Decorative paint film laminate

Abstract

A decorative paint film laminate having high gloss and distinctness of image after processing for providing a decorative finish for a part, the decorative paint film laminate comprises a paint film having an inner surface and an outer surface, a backing sheet applied to the inner surface of the paint film, and no mask on the outer surface of the paint film. The paint film comprises a clear coat layer, a gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer, and a color coat layer. The paint film obtains high gloss and distinctness of image without a mask being on the outer surface of the paint film.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein processing is selected from the group consisting of forming or molding. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the forming is thermoforming at a thermoforming temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer has a tensile strength that is the same as or higher than the higher of the tensile strength of either the clear coat layer or the color coat layer at the thermoforming temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer has a tensile strength that is higher than the higher of the tensile strength of either the clear coat layer or the color coat layer at the thermoforming temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer is cast or coated. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of urethane, acrylic, fluoropolymer, nylon, an alloy thereof, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the urethane is a polyurethane. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the fluoropolymer is polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl fluoride, an alloy thereof, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer is present between the clear coat layer and the color coat layer of the paint film. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the paint film further comprises a color adjustment layer. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the color adjustment layer is present between the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer and the color coat layer. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the part is an automobile part. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer is about 0.2 mils to about 2.0 mils in thickness. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer further comprises a cross-linking agent. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of poly-aziridine, poly-isocyanate, and blocked poly-isocyanate, and amino cross-linking agents. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the cross-linking agent is present in an amount from about 0.1 to about 4.0 weight percent. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 41 , further comprising a primer layer. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 41 , further comprising an adhesive layer. 
     
     
         20 . A method of making a decorative paint film laminate having high gloss and distinctness of image after processing for providing a decorative finish for a part, the method comprising: obtaining the paint film comprising: a clear coat layer, a gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer, and a color coat layer; wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer has a tensile strength the same as or higher than the higher of the tensile strength of either the clear coat layer or the color coat layer at the thermoforming temperature. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the tensile strength of the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer is higher than the higher of the tensile strength of either the clear coat layer or the color coat layer at the thermoforming temperature. 
     
     
         22 . A method of making a decorative paint film laminate having high gloss and distinctness of image after processing for providing a decorative finish for a part, the method comprising: obtaining the paint film comprising: obtaining the paint film comprising a clear coat layer with no mask adhered to the clear coat layer; a gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer; and a color coat layer; wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of urethane, acrylic, fluoropolymer, nylon, an alloy thereof, and a combination thereof, and wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer has a tensile strength that is the same as or higher than the higher of the tensile strength of either the clear coat layer or the color coat layer at the thermoforming temperature. 
     
     
         23 . A method of making a decorative paint film laminate having high gloss and distinctness of image after processing for providing a decorative finish for a part, the method comprising: obtaining the paint film comprising: obtaining the composite shaped part comprising a substrate; and a decorative paint film laminate comprising a paint film comprised of a clear coat layer, a gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer, and a color coat layer, the paint film having an inner surface and an outer surface, a backing sheet applied to the inner surface of the paint film, and no mask on the outer surface of the paint film, and wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer has a tensile strength that is the same as or higher than the higher of the tensile strength of either the clear coat layer or the color coat layer at the thermoforming temperature. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the paint film is thermoformable at a thermoforming temperature. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer has a tensile strength that is higher than the higher of the tensile strength of either the clear coat layer or the color coat layer at the thermoforming temperature. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer is cast or coated. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of urethane, acrylic, fluoropolymer, nylon, an alloy thereof, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the urethane is a polyurethane. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the fluoropolymer is polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl fluoride, an alloy thereof, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer is present between the clear coat layer and the color coat layer of the paint film. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the paint film further comprises a color adjustment layer. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the color adjustment layer is present between the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer and the color coat layer. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the composite shaped part is an automobile part. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer is about 0.2 mils to about 2.0 mils in thickness. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer further comprises a cross-linking agent. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of poly-aziridine, poly-isocyanate, blocked isocyanate, and amino cross-linking agents. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the cross-linking agent is present in an amount from about 0.1 to about 4.0 weight percent. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising a primer layer. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising an adhesive layer. 
     
     
         41 . A method of making a decorative paint film laminate having high gloss and distinctness of image after processing for providing a decorative finish for a part, the method comprising: obtaining a paint film thermoformable at a thermoforming temperature, the paint film having an inner surface and an outer surface, the paint film comprising a clear coat layer as the outer surface, a color coat layer, and a gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer between the clear coat layer and the color coat layer, the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer having a tensile strength the same as or higher than the higher of the tensile strength of either the clear coat layer or the color layer at the thermoforming temperature; and applying a backing sheet to the inner surface of the paint film. 
     
     
         42 . The method of of  claim 41 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer has a tensile strength higher than the higher of the tensile strength of either the clear coat layer or the color coat layer at the thermoforming temperature.