material comprises an automotive quality paint coat (44) bonded to a face of the backing sheet (72), in which the paint coat (44) comprises an an outer clear coat (45) and an underlying colour coat (46) bonded between the outer clear coat and the backing sheet (72), in which the clear coat (45) comprises an outdoor weatherable synthetic resinous coating in dry, thin film form having an outer surface with an exterior automotive gloss level, and the colour coat (46) comprises a pigmented exterior automotive synthetic resinous coating visible through the outer clear coat (45), the resulting paint coat (44) having a distinctiveness-of-image of at least about 60 percent and sufficient elongation and resistance to deglossing such that the laminate is thermoformable into a highly contoured three dimensional shape in which the paint coat (44) substantially retains said gloss level and distinctiveness-of-image during thermoforming and provides predetermined appearance and durability properties sufficient to be useful as an exterior automotive paint finish following thermoforming of the laminate (70) and bonding of the thermoformed laminated to an underlying structural panel.

Claim 3

The article according to claim 1 in which the laminate (70) can be thermoformed at a temperature of at least about 132°C (270"F), and the paint coat (44) elongates greater than about 40% during thermoforming at said thermoforming temperature while still retaining said gloss level and said appearance and durability properties.

Claim 4

The article according to claim 1 in which the clear coat (45) comprises a cast film (42) in which the clear coat (45) has been coated in liquid form on a casting sheet (42) and dried thereon to replicate a high gloss surface and specular reflectance of the casting sheet (42).

Claim 5

The article according to claim 1 in which the clear coat (45) comprises a thermoplastic paint system which includes polyvinylidene fluoride and an acrylic resin.

Claim 6

The article according to claim 4 in which the dried clear coat (45) contains less than about 70% polyvinylidene fluoride and less than about 50% acrylic resin, by weight of the total PVDF and acrylic resin components contained in the clear coat (45).

Claim 7

The article according to claim 1 in which the colour coat (46) comprises a pigmented synthetic resinous material with thermoplastic properties.

Claim 8

The article according to claim 1 in which the colour coat (46) is cast directly on the clear coat (45).

Claim 9

The article according to claim 1 in which the outer clear coat (45) comprises a thermoplastic coating principally containing a fluorinated polymer and an acrylic resin.

Claim 10

The article according to claim 8 in which the clear coat (45) is a thermoplastic paint system which consists essentially of about 50% to about 70% polyvinylidene fluoride and about 30% to about 50% acrylic resin; and in which the acrylic resin component comprises polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate, or mixtures thereof, including copolymers thereof.

Claim 11

The article according to claim 9 in which the colour coat (46) also consists essentially of about 50% to about 70% polyvinylidene fluoride and about 30% to about 50% acrylic resin; and in which the acrylic resin component comprises polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate, or mixtures thereof, including copolymers thereof.

Claim 12

The article according to claim 1 in which the clear coat (45) on the thermoformed laminate (70) has at least the minimum levels of gloss, distincitiveness-of-image, QUV, hardness, impact resistance, cleanability, acid resistance, gasoline resistance, and abrasion resistance, substantially as defined in the automotive specifications for exterior automotive paint finishes described herein.

Claim 13

The article according to claim 1 in which the clear coat (45) includes a fluorinated polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride, and copolymers and terpolymers of vinylidene fluoride.

Claim 14

The article according to claim 1 in which the clear coat (45) has a 60 ° gloss level greater than about 75 gloss units and a distinctiveness-of-image level greater than about 80 units.

Claim 15

The article according to claim 1 in which the backing sheet (72) is a semirigid sheet with a thickness in the range from about 0,25 mm (10 mils) to about 1 mm (40 mils).

Claim 16

The article according to claim 1 in which the backing sheet (72) is made from a material selected from the group consisting of ABS, polyester, amorphous nylon, thermoplastic polyolefins, including polypropylene and polyethylene.

Claim 17

The article according to claim 1 including a wax film applied to the outer face of the clear coat (45) from the casting sheet (42).

Claim 18

The article according to claim 1 in which a graphics pattern is printed between the colour coat (46) and backing sheet (72) and is visible through the paint coat (44).

Claim 19

The article according to claim 1 including a pigment contained in the backing sheet (72).

Claim 20

The article according to claim 1 including reflective flakes dispersed in the colour coat.

