Strippable laminate finish

Abstract

A coated substrate comprises a strippable intermediate coating on a substrate, and a strip agent-permeable coating or topcoat on the intermediate coating. The topcoat is less strippable and more wear-resistant than the intermediate coating. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate comprises a floor, the topcoat comprises a UV curable floor finish, the intermediate coating comprises a metal-crosslinked acrylic, and the strip agent comprises a chemical strip agent containing a phenyl alcohol. When the topcoat eventually becomes worn and must be renewed, a strip agent (e.g., chemical strip agent) can be applied to the topcoat. The strip agent penetrates the topcoat and attacks the intermediate coating, thereby enabling removal of the intermediate coating and topcoat without aggressive removal techniques such as sanding. Certain laminate finishes, strip agents, methods for using these finishes and strip agents; and methods for removing a multilayer laminate finish are used to prepare and to renew the coated substrate.

1 . A coated substrate comprising a strippable intermediate coating atop the substrate, and a strip agent-permeable coating atop the intermediate coating, wherein the strip agent-permeable coating comprised a waterborne composition and is less strippable and more durable than the intermediate coating.  
     
     
         2 . A coated substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a floor.  
     
     
         3 . A coated substrate according to  claim 2 , wherein the substrate comprises a resilient flooring material.  
     
     
         4 . A coated substrate according to  claim 3 , wherein the substrate comprises a vinyl or vinyl composite tile.  
     
     
         5 . A coated substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a wall, ceiling, label, emblem, sign or vehicle.  
     
     
         6 . A coated substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate coating comprises a metal-catalyzed acrylic finish.  
     
     
         7 . A coated substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate coating has a strippability rating of 6 or more on a 7 point scale, corresponding to at least partial strip with softened finish in all areas, using a test strip agent made using a 25% water solution of a concentrate that contained 59% softened water, 6% sodium xylene sulfonate, 4.5% potassium hydroxide, 10% monoethanolamine, 0.2% tetrasodium EDTA, 10% ethylene glycol phenyl ether and 0.05% fluorosurfactant, and a 10 minute standing time.  
     
     
         8 . A coated substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate coating has a thickness of about 5 to about 38 micrometers.  
     
     
         9 . A coated substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the topcoat comprises a polymerized material.  
     
     
         10 . A coated substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the topcoat comprised a one-part photopolymerizable material.  
     
     
         11 . A coated substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the topcoat comprised a UV curable material.  
     
     
         12 . A coated substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the topcoat comprises an acrylate, urethane or acrylated urethane.  
     
     
         13 . A coated substrate according to  claim 12 , wherein the topcoat comprises an aromatic urethane.  
     
     
         14 . A coated substrate according to  claim 12 , wherein the topcoat comprises an aliphatic polyester urethane.  
     
     
         15 . A coated substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the topcoat is not metal crosslinked.  
     
     
         16 . A coated substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the topcoat has a strippability rating of 4 or less on a 7 point scale, corresponding to no more than severe chemical attack on the topcoat and the onset of stripping, using a test strip agent made using a 25% water solution of a concentrate that contained 59% softened water, 6% sodium xylene sulfonate, 4.5% potassium hydroxide, 10% monoethanolamine, 0.2% tetrasodium EDTA, 10% ethylene glycol phenyl ether and 0.05% fluorosurfactant, and a 10 minute standing time.  
     
     
         17 . A coated substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the topcoat has a thickness of about 5 to about 38 micrometers.  
     
     
         18 . A coated substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate coating or topcoat comprise two or more different layers of materials.  
     
     
         19 . A coated substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a floor and the strip agent-permeable coating comprises a UV curable finish.  
     
     
         20 - 30  cancelled.  
     
     
         31 . A method for applying a finish to a substrate, comprising: 
 a) applying to the substrate a strippable intermediate coating;    b) allowing the intermediate coating to dry or harden; and    c) applying a strip agent-permeable topcoat to the intermediate coating, wherein the topcoat comprises a waterborne composition and is less strippable and more durable than the intermediate coating.    
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein the topcoat is UV cured.  
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein the intermediate coating is applied in two or more coats.  
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein the topcoat is applied in two or more coats.  
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 34 , wherein each of said two or more coats is UV cured before application of any further coat.  
     
     
         36 . A method for removing a finish from a substrate, comprising: 
 a) applying a strip agent to a laminate finish comprising a strip agent-permeable coating atop a strippable intermediate coating atop a substrate, wherein the strip agent-permeable coating comprises a waterborne composition and is less strippable and more durable than the intermediate coating;    b) allowing the strip agent to permeate through the topcoat to attack the intermediate layer; and    c) removing the intermediate layer and topcoat without removing substantial portions of the underlying substrate.    
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein permeation of the strip agent through the topcoat is enhanced by a mechanically roughening the topcoat prior to applying the strip agent.  
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein removal of the intermediate layer and topcoat occurs in less than 10 minutes after application of the strip agent.  
     
     
         39 . A coated substrate according to  claim 1 , wherein the topcoat comprises a urethane.  
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein the topcoat comprises a urethane.