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

1. A composition for use as a removable top coat comprising by percentage dry weight, based on the total dry weight of components a), b) and c) combined:

a) 40 to 80% of cellulose acetate butyrate ester, wherein the cellulose acetate butyrate ester is selected from (i) cellulose acetate butyrate having, on the average, butyryl content of 46 wt %, acetyl content of 2 wt %, hydroxyl content of 4.8 wt %, glass transition temperature 136° C., melting point 150-160° C., and molecular weight 20,000, and (ii) cellulose acetate butyrate having, on the average, butyryl content of 50 wt %, acetyl content of 3 wt %, hydroxyl content of 1.7 wt %, melting point 135-150° C., glass transition temperature 115° C., and molecular weight 40,000;

b) 15 to 60% of at least one acrylic polymer, wherein the at least one acrylic polymer is selected from (i) methyl methacrylate copolymer having, on the average, molecular weight 105,000, glass transition temperature 45° C. and acid value of zero, (ii) copolymer of n-butyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate having, on the average, molecular weight of approximately 60,000, glass transition temperature of 58° C. and acid value of 3, and (iii) copolymer of n-butyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate, molecular weight of about 200,000, glass transition temperature of 48° C., and acid value 5.5; and

c) 2 to 10% of a plasticizer, wherein the plasticizer is sucrose acetate isobutyrate;

in an amount of solvent effective to dissolve the dry components of the composition, wherein the solvent comprises at least one organic solvent.

2. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a pigmented compound.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the cellulose acetate butyrate ester is cellulose acetate butyrate having, on the average, butyryl content of 46 wt %, acetyl content of 2 wt %, hydroxyl content of 4.8 wt %, glass transition temperature 136° C., melting point 150-160° C., and molecular weight 20,000.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the cellulose acetate butyrate ester is cellulose acetate butyrate having, on the average, butyryl content of 50 wt %, acetyl content of 3 wt %, hydroxyl content of 1.7 wt %, melting point 135-150° C., glass transition temperature 115° C., and molecular weight 40,000.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one acrylic polymer is selected from (i) methyl methacrylate copolymer having, on the average, molecular weight 105,000, glass transition temperature 45° C. and acid value of zero, and (ii) copolymer of n-butyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate having, on the average, molecular weight of approximately 60,000, glass transition temperature of 58° C. and acid value of 3.

6. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a flow improver.

7. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the weight of the flow improver is 0.16 to 1% by weight of the composition after evaporation of the solvent.

8. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the flow improver contains alkoxylated polydimethylsiloxane and ethyleneglycol n-butyl ether.

9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the solvent comprises at least one lower molecular weight alcohol.

10. The composition of claim 1 , 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: (i) methyl methacrylate copolymer having, on the average, molecular weight 105,000, glass transition temperature 45° C. and acid value of zero in an amount of approximately 15% by dry weight of the composition and (ii) copolymer of n-butyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate having, on the average, molecular weight of approximately 60,000, glass transition temperature of 58° C. and acid value of 3 in an amount of approximately 10% by dry weight of the composition.

11. The composition of claim 5 , wherein the at least one acrylic polymer is methyl methacrylate copolymer having, on the average, molecular weight 105,000, glass transition temperature 45° C. and acid value of zero.

12. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one acrylic polymer is copolymer of n-butyl methacylate and methyl methacrylate, molecular weight of about 200,000, glass transition temperature of 48° C., and acid value 5.5.

13. The composition of claim 5 , wherein the at least one acrylic polymer is copolymer of n-butyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate having, on the average, molecular weight of approximately 60,000, glass transition temperature of 58° C. and acid value of 3.

14. The composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one additive.

15. The composition of claim 14 , wherein the at least one additive is selected from UV absorbers, optical brightening agents, UV tracers, heat stabilizers, plasticizers, phosphorescence agents and anti-oxidants.

16. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the at least one lower molecular weight alcohol is selected from ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and diacetone alcohol.

17. The composition of claim 1 , 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.

18. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one acrylic polymer is a mixture of (i) methyl methacrylate copolymer having, on the average, molecular weight 105,000, glass transition temperature 45° C. and acid value of zero, and (ii) copolymer of n-butyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate having, on the average, molecular weight of approximately 60,000, glass transition temperature of 58° C. and acid value of 3.