Claim 21

A process for applying a paint coat (44), suitable for exterior automotive use, to a contoured plastic exterior body panel of a motor vehicle, characterized by the steps of; casting a clear coat (45) of an outdoor weatherable synthetic resinous material in thin film form onto a surface of a casting sheet (42), and drying the clear coat (45) on the casting sheet (42), the sheet (42) having a smooth surface for transferring to the surface of the dried clear coat (45), in contact with the casting sheet (42), a gloss level sufficient for exterior automotive use; forming a pigmented synthetic resinous automotive colour coat (46) which is dried in thin film form and bonded to the clear coat (45); tranferring the dried clear coat (45) and colour coat (46) to a thin, semirigid thermoformable backing sheet (72) of a synthetic resinous material to form a composite paint coat (44) bonded to a face of the backing sheet (72), and removing the casting sheet (42) from the transferred clear coat (45), the clear coat (45) forming the exterior surface of the transferred composite paint coat (44), with the colour coat (46) being bonded between the outer clear coat (45) and the backing sheet (72), in which the outer surface of the clear coat (45) substantially retains the gloss level transferred to it from the casting sheet (42); thermoforming the backing sheet (72) and the composite paint coat (44) thereon to form a contoured, three dimensionally shaped preformed laminate (116); and placing the preformed laminate (116) in a mold (117) and molding a synthetic resinous substrate material (118) to the backing sheet of the preformed laminate to form a contoured exterior vehicle body panel (130) with a finished exterior automotive paint coat; the composite paint coat (44) being extendable and formable to said contoured shape while substantially retaining said gloss level during the thermoforming step; the backing sheet (72) having sufficient thickness and elongation to absorb defects present in the substrate material to retain an essentially defect-free surface on the clear coat (45) following adherence of the preformed laminate (116) to the substrate material, thereby forming a glossy, weatherable defect-free exterior automotive quality paint coat on the finished vehicle body panel.

Claim 22

A process for applying a paint coat (44), suitable for exterior automotive use, to a contoured plastic exterior body panel of a motor vehicle, characterized by the steps of; casting a clear coat (45) of an outdoor weatherable synthetic resinous material in thin film form onto a surface of a casting sheet (42), and drying the clear coat (45) on the casting sheet (42), the sheet (42) having a smooth surface for transferring to the surface of the dried clear coat (45), in contact with the casting sheet (42), a gloss level sufficient for exterior automotive use; forming a pigmented synthetic resinous automotive colour coat (46) which is dried in thin film form and bonded to the clear coat (45); tranferring the dried clear coat (45) and colour coat (46) to a thin, semirigid thermoformable backing sheet (72) of a synthetic resinous material to form a composite paint coat (44) bonded to a face of the backing sheet (72), and removing the casting sheet (42) from the transferred clear coat (45), the clear coat (45) forming the exterior surface of the transferred composite paint coat (44), with the colour coat (46) being bonded between the outer clear coat (45) and the backing sheet (72), in which the outer surface of the clear coat (45) substantially retains the gloss level transferred to it from the casting sheet (42); thermoforming the backing sheet (72) and the composite paint coat (44) thereon to form a contoured, three dimensionally shaped preformed laminate (116); and placing the preformed laminate (116) in a mold (117) and molding a synthetic resinous substrate material (118) to the backing sheet of the preformed laminate to form a contoured exterior vehicle body panel (130) with a finished exterior automotive paint coat; the composite paint coat (44) being extendable and formable to said contoured shape while substantially retaining said gloss level during the thermoforming step; the backing sheet (72) having sufficient thickness and elongation to absorb defects present in the substrate material to retain an essentially defect-free surface on the clear coat (45) following adherence of the preformed laminate (116) to the substrate material, thereby forming a glossy, weatherable defect-free exterior automotive quality paint coat on the finished vehicle body panel.

Claim 23

The process according to claim 20 in which the laminate (116) is thermoformed at a temperature greater than about 132°C (270 F), and the composite paint coat elongates greater than about 40% during the thermoforming step while still retaining said gloss level and said exterior automotive appearance and durability properties.

Claim 24

The process according to claim 20 in which the clear coat (45) comprises a fluorinated polymer and acrylic resin-containing material.

Claim 25

The process according to claim 22 in which the clear coat (45) comprises a thermoplastic paint system in which the fluorinated polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride, and copolymers and teropolymers of vinylidene fluoride.

Claim 26

The process according to claim 23 in which the dried clear coat (45) contains less than about 70% polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and less than about 50% acrylic resin, by weight of the total acrylic resin and PVDF solids present in the clear coat (45).

