Novel coating compositions and their preparation

Claim 2

A coating composition as defined in claim 1 in which said first film former is cross-linked.

Claim 3

A coating composition as defined in claim 1 wherein a first portion of said particles of said dispersed phase are of a color different from that of a second portion thereof.

Claim 4

A coating composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said particles of said dispersed phase are previously solid particles of said first film former that have been solvated by said second organic solvent to said gel.

Claim 5

A coating composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said second organic solvent is one in which said first film former is more soluble at an elevated temperature than at room temperature, and said gel comprises a mixture of said organic film former and said second organic solvent.

Claim 6

A coating composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said first film former is a cross-linked polymer gel.

Claim 7

A coating composition as defined in claim 1 which further includes: c. a second organic film former dissolved in said dispersing phase, with said first and second film formers being substantially soluble in both said first and second organic solvents.

Claim 8

A coating composition as defined in claim 8 wherein said first and second organic film formers are substantially incompatible.

Claim 9

A coating composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said first film former is selected from the group consisting of epoxy resins, polyurethane resins and mixtures thereof.

Claim 10

A coating composition as defined In claim 1 wherein said first film former is selected from the group consisting of resins having a molecular weight of 80,000 or more, and cross-linked polymeric materials.

Claim 11

A coating composition as defined in claim 1 in which said first and second organic solvents are identical.

Claim 12

A coating composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said first film former is capable of cross-linking, and said gel is one that results from dissolving said first film former in said second organic solvent and thereafter cross-linking said film former.

Claim 13

A coating composition as defined in claim 1 which further includes: c. a second organic film former dissolved in said dispersing phase, with said first and second organic solvents being selected from a group thereof which are miscible with one another and cause no substantial visible precipitation of said first and second film formers.

Claim 14

A process for preparing a stable coating composition that may be used to impart a decorative finish to a substrate, which finish includes a plurality of spaced, visibly distinct areas of different appearance, said process including: a. preparing a first vehicle by dissolving a first organic film former in a first organic liquid with said first vehicle being divided into at least two portions; b. imparting an appearance to one of said portions that is different from the other thereof; c. transforming each of said portions to a gel that is not appreciably soluble in said first organic liquid or in a second organic liquid in which said gel is visible to the naked eye in the form of globules which are permanently dispersed and remain substantially separate without appreciable coalescence with one another and wherein said globules retain adequate flow characteristics upon aging; and d. mixing said first and second transformed portions with agitation into said second organic liquid that is miscible with said first organic liquid, which agitation subdivides said portions into a plurality of particles of such size that the major portions thereof are visible to the naked eye and provide said spaced areas on said substrate when said composition is applied thereto.

Claim 15

A process as defined in claim 15 wherein said appearance is imparted by coloring at least one of said portions to a color different from that of the other of said portions.

Claim 16

A process for preparing a stable coating composition that may be used to impart a decorative finish to a substrate, which finish includes a plurality of spaced areas, said process including: a. preparing a first colored vehicle by dissolving a first organic film former in a first organic liquid, with either said first film former or first organic liquid being colored; b. transforming said first vehicle into a colored gel; and c. mixing said first colored gel with agitation into a second organic liquid that is miscible with said first organic liquid but with which second liquid said gel is immiscible, which agitation subdivides said first colored gel into a plurality of particles that are individually visible to the naked eye in the form of globules which are permanently dispersed and remain substantially separate without appreciable coalescence with one another and wherein said globules retain adequate flow characteristics upon aging and that provide said spaced areas on said substrate when said composition is applied thereto.

Claim 17

A process as defined in claim 17 which includes the additional step of: d. coloring said second organic liquid to a color different from that of said first vehicle.

Claim 18

A process as defined in claim 17 wherein said first organic film former comprises an organic polymeric material that may be cross-linked to increase the molecular weight thereof, with said transformation being effected by adding a cross-linking agent to said first organic liquid in which said polymeric material is dissolved.

Claim 19

A process as defined in claim 15 which includes the further step of: d. addIng a stabilizer to said composition to prevent coalescence of said particles during prolonged storage of said composition.

Claim 20

A process as defined in claim 17 wherein said first organic liquid is one in which said first organic film former is more soluble at an elevated temperature than at room temperature and in which said transformation is effected by dissolving said film former in said first organic liquid at said elevated temperature and allowing the same to cool to room temperature.

Claim 21

A process as defined in claim 17 which includes the further step of: d. dissolving a second organic film former in said second organic liquid, with said first and second liquids being selected from a group of organic liquids that are miscible with one another and said first and second film formers are substantially soluble in both said first and second solvents.

Claim 22

A stable coating composition that may be used to impart a decorative finish to a substrate, which composition comprises a dispersion and includes: a. a dispersing phase comprising a first portion of an organic liquid in which a first organic film former is dissolved; and b. a plurality of globules of a dispersed phase that are individually visible to the naked eye, are permanently dispersed and remain substantially separate without appreciable coalescence with one another and wherein said globules retain adequate flow characteristics upon aging and are defined by a homogeneous gel that is not appreciably soluble in said first phase, said globules of the dispersed phase comprising a second portion of said organic liquid, said first film former and a colorant, which colorant is not soluble in said organic liquid, and said globules being formed by dissolving said first film former in the second portion of the organic liquids, incorporating said colorant and thereafter transforming the solution into a gel, and with said decorative finish on said substrate being a plurality of spaced areas defined at least in part by said particles.

Claim 23

A coating composition as defined in claim 23 wherein said organic film former is of a type that may be cross-linked, and said dispersed phase is a second portion of said organic film former, organic liquid, and colorant that has been transformed by cross-linking into said gel.

Claim 24

A process for preparing a stable coating composition that may be used to impart a decorative finish to a substrate, which finish includes a plurality of spaced, visibly distinct areas, said process including: a. preparing a plurality of first vari-colored vehicles by dissolving a plurality of first organic film formers and different colorants in a plurality of separate first organic liquids; b. transforming said plurality of said first vehicles into a plurality of gels in the form of globules which are permanently dispersed and remain substantially separate without appreciable coalescence with one another and wherein said globules retain adequate flow characteristics upon aging; and c. mixing said first colored vehicles by agitation with a second organic liquid which second organic liquid is selected from a group thereof that is miscible with said first organic liquid but with which said gels are substantially immiscible, which agitation subdivides said gels into a plurality of particles of different colors that are individually visible to the naked eye and that provide said spaced areas on said substrate when said composition is applied thereto.