Multi-layer coating film formation method

1. A method for forming a multilayer coating film by sequentially performing the following steps (1) to (4):

(1) applying a colored coating composition (X) to a substrate to form a colored coating film,

(2) applying an effect pigment dispersion (Y) to the colored coating film formed in step (1) to form an effect coating film,

(3) applying a clear coating composition (Z) to the effect coating film formed in step (2) to form a clear coating film, and

(4) heating the uncured colored coating film, the uncured effect coating film, and the uncured clear coating film formed respectively in steps (1) to (3) to simultaneously cure these three coating films;

wherein:

the effect pigment dispersion (Y) contains a base resin, water, a surface modifier (A), a flake-effect pigment (B), a viscosity modifier (C), and optionally at least one crosslinkable component (D), wherein a ratio of the flake-effect pigment (B) to the total amount of the base resin and the crosslinkable component (D) is within a range of 4/3 to 100/1, based on the solids content mass, as calculated based on the following formula:

4/3 to 100/1=flake-effect pigment ( B )/(base resin+crosslinkable component ( D )),

a solids content of the effect pigment dispersion (Y) during coating is 0.1 to 15.0 mass %,

the surface modifier (A) has a contact angle of 8 to 20° with respect to a previously degreased tin plate, the contact angle being measured in such a manner that a liquid that is a mixture of isopropanol, water, and the surface modifier (A) at a ratio of 4.5/95/1 is adjusted to have a viscosity of 150 mPa·s measured by a B-type viscometer at a rotor rotational speed of 60 rpm at a temperature of 20° C., 10 μL of the liquid is added dropwise to the tin plate, and the contact angle with respect to the tin plate is measured 10 seconds after dropping,

a film obtained by applying the effect pigment dispersion (Y) to a dry film thickness of 0.2 μm has a light transmittance at a wavelength of 550 nm of 10 to 50%, and

the effect coating film has a dry film thickness of 0.01 to 4.0 μm.

2. The method for forming a multilayer coating film according to claim 1 , wherein the clear coating composition (Z) is a one-component clear coating composition; and

the effect pigment dispersion (Y) and/or the clear coating composition (Z) contains the at least one crosslinkable component (D), wherein the at least one crosslinkable component (D) is selected from the group consisting of melamine, a melamine derivative, (meth)acrylamide, an N-methylol group- or N-alkoxymethyl group-containing (meth)acrylamide copolymer, and a blocked or unblocked polyisocyanate compound,

wherein:

when the effect pigment dispersion (Y) contains the crosslinkable component (D), the content thereof as a solids content is within a range of 10 to 100 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the solids content of the effect pigment in the effect pigment dispersion (Y), and

when the clear coating composition (Z) contains the crosslinkable component (D), the content thereof as a solids content is within a range of 5 to 25 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the resin solids content of the clear coating composition (Z).

3. The method for forming a multilayer coating film according to claim 1 , wherein the clear coating composition (Z) is a two-component clear coating composition containing a hydroxy-containing resin and a polyisocyanate compound.

4. The method for forming a multilayer coating film according to claim 1 , wherein the effect pigment dispersion (Y) has a viscosity (B60) of 60 to 1500 mPa·s measured using a B-type viscometer at a rotor rotational speed of 60 rpm at a temperature of 20° C.

5. The method for forming a multilayer coating film according to claim 1 , wherein the surface modifier (A) is a silicone-based surface modifier.

6. The method for forming a multilayer coating film according to claim 1 , wherein the surface modifier (A) has a dynamic surface tension of 50 to 70 mN/m.

7. The method for forming a multilayer coating film according to claim 1 , wherein the flake-effect pigment (B) is contained in the effect pigment dispersion (Y) in an amount of 0.05 to 3.0 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the total amount of water, the surface modifier (A), the flake-effect pigment (B), and the viscosity modifier (C).

8. The method for forming a multilayer coating film according to claim 1 , wherein the effect coating film has a dry film thickness of 0.01 to 1.0 μm.

9. The method for forming a multilayer coating film according to claim 1 , wherein the clear coating composition (Z) contains a carboxy-containing resin and an epoxy-containing resin.

10. The method for forming a multilayer coating film according to claim 1 , wherein the clear coating composition (Z) contains a hydroxy-containing resin and a melamine resin.

11. The method for forming a multilayer coating film according to claim 1 , wherein the water is contained in the effect pigment dispersion (Y) in an amount of 70 to 99 parts by mass, and the flake-effect pigment (B) is contained in the effect pigment dispersion (Y) in an amount of 0.05 to 3.0 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the total amount of water, the surface modifier (A), the flake-effect pigment (B), and the viscosity modifier (C).

12. The method for forming a multilayer coating film according to claim 1 ,

wherein the base resin is acrylic resin, polyester resin, alkyd resin or urethane resin.