Claim 27

The process according to claim 20 in which the paint coat (44) has the minimum levels of gloss, distinctiveness-of-image, QUV, gasoline resistance, cleanability, acid resistance, hardness, abrasion resistance and impact strength, substantially as defined in the automotive specifications for exterior automotive paint finishes described herein.

Claim 28

The process according to claim 20 in which the preformed laminate (116) is molded to the substrate material by injection cladding, reaction injection molding, or thermoset sheet molding techniques.

Claim 29

The process according to claim 20 in which the clear coat (45) applied to the casting sheet (42) comprises a thermoplastic paint system which includes polyvinylidene fluoride and an acrylic resin, in which the polyvinylidene fluoride is dispersed in a solution of the acrylic resin.

Claim 30

The process according to claim 20 in which the clear coat (45) applied to the casting sheet comprises a thermoplastic paint system comprising a solution of polyvinylidene fluoride and acrylic resin.

Claim 31

The process according to claim 28 in which the finished paint coat has a 60 gloss level greater than about 75 gloss units and a distinctiveness-of-image level greater than about 80 units.

Claim 32

The process according to claim 20 in which the backing sheet (72) is a semirigid sheet with a thickness in the range from about 0,25 mm (10 mils) to about 1 mm (40 mils).

Claim 33

The process according to claim 20, in which the backing sheet (72) is made from a material selected from the group consisting of ABS, polyester, amorphous nylon, and thermoplastic polyolefins, including polypropylene and polyethylene.

Claim 34

The process according to claim 20 including applying a thin film of wax to the casting sheet prior to casting the clear coat on the casting sheet.

Claim 35

The process according to claim 20 in which a graphics pattern is printed between the clear coat (45) and the colour coat (46).

Claim 36

The process according to claim 20 in which the finished clear coat on the contoured outer surface of the vehicle body panel has a distinctiveness-of-image of at least about 60 percent.

Claim 37

The process according to claim 20 including reflective flakes dispersed in the colour coat (46).

Claim 38

The process according to claim 21 including a water soluble protective coating on the exterior surface of the paint coat.

Claim 39

The process according to claim 36 in which the protective coating is overstamped on the clear coat.

Claim 40

The process according to claim 21 in which the thermoforming step is carried out by avoiding contact between the thermoforming apparatus and the clear coat side of the backing sheet.

Claim 41

A contoured exterior plastic body panel (130) for motor vehicles, the panel having a synthetic resinous exterior automotive quality paint coat (44) bonded to a thin, synthetic resinous backing sheet (72) to form a laminate (116) which has been thermoformed into a contoured, three dimensional shape and bonded to an underlying molded plastic substrate (118) panel, the paint coat comprising a substantially transparent, cast outer clear coat (45) of a weatherable polymer in dry film form having a high gloss outer surface, and a pigmented synthetic resinous automotive colour coat (46) on the undersurface of the outer clear coat, the resulting paint coat having a distinctiveness-of-image of at least about 60 percent, the backing sheet (72) having sufficient thickness and elongation to have absorbed defects in the substrate material, thereby providing a glossy, weatherable, defect-free exterior automotive quality paint finish on the contoured outer surface of the panel.

Claim 42

A contoured exterior plastic body panel (130) for motor vehicles, the panel having a synthetic resinous exterior automotive quality paint coat (44) bonded to a thin, synthetic resinous backing sheet (72) to form a laminate (116) which has been thermoformed into a contoured, three dimensional shape and bonded to an underlying molded plastic substrate (118) panel, the paint coat comprising a substantially transparent, cast outer clear coat (45) of a weatherable polymer in dry film form having a high gloss outer surface, and a pigmented synthetic resinous automotive colour coat (46) on the undersurface of the outer clear coat, the resulting paint coat having a distinctiveness-of-image of at least about 60 percent, the backing sheet (72) having sufficient thickness and elongation to have absorbed defects in the substrate material, thereby providing a glossy, weatherable, defect-free exterior automotive quality paint finish on the contoured outer surface of the panel.

Claim 43

The panel according to claim 39 in which the clear coat (45) comprises a thermoplastic fluorinated polymer and acrylic resin-containing paint system.

Claim 44

The panel according to claim 39 in which the finished clear coat (45) has the minimum levels of gloss, distinctiveness-of-image, QUV, gasoline resistance, cleanability, acid resistance, hardness, abrasion resistance, and impact strength, substantially as defined in the automotive specfications for exterior automotive paint finishes described herein.

Claim 45

The panel according to claim 40 in which the finished paint coat has a distinctiveness-of-image of at least about 65 percent.

