Coating for decorative metals with improved mar and scratch resistance and methods of application

Abstract

Coated articles comprising a decorative metal substrate and a transparent cured coating thereon containing inorganic particles in which the concentration of particles in the exposed surface region of the cured coating is greater than the bulk region of the coating. Preferably, the transparent coating is applied by electrodeposition.

1 . A coated article comprising:
 (a) a decorative metal substrate having a specular gloss greater than 100,   (b) a transparent cured coating adhered directly to the decorative metal substrate containing a resinous binder, inorganic particles, and 0.5 to 10 percent by weight of a surface active agent based on total solids weight in which the concentration of particles in the exposed surface region of the cured coating is greater than the bulk region of the cured coating.   
   
   
       2 . The coated article of  claim 1  in which the decorative metal is selected from brass, bronze, polished steel and aluminum and precious metals. 
   
   
       3 . The coated article of  claim 1  in the form of hardware, aluminum and steel trim parts and jewelry. 
   
   
       4 . The coated article of  claim 1  in which the transparent cured coating is applied by electrodeposition. 
   
   
       5 . The coated article of  claim 4  in which the electrodeposition is cationic electrodeposition. 
   
   
       6 . The coated article of  claim 1  in which the cured coating is comprised of a (meth)acrylic resin. 
   
   
       7 . The coated article of  claim 1  in which the inorganic particles have a particle size less than 1000 nanometers. 
   
   
       8 . The coated article of  claim 1  in which the inorganic particles have a Mohs' hardness greater than 5. 
   
   
       9 . The coated article of  claim 1  in which the inorganic particles are colloidal silica. 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . The coated article of  claim 1  in which the surface active agent is a polysiloxane. 
   
   
       12 . The coated article of  claim 11  in which the polysiloxane has the following structural formula:
   R 1 R 2 —SiO (4-n-m)/2      
     wherein each R 1  that may be identical or different is selected from H, OH, a monovalent hydrocarbon group or a monovalent siloxane group; each R 2  which may be the same or different is a group having at least one functional group reactive with the functional groups in the resinous binder; wherein 0<n<4, 0<m<4 and 2≦(m+n)<4. 
   
   
       13 . The coated article of  claim 11  in which the polysiloxane has the following structural formula: 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein:
 m has a value of at least 1; 
 m′ ranges from 0 to 75; 
 n ranges from 0 to 75; 
 n′ ranges from 0 to 75; 
 each R, which may be identical or different, is selected from H, OH, monovalent hydrocarbon groups, monovalent siloxane groups, and mixtures of any of the foregoing; and 
 R a  comprises the following structure:
   —R 3 —X 
 
 wherein 
 —R 3  is selected from an alkylene group, an oxyalkylene group, an alkylene awl group, an alkenylene group, an oxyalkylene group, and an alkenylene awl group; and 
 X represents a group which comprises at least one reactive functional group selected from a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, an isocyanate group, a blocked polyisocyanate group, a primary amine group, a secondary amine group, an amide group, a carbamate group, a urea group, a urethane group, a vinyl group, an unsaturated ester group, a maleimide group, a fumarate group, an anhydride group, a hydroxy alkylamide group, and an epoxy group. 
 
   
   
       14 - 27 . (canceled)