Matting agent composition containing low molecular weight polytrimethylene ether glycol

1. A matting agent comprising:

a) a silica component,

b) a polytrimethylene ether glycol having a Mn (number average molecular weight) in a range of from 134 to 490; and

c) one or more solvents;

wherein said polytrimethylene ether glycol is fractionated and free from hexamers and heptamers of 1,3-propanediol.

2. The matting agent of claim 1 further comprising:

d) one or more polymers selected from acrylic polymer, polyester polymer, or a combination thereof.

3. The matting agent of claim 1 , wherein the polytrimethylene ether glycol has a Mn in a range of from 200 to 490.

4. The matting agent of claim 1 , wherein the polytrimethylene ether glycol has in a range of from 10% to 100% of dimers, percentage based on the total weight of the polytrimethylene ether glycol.

5. The matting agent of claim 1 , wherein the polytrimethylene ether glycol is polymerized from bio-derived 1,3-propanediol.

6. The matting agent of claim 1 , wherein said silica component comprises silica particles having an average particle size in a range of from 2 to 20 micrometers.

7. The matting agent of claim 6 , wherein said silica particles are hydrophobic silica particles.

8. The matting agent of claim 2 , wherein said acrylic polymers are selected from linear or branched acrylic polymers having one or more hydroxyl functional groups, or a combination thereof.

9. The matting agent of claim 2 , wherein said polyester polymers are selected from linear or branched polyester polymers having one or more hydroxyl functional groups, or a combination thereof.

10. A method for reducing gloss of a dry coating layer on a substrate, said coating layer is formed from a coating composition, said method comprising the steps of:

i) providing a matting agent comprising:

a) a silica component;

b) a polytrimethylene ether glycol having a Mn (number average molecular weight) in a range of from 134 to 490;

c) one or more solvents wherein said polytrimethylene ether glycol is fractionated and free from hexamers and heptamers of 1,3-propanediol; and

d) one or more polymers selected from acrylic polymers, polyester polymers, or a combination thereof.

ii) mixing said matting agent with said coating composition to form a matt coating mix;

iii) applying said matt coating mix over said substrate to form a wet coating layer; and

iv) curing said wet coating layer to form said dry coating layer.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said coating composition comprises a crosslinakble component and a crosslinking component.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said crosslinkable component comprises hydroxyl crosslinkable functional groups.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said crosslinking component comprises isocyanate crosslinking functional groups.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein said silica component comprises silica particles having an average particle size in a range of from 2 to 20 micrometers.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said silica particles are hydrophobic silica particles.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein said coating composition is selected from a one-pack coating composition or a two-pack coating composition.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein said substrate is selected from tools, equipments, sporting goods, vehicle body, vehicle body parts, consumer electronics, consumer appliances, residential or industrial structures.

18. A substrate coated with the method of claim 10 .

19. A substrate coated with a matt coating mix comprising the matting agent of claim 1 and a coating composition.

20. The matting agent of claim 1 , wherein said polytrimethylene ether glycol is free from hexamers and heptamers of 1,3-propanediol as analyzed by GC-MS.