Top coating for indoor and outdoor temporary removable graphics and system and method for making, applying and removing such graphics

Abstract

A composition for a removable top coating for protecting the exposed face of a temporary removable graphic is provided. A remover for the transferred graphic image is provided that completely dissolves the temporary removable graphic, but does not affect the commonly encountered substrates such as concrete, brick, wooden floors, asphalt surfaces, terrazzo and motor vehicle body surfaces, marine and aeronautical craft surfaces. A method for making, applying and removing the temporary removable graphic is provided.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A composition for use as a removable top coat comprising by percentage dry weight, based on the total dry weight:
 a) 40 to 80% of cellulose acetate butyrate ester;   b) 15 to 60% of at least one acrylic polymer; and   c) 2 to 10% of a plasticizer;   
       in an amount of solvent effective to dissolve the dry components of the composition, wherein the solvent comprises at least one organic solvent. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 27  further comprising a pigmented compound. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the cellulose acetate butyrate ester is selected from CAB 553-0.4 and CAB 531.1. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the cellulose acetate butyrate ester has a hydroxyl content of approximately 3 to 6% by dry weight of the cellulose acetate butyrate ester. 
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one acrylic polymer comprises methyl methacrylate copolymer. 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the plasticizer is sucrose acetate isobutyrate. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 27  further comprising a flow improver. 
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 33 , wherein the dry weight of the flow improver is 0.66 to 1% by weight of the composition after evaporation of the solvent. 
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 33 , wherein the flow improver contains alkoxylated polydimethylsiloxane and ethyleneglycol n-butyl ether. 
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the solvent comprises at least one lower molecular weight alcohol. 
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the cellulose acetate butyrate ester is used in an amount of approximately 68% by dry weight of the composition and the acrylic polymer is a mixture of: a methyl methacrylate and n-butyl methacrylate copolymer with a molecular weight of approximately 80,000 or higher in an amount of approximately 15% by dry weight of the composition and a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and n-butyl methacrylate with a molecular weight of approximately 80,000 or lower in an amount of approximately 10% by dry weight of the composition. 
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 31 , wherein the methyl methacrylate copolymer is NEOCRYL B-734. 
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one acrylic polymer is a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and n-butyl methacrylate. 
     
     
         40 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the copolymer of methyl methacrylate and n-butyl methacrylate is NEOCRYL B-723. 
     
     
         41 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the copolymer of methyl methacrylate and n-butyl methacrylate is BR-106. 
     
     
         42 . The composition of  claim 32 , wherein the sucrose acetate isobutyrate is SAIB-100. 
     
     
         43 . The composition of  claim 27  further comprising at least one additive. 
     
     
         44 . The composition of  claim 43 , wherein the at least one additive is selected from US absorbers, optical brightening agents, UV tracers, heat stabilizers, plasticizers, phosphorescence agents and anti-oxidants. 
     
     
         45 . The composition of  claim 36 , wherein the at least one lower molecular weight alcohol is selected from ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and diacetone alcohol. 
     
     
         46 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one organic solvent is selected from ethylene glycol n-butyl ether, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate, propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. 
     
     
         47 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one acrylic polymer is a mixture of NEOCRYL B-734 and BR-106.