Co-extruded pigmented/clear coated polymeric coating for an article such as automotive exterior body panels

1. A method of producing a colored coating for an article comprising:

pigmenting a first supply of clear base polymeric material to a desired color;

adding reflective metallic flakes to the first supply of polymeric coating material;

extruding the pigmented first supply of polymeric coating material into a first layer;

heating an upper surface of the first layer to concentrate the reflective flakes toward the upper surface of the first layer; and

extruding a second supply of transparent clear base polymeric coating into a second layer, said second layer being co-extruded with said first layer.

2. A method of producing a colored coating for an article as described in claim 1 , wherein the transparent base of the second layer has a clarity when cured of about 3.0 haze number or lower.

3. A method of producing a colored coating for an article as described in claim 2 , wherein the transparent base of the second layer has a scratch and mar performance that is substantially equal to or superior to the performance of an elastomeric paint.

4. A method of producing a colored coating for an article as described in claim 3 , wherein the transparent base of the first and second layers is selected from the group of polymers consisting of acrylics, Polyvinylidene Fluorides, urethanes, polycarbonates, and ionomers.

5. A method of producing a colored coating for an article as described in claim 4 , wherein the transparent base of the second layer is an ionomer.

6. A method of producing a colored coating for an article as described in claim 5 , wherein the transparent base of the first layer is an ionomer.

7. A method of producing a colored coating for an article as described in claim 1 , wherein the second supply of clear base polymeric material has a scratch and mar performance that is substantially equal to or superior to the scratch and mar performance of an elastomeric paint.

8. A method of producing a colored coating for an article as described in claim 7 , wherein the first and second supply of clear base polymeric material are ionomers.

9. A method of producing a colored coating for an article as described in claim 1 , further including drying the reflective flakes to a moisture content of less than 200 ppm before adding the reflective flakes to the first supply of polymeric coating material.

10. A method of producing a colored coating for an article as described in claim 1 , further including passing the first supply of polymeric coating material into an extrusion die and heating an upper surface of said first polymeric coating material in said die before co-extrusion with said second layer.

11. A method of producing a colored coating for an article as described in claim 1 , wherein the step of pigmenting a first supply of clear base polymeric material to a desired color includes drying the polymeric material to a moisture content of less than about 500 ppm, drying pigments to a moisture content of less than about 200 ppm, and mixing the pigments with the first supply of clear base polymeric material.

12. A method of producing a colored coating for an article as described in claim 1 , further including co-extruding a third supply of polymeric material with said first layer generally opposite said second layer, said third layer being more opaque than said first layer of polymeric material.

13. A method of producing a colored coating for an article as described in claim 1 , wherein said co-extruded first, second, and third polymeric materials form a coating sheet and further including cutting the sheet into segments for flat storage.

14. A method of producing an article with a colored polymeric coating comprising:

producing a coating having a first layer of polymeric coating material disposed between a second layer of polymeric coating material and a third layer of polymeric material, including

pigmenting a first supply of transparent base polymeric material to a desired color;

adding reflective metallic flakes to the first supply of polymeric coating material;

extruding the pigmented first supply of transparent base polymeric coating material into a first layer;

heating an upper surface of the first layer to concentrate the reflective flakes toward the upper surface of the first layer;

extruding a second supply of transparent base polymeric coating into a second layer, said second layer being co-extruded with said first layer; and

coupling the coating to an article substrate so that said first layer of polymeric material is between said substrate and said second layer of polymeric coating material.

15. A method of producing an article with a colored polymeric coating as described in claim 14 , wherein the step of producing a coating further includes co-extruding a third supply of polymeric material with said first and second layers, said third supply of polymeric material being more opaque than said first layer of polymeric material, said first layer positioned between said third layer and said second layer.

16. A method of producing an article with a colored polymeric coating as described in claim 14 , wherein the transparent base of the polymeric coating material of said first and second layers is selected from the group of polymers consisting of acrylics, Polyvinylidene Fluorides, urethanes, polycarbonates, and ionomers.

17. A method of producing an article with a colored polymeric coating as described in claim 14 , wherein the transparent base polymeric material of the first and second layers are ionomers.