METAL EFFECT PIGMENT-FREE RADAR-COMPATIBLE COATING ON A SUBSTRATE

1 . Radar-compatible coating comprising flake-form effect pigments on a substrate, where the coating is free from metal-effect pigments, characterised in that the coating has at least two layers, in this sequence, on the substrate:

A) a first layer, which represents a base layer, comprises absorbent pigments and is free from flake-form effect pigments, and

B) a second layer, which is applied to the first layer and comprises flake-form effect pigments having absorbent properties in an amount of at least 10% by weight, based on the weight of the second layer,

and where the second layer, when it is applied over the full area of a black/white background in a layer thickness of 14±2 µm and is measured spectrophotometrically in the L*,a*,b* colour space at an illumination angle of 45° and at a viewing angle of 75°, has a colour separation ΔE* between the coated black background and the coated white background in the range from 0 to 20.

2 . Coating according to claim 1 , characterised in that the second layer, when it is applied to the full area of a black/white background in a layer thickness of 14±2 µm and is measured spectrophotometrically in the L*,a*,b* colour space at an illumination angle of 45° and at a viewing angle of 15°, has a lightness L* 15 of at least 105 both on the coated white background and on the coated black background.

3 . Coating according to claim 1 , characterised in that the second layer, when it is applied to the full area of a black/white background in a layer thickness of 14±2 µm and is measured spectrophotometrically in the L*,a*,b* colour space at an illumination angle of 45° and at viewing angles of 45°: as 15°, 45°: as45° and 45°: as110°, in each case has a flop index of at least 10 on the coated white background and on the coated black background.

4 . Coating according to one or more of claim 1 , characterised in that the first layer has a white, grey or black colour and comprises organic absorption pigments or inorganic absorption pigments.

5 . Coating according to one or more of claim 1 , characterised in that the second layer comprises an interference pigment which has a silver-grey absorption colour as flake-form effect pigment having absorbent properties.

6 . Coating according to claim 5 , characterised in that the interference pigment having a silver-grey absorption colour is a pigment which has at least one layer comprising an iron oxide or a titanium suboxide, or has a layer consisting of carbon, on a transparent flake-form support material.

7 . Coating according to claim 1 , characterised in that the second layer comprises the flake-form effect pigments having absorbent properties in a concentration in the range from 10 to 40% by weight, based on the weight of the second layer.

8 . Coating according to claim 1 , characterised in that the second layer has a layer thickness in the range from 3 to 25 µm.

9 . Coating according to claim 1 , characterised in that the second layer consists of two or more part-layers arranged one above the other.

10 . Coating according to claim 1 , characterised in that the substrate is a plastic plate or film, where the plate or film may optionally have a three-dimensional outer shape.

11 . Coating according to claim 1 , characterised in that further layers are optionally located on the substrate below the first layer and/or above the second layer.

12 . Coating according to claim 11 , characterised in that the further layer or the further layers is (are) a primer layer and/or an outermost clear coat.

13 . Coating according to claim 1 , characterised in that it is a vehicle finish.

14 . Process for the production of a metal effect pigment-free radar-compatible coating comprising flake-form effect pigments on a substrate according to claim 1 , characterised in that

a first layer which comprises at least one absorbent pigment and is free from flake-form effect pigments is applied as base layer to an optionally precoated substrate comprising a plastic plate or plastic film, and subsequently

a second layer which comprises flake-form effect pigments having absorbent properties is applied to the first layer in an amount of at least 10% by weight, based on the weight of the solid layer,

where the second layer is applied as a single layer or in two or more part-layers arranged one above the other and drying is carried out after application of each layer.

15 . Process according to claim 14 , characterised in that the second layer is applied in a total dry-layer thickness in the range from 3 to 25 µm.

16 . Process according to claim 14 , characterised in that the second layer comprises the flake-form effect pigments having absorbent properties in an amount of 10 to 40% by weight, based on the weight of the second layer.

17 . Process according to claim 14 , characterised in that the application of the first and second layers is carried out by means of a spray process, brushing process, roller coating process, coil coating process, curtain coating processes or in-mould process.

18 . Process according to claim 17 , characterised in that the application of the second layer is carried out as a spray process in two to four part-steps by application of two to four part-layers successively and in each case on one another, where the amount of the flake-form effect pigments having absorbent properties in each of the part-layers is at least 10% by weight, based on the dry weight of the respective part-layer, and where drying is carried out at a temperature of at least 20° C. after application of each part-layer.

19 . Process according to claim 18 , characterised in that at least one of the part-layers has a dry-layer thickness of ≤ 5 µm.

20 . Process according to claim 14 , characterised in that the substrate has been precoated with a primer layer.

21 . Process according to claim 14 , characterised in that a clear coat is applied to the second layer as outermost layer of the coating.

22 . (canceled)

23 . Vehicle part containing a substrate comprising a plastic plate or plastic film which has at least one coating according to claim 1 .