Paintable material

Abstract

A sealant material and articles incorporating the same. The sealant material includes up to about 80% of an epoxy resin; up to about 40% of an epoxy/elastomer hybrid; up to about 40% of a rheology modifier; up to about 5% of a blowing agent; up to about 7% of a curing agent; and about 40 to about 60% of a filler.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An article of manufacture; comprising: 
 a) a first panel;    b) a second panel adjoining said first panel;    c) a sealant over said first panel and said second panel; said sealant material including 
 i. up to about 80% of an epoxy resin;  
 ii. up to about 40% of an epoxy/elastomer hybrid;  
 iii. up to about 40% of a rheology modifier;  
 iv. up to about 5% of a blowing agent;  
 v. up to about 7% of a curing agent; and  
 vi. a filler;  
   d) a layer of primer over said sealant; and    e) a layer of paint over said primer.    
     
     
         2 . An article of manufacture, comprising: 
 a) a first panel;    b) a partially cured sealant over said first panel and said second panel; said sealant material including 
 i. up to about 80% of an epoxy resin;  
 ii. up to about 40% of an epoxy/elastomer hybrid;  
 iii. up to about 40% of a rheology modifier other than an ethylene vinyl acetate;  
 iv. up to about 5% of a blowing agent;  
 v. up to about 7% of a curing agent; and  
 vi. about 40 to about 60% of a filler, said sealant being substantially free of a photoinitiator.  
   
     
     
         3 . An article of manufacture, comprising: 
 a) a first metal automotive vehicle panel selected from aluminum, steel or reinforced plastic;    b) a second automotive vehicle panel selected from aluminum, steel or reinforced plastic adjoining said first panel;    c) a sealant over said first panel and said second panel; said sealant material including 
 1. about 10 to about 50 parts by weight of an epoxy resin;  
 2. about 10 to about 30 parts by weight of an epoxy/elastomer hybrid having about 1:3 to 3:1 parts of epoxy to elastomer;  
 3. less than about 10 parts by weight of a rheology modifier including an acrylic;  
 4. up to about 5 parts by weight of an azocarbonamide blowing agent;  
 5. up to about 7 parts by weight of a curing agent including an amine; and  
 6. about 40 to about 60 parts by weight of a mineral filler;  
   d) a layer of primer, applied by electrocoating, over said sealant;    e) a layer of two component polyurethane paint over said primer; and    f) a clear coat layer over said paint.    
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said sealant is substantially free of a photoinitiator.  
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said sealant is substantially free of ethylene vinyl acetate.  
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said sealant is substantially free of ethylene vinyl acetate and a photoinitiator.  
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said sealant has been partially cured.  
     
     
         8 . The article  claim 2 , wherein said epoxy resin is present in an amount of about 10 to about 50% by weight, and said epoxy/elastomer hybrid is present in an amount of about 10 to about 30% by weight and has about 1:3 to 3:1 parts of epoxy to elastomer.  
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein said filler is a mineral filler.  
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein said sealant is substantially free of a photoinitiator.  
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein said sealant is substantially free of ethylene vinyl acetate.  
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein said sealant is substantially free of ethylene is vinyl acetate and a photoinitiator.  
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein said sealant has been partially cured.  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein said sealant is self leveling at elevated temperatures for providing a smooth paintable surface.