IP Library Granted Patent US 12,203,006
Granted Patent B2
US 12,203,006 · App. 16/634,363 · Granted Jan 21, 2025

Silica-based matting agents and methods of making and using the same

Inventors: Feng Gu (Ellicott City, MD); James Neil Pryor (West Friendship, MD)
Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
C09D7/42B05D5/02C09C1/3072C09D7/61C09D7/62C09D7/69C09D15/00C01P2004/61C01P2006/14C01P2006/62
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,203,006
App. No.
16/634,363
Granted
Jan 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Improved silica-based matting agents are disclosed. The matting agents are useful in waterborne coatings composition to provide exceptional properties to a wood based substrate. Films resulting from the silica-based matting agents on a wood substrate unexpectedly provide improved chemical resistance and/or film clarity to the surface of the wood substrate. Methods of making and using the matting agents are also disclosed.

Claims (21)

1. A matting agent for aqueous coating compositions, said matting agent comprising composite silica particles consisting of porous silica particles and a coating of (i) one or more waxes, (ii) one or more polymers, or (iii) any combination of (i) and (ii) at least partially within pores of the porous silica particles; wherein the porous silica particles have a total pore volume of 0.10 cc/gm to 3 cc/gm prior to coating; and the porous silica particles are silica gel, precipitated silica, or fumed silica particles; wherein the composite silica particles comprise from 20 wt. % to 50 wt. %, based on a total weight of said composite silica particles, of one of (i) said one or more waxes, (ii) said one or more polymers, or (iii) any combination of (i) and (ii); and the composite silica particles have a median particle size of greater than 3.0 microns (μm) up to about 50.0 μm, a total pore volume of less than or equal to about 1.2 cc/gm as determined by Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) method, and a BET surface area of 25 m 2 /gm to 210 m 2 /gm; and wherein, when incorporated into an aqueous coating composition in an effective matting amount and the coating composition is applied onto a substrate to form a clear coat film, the matting agent provides increased chemical resistance in the film as compared to a film formed from an aqueous coating composition comprising silica particles having a higher total pore volume as a matting agent.

2. The matting agent of claim 1 , when incorporated into an aqueous coating composition in an amount sufficient to achieve, upon drying on a plain, smooth and non-penetrating black chart to form a film, a 60° gloss value between 10.0 and 15.0 in a dried film, and enables the film to exhibit a water damage 24 hr ΔL* of less than 6.0 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter.

3. The matting agent of claim 1 , when incorporated into an aqueous coating composition in an amount sufficient to achieve, upon drying on a plain, smooth and non-penetrating black chart to form a film, a 60° gloss value between 10 to 15 in a dried film, and enables the film to exhibit a 50/50 water/ethanol damage 1 hr ΔL* of less than 13.0 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter.

4. The matting agent of claim 3 , wherein when incorporated into an aqueous coating composition in an amount sufficient to achieve, upon drying on a plain, smooth and non-penetrating black chart to form a film, a 60° gloss value between 10 to 15 in a dried film, and enables the film to exhibit a 50/50 water/ethanol damage 4 hr ΔL* of less than 15.0 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter.

5. The matting agent of claim 1 , when incorporated into an aqueous coating composition in an amount sufficient to achieve, upon drying on a plain, smooth and non-penetrating black chart to form a film, a 60° gloss value between 10.0 to 15.0 in a dried clear coat film, and enables the film composition to exhibit a film clarity ΔL* of less than 7.0 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter.

6. The matting agent of claim 1 , wherein said composite silica particles consist of porous silica particles and a coating of one or more waxes.

7. The matting agent of claim 1 , wherein said composite silica particles are free-flowing particles.

8. The matting agent of claim 1 , wherein a majority of an outer surface area of said composite silica particles comprises silica.

9. The matting agent of claim 1 , wherein when incorporated into a coating composition and applied onto a plain, smooth and non-penetrating black chart, enables the coating composition to form a clear coat film having a 60° gloss value between 10.0 to 15.0 as measured using a portable Micro-TRI-Gloss meter.

10. The matting agent of claim 9 , wherein the film exhibits (i) a water damage 24 hr ΔL* of less than 6.0 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter, (ii) a 50/50 water/ethanol damage 1 hr ΔL* of less than 13.0 units as measured using a portable Spectro-Guide 45/0 colorimeter, (iii) a 50/50 water/ethanol damage 4 hr ΔL* of less than 15.0 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter, and (iv) a film clarity ΔL* of less than 7.0 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter.

11. The matting agent of claim 9 , wherein the film exhibits(i) a water damage 24 hr ΔL* of less than 4.8 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter, (ii) a 50/50 water/ethanol damage 1 hr ΔL* of less than 11.0 units as measured using a portable Spectro-Guide 45/0 colorimeter, (iii) a 50/50 water/ethanol damage 4 hr ΔL* of less than 11.5 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter, and (iv) a film clarity ΔL* of less than 6.5 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter.

12. A coating composition comprising the matting agent of claim 1 .

13. The coating composition of claim 12 , wherein said composition comprises an aqueous composition.

14. The coating composition of claim 13 , when applied onto a plain, smooth and non-penetrating black chart, forms a film having a 60° gloss value between 10.0 to 15.0, as measured using a portable Micro-TRI-Gloss meter, wherein the film exhibits (i) a water damage 24 hr ΔL* of less than 6.0 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter, (ii) a 50/50 water/ethanol damage 1 hr ΔL* of less than 13.0 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter, (iii) a 50/50 water/ethanol damage 4 hr ΔL* of less than 15.0 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter, and (iv) a film clarity ΔL* of less than 6.5 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter.

15. The coating composition of claim 13 , when applied onto a plain, smooth and non-penetrating black chart, forms a film having a 60° gloss value between 10.0 to 15.0, as measured using a portable Micro-TRI-Gloss meter, wherein the film exhibits (i) a water damage 24 hr ΔL* of less than 4.8 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter, (ii) a 50/50 water/ethanol damage 1 hr ΔL* of less than 11.0 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter, (iii) a 50/50 water/ethanol damage 4 hr ΔL* of less than 11.5 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter, and (iv) a film clarity ΔL* of less than 6.0 units as measured using a portable Spectra-Guide 45/0 colorimeter.

16. A substrate coated with the coating composition of claim 14 .

17. The substrate of claim 16 , wherein said substrate comprises a wood substrate.

18. A method of improving chemical resistance of a waterborne composition applied to a wood substrate, said method comprising:

incorporating the matting agent of claim 1 into the coating composition;

applying the coating composition onto at least one surface of a wood substrate to form a coating; and

drying the coating to form a clear coat film on at least one surface of the wood substrate.

Assignments (6)
NOTES SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2026
From: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.; ADVANCED REFINING TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074532/0229 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Aug 19, 2025
From: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072520/0653 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2023
From: W.R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 062792/0510 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 23, 2021
From: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 057594/0104 →
NOTES SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 23, 2021
From: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057594/0156 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2020
From: GU, FENG; PRYOR, JAMES NEIL
To: W.R. GRACE & CO.-CONN
Reel/Frame 051631/0532 →