Claim 46

The panel according to claim 42 in which the clear coat (45) comprises a fluorinated polymer and acrylic resin-containing material with thermoplastic properties.

Claim 47

The panel according to claim 39 in which the clear coat (45) includes a fluorinated polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride, and copolymers and terpolymers of vinylidene fluoride.

Claim 48

The panel according to claim 40 in which the clear coat (45) has an 80 ° gloss level greater than about 75 gloss units and a distinctiveness-of-image level greater than about 80 units.

Claim 49

The panel according to claim 39 in which the backing sheet (72) is a semirigid sheet with a thickness in the range from about 0,25 mm (10 mils) to about 1 mm (40 mils).

Claim 50

The panel according to claim 39 in which the backing sheet (72) is made from a material selected from the group consisting of ABS, polyester, amorphous nylon, and thermoplastic polyolefins including polypropylene and polyethylene.

Claim 51

The panel according to claim 39 including a wax film applied to the outer face of the clear coat (45) from the casting sheet (42).

Claim 52

The panel according to claim 39 in which the performed laminate (116) is molded to the substrate material by injection cladding, reaction injection molding, or thermoset sheet molding techniques.

Claim 53

The panel according to claim 39 in which a graphics pattern is printed between the clear coat (45) and backing sheet (72) to be visible through the paint coat (44).

Claim 54

The panel according to claim 39 including a pigment contained in the backing sheet (72).

Claim 55

The panel according to claim 39 including reflective flakes dispersed in the colour coat (46).

Claim 56

The panel according to claim 39 including a water soluble protective coating on the clear coat (45).

Claim 57

A process for applying a paint coat, suitable for exterior automotive use, to a contoured plastic exterior body panel of a motor vehicle, characterized by the steps of: forming a paint-coated laminate (70) comprising (a) a thin, semirigid thermoformable backing sheet (72) of a synthetic resinous material, (b) a colour coat (46) of a dried, flexible pigmented synthetic resinous automotive colour coat in thin film form bonded to the backing sheet (72), and (c) a clear coat (45) of a dried, flexible outdoor weatherable synthetic resinous material in thin film form bonded to the colour coat (44) to form a protective outer layer of a composite paint coat (44) on said laminate (70), the exposed outer surface of the composite paint coat having a gloss level sufficient for exterior automotive use and a distinctiveness-of-image of at least about 60 percent; thermoforming the laminate (70) to form a contoured, three dimensionally shaped preformed laminate (116); and placing the preformed laminate in a mold (117) and molding a synthetic resinous substrate material (118) to the backing sheet of the preformed laminate to form a contoured exterior vehicle body panel (130) with a finished exterior automotive paint coat; the paint coat being extendable and formable to said contoured shape while substantially retaining said gloss level and said distinvtiveness-of-image level during the thermoforming step; the backing sheet (72) having sufficient thickness and elongation to absorb defects present in the substrate material to retain an essentially defect-free surface on the clear coat following adherence of the preformed laminate to the substrate material, thereby forming a glossy, weatherable, defect-free exterior automotive quality paint coat with a distinctiveness-of-image of at least 60 percent on the contoured outer surface of the finished vehicle body panel.

Claim 58

A process for applying a paint coat, suitable for exterior automotive use, to a contoured plastic exterior body panel of a motor vehicle, characterized by the steps of: forming a paint-coated laminate (70) comprising (a) a thin, semirigid thermoformable backing sheet (72) of a synthetic resinous material, (b) a colour coat (46) of a dried, flexible pigmented synthetic resinous automotive colour coat in thin film form bonded to the backing sheet (72), and (c) a clear coat (45) of a dried, flexible outdoor weatherable synthetic resinous material in thin film form bonded to the colour coat (44) to form a protective outer layer of a composite paint coat (44) on said laminate (70), the exposed outer surface of the composite paint coat having a gloss level sufficient for exterior automotive use and a distinctiveness-of-image of at least about 60 percent; thermoforming the laminate (70) to form a contoured, three dimensionally shaped preformed laminate (116); and placing the preformed laminate in a mold (117) and molding a synthetic resinous substrate material (118) to the backing sheet of the preformed laminate to form a contoured exterior vehicle body panel (130) with a finished exterior automotive paint coat; the paint coat being extendable and formable to said contoured shape while substantially retaining said gloss level and said distinvtiveness-of-image level during the thermoforming step; the backing sheet (72) having sufficient thickness and elongation to absorb defects present in the substrate material to retain an essentially defect-free surface on the clear coat following adherence of the preformed laminate to the substrate material, thereby forming a glossy, weatherable, defect-free exterior automotive quality paint coat with a distinctiveness-of-image of at least 60 percent on the contoured outer surface of the finished vehicle body panel.

