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. Certain embodiments of the present invention include water and water-dispersible polymers and other embodiments do not include water.

1 - 78 . (canceled) 
     
     
         79 . A method of coating a substrate, the method comprising:
 providing a coating composition comprising:
 a water-dispersible polymer; 
 a reactive diluent comprising a compound having a molecular weight of at least 350 grams/mole, wherein the reactive diluent is substantially free of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide moieties and has an OH-functionality of no more than 30 milliequivalents KOH/gram; and 
 water; 
   applying the coating composition to a substrate; and   allowing the coating composition on the substrate to harden.   
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79  wherein the water-dispersible polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, epoxies, polyamides, chlorinated polyolefins, acrylics, polyesters, and mixtures or copolymers thereof. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80  wherein the water-dispersible polymer is a water-dispersible polyurethane. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 79  wherein the reactive diluent comprises a (meth)acrylate, a vinyl ether, a (meth)allyl ether, or mixtures or copolymers thereof. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 79  wherein the coating composition further comprises a free-radical initiator. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 79  wherein the reactive diluent 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. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 79  comprising no more than 7 wt-% volatile organic compounds. 
     
     
         86 . A method of coating a substrate, the method comprising:
 providing a coating composition comprising:
 an oil-modified water-dispersible polymer; 
 a reactive diluent comprising a compound having a molecular weight of at least 350 grams/mole, wherein the reactive diluent is substantially free of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide moieties and has an OH-functionality of no more than 30 milliequivalents KOH/gram; and 
 water; 
   applying the coating composition to a substrate; and   allowing the coating composition on the substrate to harden.   
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 86  wherein the reactive diluent is present in an amount of 5 wt-% to 40 wt-%, based on the total weight of the reactive diluent and the oil-modified water-dispersible polymer. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 86  wherein the oil-modified water-dispersible polymer is an oil-modified water-dispersible polyurethane. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 86  comprising no more than 7 wt-% volatile organic compounds. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 86  wherein the reactive diluent comprises a (meth)acrylate, a vinyl ether, a (meth)allyl ether, or mixtures or copolymers thereof. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 86  wherein the coating composition further comprises a free-radical initiator. 
     
     
         92 . A method of coating a substrate, the method comprising:
 providing a coating composition comprising:
 an oil-modified polymer; and 
 a reactive diluent comprising a compound having a molecular weight of at least 350 grams/mole, wherein the reactive diluent is substantially free of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide moieties and has an OH-functionality of no more than 30 milliequivalents KOH/gram; and 
 water; 
   applying the coating composition to a substrate; and   allowing the coating composition on the substrate to harden.   
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 92  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 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 93  wherein the oil-modified polymer is an alkyd. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 92  wherein the reactive diluent 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. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 92  comprising no more than 7 wt-% volatile organic compounds. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 92  wherein the reactive diluent comprises a (meth)acrylate, a vinyl ether, a (meth)allyl ether, or mixtures or copolymers thereof. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 92  wherein the coating composition further comprises a free-radical initiator.