Water-based coatings for color sampling

1. A color sampling display product made by a method comprising:

providing an unsized paper substrate with a thickness of about 50 μm to about 125 μm and having at least a first major surface to which a coating composition can be applied;

applying a film-forming amount of a radiation-curable coating composition comprising one or more polymers to the first major surface of the unsized paper substrate to form a visually opaque colored film; and

using electron beam radiation to cure the applied coating composition onto the first major surface of the paper substrate,

thereby forming an interpenetrating network of crosslinks between the one or more polymers in the coating composition,

wherein the color sampling display product comprises a device for accurate display of one or more colors.

2. A color sampling display product, comprising:

a device showing one or more colors, the device further comprising:

an unsized paper substrate with a thickness of about 50 μm to about 125 μm and having at least a first major surface to which a coating composition can be applied; and

a radiation-cured film of an acrylic coating composition comprising one or more polymers applied to at least the first major surface of the unsized paper substrate,

wherein the cured film comprises an interpenetrating network of crosslinks between the one or more polymers in the acrylic coating composition.

3. The color sampling display product of claim 2 , wherein the device is a color card.

4. The color sampling display product of claim 2 , wherein the device is not wrinkled, buckled or curled.

5. The color sampling display product of claim 2 , wherein the acrylic coating composition comprises:

a water-based polymer composition; and

a support polymer composition;

wherein the acrylic coating composition is substantially free of volatile organic compounds, and comprises no more than about 5 wt-% surfactant.

6. The color sampling display product of claim 5 , wherein the water-based polymer composition comprises a water-dispersible polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, epoxies, polyamides, chlorinated polyolefins, acrylics, oil-modified polymers, polyesters and mixtures thereof.

7. The color sampling display product of claim 6 , wherein the water-dispersible polymer is an ethylenically unsaturated polyurethane.

8. The color sampling display product of claim 7 , wherein the ethylenically unsaturated polyurethane comprises (meth) acrylate functionality.

9. The color sampling display product of claim 7 , wherein the ethylenic unsaturation comprises auto-oxidative carbon-carbon double bonds.

10. The color sampling display product of claim 5 , wherein the support polymer composition comprises a latex emulsion.

11. The color sampling display product of claim 10 , wherein the latex emulsion comprises at least a first stage comprising a styrene-acrylic emulsion.

12. The color sampling display product of claim 10 , wherein the latex emulsion comprises a multi-stage polymer latex, comprising:

at least a first stage wherein monomers forming the first stage would form a polymer having a theoretical glass transition temperature in the range of 60° C. and 110° C.; and

at least a second stage wherein monomers forming the second stage would form a polymer having a theoretical glass transition temperature in the range of 10° C. to 50° C.

13. The color sampling display product of claim 10 , wherein the latex emulsion is alkali soluble.

14. The color sampling display product of claim 5 , wherein the acrylic coating composition further comprises an efficacious amount of a performance-enhancing additive.

15. The color sampling display product of claim 14 , wherein the performance-enhancing additive is selected from the group consisting of waxes, flatting agents, mar and abrasion additives, and mixtures or combinations thereof.

16. The color sampling display product of claim 14 , wherein the performance-enhancing additive comprises a water-soluble linear polymer with a weight average molecular weight (M w ) of about 300 to about 1000.

17. The color sampling display product of claim 16 , wherein the water-soluble linear polymer comprises polyethylene glycol with a weight average molecular weight (M w ) of about 400 to about 800.

18. The color sampling display product of claim 2 , wherein the acrylic coating composition comprises:

a water-based polymer comprising a water-dispersible polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, epoxies, polyamides, chlorinated polyolefins, acrylics, oil-modified polymers, polyesters and mixtures thereof; and

a support polymer comprising a latex emulsion.

19. The color sampling display product of claim 18 , wherein the water-dispersible polymer is an ethylenically unsaturated polyurethane and the support polymer is a styrene-acrylic emulsion.