Claim 59

The method according to claim 54 in which the clear coat (45) comprises a fluorinated polymer and acrylic resin-containing material.

Claim 60

The method according to claim 54 in which the clear coat (45) is cast as a thermoplastic paint system comprising a solution of polyvinylidene fluoride and acrylic resin.

Claim 61

The method according to claim 56 in which the clear coat (45) has a gloss level greater level greater than about 75 gloss units and a distinctiveness-of-image level greater than about 80 units.

Claim 62

The method according to claim 57 in which the clear coat (45) is cast as a thermoplastic paint system which includes polyvinylidene fluoride and an acrylic resin, and in which the polyvinylidene fluoride is dispersed in a solution of the acrylic resin.

Claim 63

The method according to claim 57 in which the laminate (72) is adhered to the substrate by injecton cladding, reaction injection molding, or thermoset sheet molding techniques.

Claim 64

The method according to claim 54 in which the backing sheet (72) is a semirigid sheet with a thickness in the range from about 0,25 mm (10 mils) to about 1 mm (40 mils).

Claim 65

The process according to claim 54 in which the thermoforming step is carried out by avoiding contact between the thermoforming apparatus and the paint coat (46) on the backing sheet (72).

Claim 66

A process for applying a paint coat, suitable for exterior automotive use, to a plastic exterior body panel of a motor vehicle, the process comprising the steps of: applying a clear coat (45) of a solution of vinylidene fluoride and acrylic resin in thin film form onto a surface of a flexible casting sheet (42), and drying the clear coat (45) on the casting sheet (42), the surface of the sheet having a specular reflectance for transferring to the surface of the dried clear coat a gloss level sufficient for exterior automotive use; casting a colour coat (46) of a pigmented solution of vinylidene fluoride and acrylic resin in thin-film form and drying the colour coat (46); transferring the dried clear coat (45) and colour coat (46) to a semirigid backing sheet (72) of a synthetic resinous material to form a composite paint coat (44) bonded to a face of the backing sheet (72), in which the clear coat forms the exterior surface of the transferred paint coat (44) and the colour coat (46) is bonded between the clear coat (45) and the face of the backing sheet (72) and in which the exterior surface of the clear coat (45) substantially retains the gloss transferred to it from the casting sheet (42); thermoforming the backing sheet (72) and the composite paint coat (44) thereon to form a three-dimensionally shaped preformed laminate (116); and adhering the preformed laminate to a synthetic resinous substrate material to form an exterior vehicle body panel: the clear coat (45) substantially retaining said gloss level during the thermoforming step; the backing sheet (72) having sufficient thickness and sufficient elongation to absorb defects present in the substrate material to retain an essentially defect-free gloss on the clear coat surface following adherence of the laminate to the substrate material; the composite paint coat (46) providing sufficient appearance and durability properties for use as an exterior automotive paint coat (46).

Claim 67

A process for applying a paint coat, suitable for exterior automotive use, to a plastic exterior body panel of a motor vehicle, the process comprising the steps of: applying a clear coat (45) of a solution of vinylidene fluoride and acrylic resin in thin film form onto a surface of a flexible casting sheet (42), and drying the clear coat (45) on the casting sheet (42), the surface of the sheet having a specular reflectance for transferring to the surface of the dried clear coat a gloss level sufficient for exterior automotive use; casting a colour coat (46) of a pigmented solution of vinylidene fluoride and acrylic resin in thin-film form and drying the colour coat (46); transferring the dried clear coat (45) and colour coat (46) to a semirigid backing sheet (72) of a synthetic resinous material to form a composite paint coat (44) bonded to a face of the backing sheet (72), in which the clear coat forms the exterior surface of the transferred paint coat (44) and the colour coat (46) is bonded between the clear coat (45) and the face of the backing sheet (72) and in which the exterior surface of the clear coat (45) substantially retains the gloss transferred to it from the casting sheet (42); thermoforming the backing sheet (72) and the composite paint coat (44) thereon to form a three-dimensionally shaped preformed laminate (116); and adhering the preformed laminate to a synthetic resinous substrate material to form an exterior vehicle body panel: the clear coat (45) substantially retaining said gloss level during the thermoforming step; the backing sheet (72) having sufficient thickness and sufficient elongation to absorb defects present in the substrate material to retain an essentially defect-free gloss on the clear coat surface following adherence of the laminate to the substrate material; the composite paint coat (46) providing sufficient appearance and durability properties for use as an exterior automotive paint coat (46).

