Coating compositions containing reactive diluents and methods

Abstract

The present invention provides coating compositions that include reactive diluents and have high performance, low VOC levels, and low irritation levels.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
   
   
       38 . A coating composition comprising:
 a water-dispersible polymer;   a substantially non-irritating reactive diluent comprising an ethylenically unsaturated compound having a molecular weight of 350 grams/mole to 1000 grams/mole and having a viscosity at 25 C of no greater than 2,000 cps; and   water;   wherein the reactive diluent:
 is substantially free of ethylene oxide moieties, propylene oxide moieties, and primary hydroxyl functionality; 
 has an average ethylenically unsaturated functionality of at least 3.0; 
 and is present in an amount of 5 wt-% to 40 wt-%, based on the total weight of the reactive diluent and the water-dispersible polymer. 
   
   
   
       39 . The coating composition of  claim 38  wherein the water-dispersible polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, epoxies, polyamides, chlorinated polyolefins, acrylics, oil-modified polymers, polyesters, and mixtures or copolymers thereof. 
   
   
       40 . The coating composition of  claim 39  wherein the water-dispersible polymer is a water-dispersible polyurethane. 
   
   
       41 . The coating composition of  claim 40  wherein the water-dispersible polyurethane comprises amine or acid functionality. 
   
   
       42 . The coating composition of  claim 40  wherein the water-dispersible polyurethane comprises ethylenic unsaturation. 
   
   
       43 . The coating composition of  claim 38  wherein the reactive diluent comprises a (meth)acrylate, a vinyl ether, a (meth)allyl ether, or mixtures or copolymers thereof. 
   
   
       44 . The coating composition of  claim 38  further comprising a free-radical initiator. 
   
   
       45 . The coating composition of  claim 38  wherein the reactive diluent is present in an amount of 10 wt-% to 30 wt-%, based on the total weight of the reactive diluent and the water-dispersible polymer. 
   
   
       46 . The coating composition of  claim 38  comprising no more than 7 wt-% volatile organic compounds. 
   
   
       47 . The coating composition of  claim 38  wherein the reactive diluent comprises a compound selected from the group of di-(trimethylolpropane tetraacrylate), di-(trimethylolpropane tetramethacrylate), di-(pentaerythritol hexamethacrylate), dipentaerythrytol hexaacrylate, pentaerythritol tetramethacrylate, di-(trimethylolpropane tetravinyl ether), di-(pentaerythritol hexavinyl ether), pentaerythritol tetravinyl ether, di-(trimethylolpropane tetraallyl ether), di-(trimethylolpropane tetramethallyl ether), di-(pentaerythrytol hexaallyl ether), di-(pentaerythritol hexamethallyl ether), pentaerythritol tetraallyl ether, pentaerythritol tetramethallyl ether, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       48 . A method of coating comprising applying the coating composition of  claim 38  to a substrate and allowing the coating composition to harden. 
   
   
       49 . A coating prepared by the method of  claim 48 . 
   
   
       50 . A coating composition comprising:
 an oil-modified polymer; and   a substantially non-irritating reactive diluent comprising a compound having a molecular weight of 350 grams/mole to 1000 grams/mole and having a viscosity at 25 C of no greater than 2,000 cps,   wherein the reactive diluent:
 is substantially free of ethylene oxide moieties, propylene oxide moieties, and primary hydroxyl functionality; 
 has an average ethylenically unsaturated functionality of at least 3.0; 
 and is present in an amount of 5 wt-% to 40 wt-%, based on the total weight of the reactive diluent and the oil-modified polymer. 
   
   
   
       51 . The coating composition of  claim 50  wherein the oil-modified polymer is selected from the group consisting of an alkyd, an oil-modified polyurethane, an oil-modified epoxy, an oil-modified polyamide, an oil-modified acrylic, and mixtures or copolymers thereof. 
   
   
       52 . The coating composition of  claim 51  wherein the oil-modified polymer is an alkyd. 
   
   
       53 . The coating composition of  claim 50  wherein the oil-modified polymer is an oil-modified water-dispersible polymer. 
   
   
       54 . The coating composition of  claim 50  wherein the reactive diluent comprises a (meth)acrylate, a vinyl ether, a (meth)allyl ether, or mixtures or copolymers thereof. 
   
   
       55 . A method of coating comprising applying the coating composition of  claim 50  to a substrate and allowing the coating composition to harden. 
   
   
       56 . A coating prepared by the method of  claim 55 . 
   
   
       57 . A coating composition comprising:
 an oil-modified polymer chemically modified to be water-dispersible; and   a substantially non-irritating reactive diluent comprising a compound having a molecular weight of 350 grams/mole to 1000 grams/mole and having a viscosity at 25 C of no greater than 2,000 cps,   wherein the reactive diluent:   is substantially free of ethylene oxide moieties, propylene oxide moieties, and primary hydroxyl functionality;   has an average ethylenically unsaturated functionality of at least 3.0; and   is present in an amount of 5 wt-% to 40 wt-%, based on the total weight of the reactive diluent and the oil-modified polymer.