Claim 68

The process according to claim 62 in which the paint coat (44) on the thermoformed laminate (116) has a gloss level greater than about 75 gloss units and a distinctiveness-of-image level greater than about 80 units.

Claim 69

The process according to claim 62 in which the substrate is adhered to the laminate by injection cladding, reaction injection molding, or sheet molding compound techniques.

Claim 70

The process according to claim 62 in which the backing sheet (72) is a semirigid sheet with a thickness in the range form about 0,25 mm (10 mils) to about 1 mm (40 mils).

Claim 71

The process according to claim 62 in which the backing sheet (72) is made from a material selected from the group consisting of ABS, polyester, amorphous nylon, thermoplastic polyolefins, including polypropylene and polyethylene.

Claim 72

The process according to claim 62 in which the paint coat (44) is cast as a solution of polyvinylidene fluoride and acrylic resin.

Claim 73

The process according to claim 68 in which the finished paint coat has the minimum levels of gloss, distinctiveness-of-image, QUV, gasoline resistance, cleanability, acid resistance, hardness, abrasion resistance, and impact strength, substantially as defined in the automotive specifications for exterior automotive paint finishes described herein.

Claim 74

A flexible decorative sheet material (41) suitable for use in surfacing automobile body panels, the sheet material being characterized by having the appearance of a glossy, clear coat/colour coat automotive quality paint finish and comprising a flexible outer layer (45) having a smooth, glossy outer surface, and formed by a flexible, optically clear, weatherable polymer, and a pigmented coating (46) adhered to the opposite surface of said outer layer and visible through the clear outer layer, the resulting paint coat having a distinctivenes-of-image of at least about 60 percent.

Claim 75

A flexible decorative sheet material (41) suitable for use in surfacing automobile body panels, the sheet material being characterized by having the appearance of a glossy, clear coat/colour coat automotive quality paint finish and comprising a flexible outer layer (45) having a smooth, glossy outer surface, and formed by a flexible, optically clear, weatherable polymer, and a pigmented coating (46) adhered to the opposite surface of said outer layer and visible through the clear outer layer, the resulting paint coat having a distinctivenes-of-image of at least about 60 percent.

Claim 76

A decorative sheet material according to claim 69 characterized in that the weatherable polymer is selected from the group consisting of fluoropolymers, acrylic polymers and blends thereof.

Claim 77

A decorative sheet material according to claim 70 characterized in that the colour coat (46) includes a dispersion of reflective flakes.

Claim 80

The method according to claim 72, characterized in that the clear coat (45) comprises a fluoropolymer and an acrylic resin.

Claim 81

The method according to claim 73 characterized in that the colour coat (46) includes a dispersion of reflective flakes.

Claim 82

The method according to claim 72 characterized in that the coated film has an 80 degree gloss level greater than about 75 gloss units and a distinctiveness-of-image of at least about 80 percent.

Claim 83

A contoured vehicle body panel (130) comprising a supporting substrate (118) and an exterior automotive paint coat (44) adhered to and conforming to the contoured shape of the outer surface of the panel, characterized in that the paint coat has the appearance of a clear coat/colour coat paint finish when viewing the outer surface of the paint coat, and comprises a substantially clear outdoor weatherable synthetic resinous outer clear coat (45) having a glossy, durable, defect-free outer surface sufficient for exterior automotive use, and a pigmented synthetic resinous automotive colour coat (46) bonded to the undersurface of the clear coat and visible therethrough to impart to the outer surface of the contoured body panel the appearance of a clear coat/colour coat paint finish, the paint coat on the contoured body panel having a distinctiveness-of-image of at least about 60 percent.

Claim 84

A contoured vehicle body panel (130) comprising a supporting substrate (118) and an exterior automotive paint coat (44) adhered to and conforming to the contoured shape of the outer surface of the panel, characterized in that the paint coat has the appearance of a clear coat/colour coat paint finish when viewing the outer surface of the paint coat, and comprises a substantially clear outdoor weatherable synthetic resinous outer clear coat (45) having a glossy, durable, defect-free outer surface sufficient for exterior automotive use, and a pigmented synthetic resinous automotive colour coat (46) bonded to the undersurface of the clear coat and visible therethrough to impart to the outer surface of the contoured body panel the appearance of a clear coat/colour coat paint finish, the paint coat on the contoured body panel having a distinctiveness-of-image of at least about 60 percent.