IP Library Granted Patent US 12,546,111
Granted Patent B2
US 12,546,111 · App. 18/108,597 · Granted Feb 10, 2026

High solids color face and edge coatings for building panels

Inventors: Lida Lu (Coraopolis, PA); Kenneth G. Caldwell (Mountville, PA); Michelle X. Wang (Lititz, PA); John E. Hughes (Lincoln University, PA)
Assignee: AWI Licensing LLC
E04C2/16C09D7/61C09D7/66C09D201/02E04C2/246B32B2607/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,546,111
App. No.
18/108,597
Granted
Feb 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described herein is a coated building panel having a body and a surface coating atop the body, the surface coating comprising inorganic pigment and a polymeric dispersant comprising a polymer backbone and pendant side chains extending from the polymer backbone; wherein the surface coating comprises a liquid carrier in an amount less than about 1 wt. % based on the total weight of the surface coating.

Claims (33)

1 . A coated building panel comprising:

a body comprising an upper surface opposite a lower surface and a side surface extending between the upper surface and the lower surface;

a surface coating atop the upper surface, the surface coating comprising:

inorganic pigment;

a binder comprising carboxylated polyvinyl acetate homopolymer; and

an anionic polymeric dispersant comprising a polymer backbone and pendant side chains extending from the polymer backbone;

wherein anionic groups are located on the terminal ends of the pendant side-chains; and

wherein the surface coating comprises a liquid carrier in an amount less than about 1 wt. % based on the total weight of the surface coating.

2 . The coated building panel according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric dispersant comprises a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion.

3 . The coated building panel according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric dispersant has a molecular weight of at least 1,000 Mn.

4 . The coated building panel according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric dispersant is present in an amount ranging from about 0.05 wt. % to about 2.0 wt. % based on the total weight of the surface coating.

5 . The coated building panel according to claim 1 , wherein the inorganic pigment has a particle size ranging from about 15 nm to about 1,000 μm.

6 . The coating building panel according to claim 5 , wherein the inorganic pigment has a maximum particle size of about 500 nm.

7 . The coated building panel according to claim 1 , wherein the surface coating is present in an amount ranging from about 10 g/m 2 to about 132 g/m 2 .

8 . The coated building panel according to claim 1 , wherein the inorganic pigment is present in an amount ranging from about 70 wt. % to about 95 wt. % based on the total weight of the surface coating.

9 . The coated building panel according to claim 1 , wherein the binder has a glass transition temperature greater than about 21° C.

10 . The coated building panel according to claim 1 , wherein the binder is present in an amount ranging from about 5 wt. % to about 20 wt. % based on the total weight of the surface coating.

11 . The coated building panel according to claim 1 , wherein the anionic polyacrylic polymer comprises a salt group formed from a neutralization of an acid group with a compound forming a cation.

12 . A coated building panel comprising:

a body comprising an upper surface opposite a lower surface and a side surface extending between the upper surface and the lower surface;

a surface coating atop the upper surface, the surface coating comprising:

about 70 wt. % to about 95 wt. % of a pigment blend based on the total weight of the surface coating, the pigment blend comprising two or more inorganic pigments having a particle size ranging from 15 nm to 500 nm;

a binder comprising carboxylated polyvinyl acetate homopolymer; and

an anionic polymeric dispersant comprising a polymer backbone and pendant side chains extending from the polymer backbone;

wherein anionic groups are located on the terminal ends of the pendant side-chains;

wherein the anionic polymeric dispersant comprises a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion;

wherein the pigment blend comprises calcium carbonate and calcined diatomaceous earth; and

wherein the surface coating comprises less than 1 wt. % of a liquid carrier based on the total weight of the surface coating.

13 . The coated building panel according to claim 12 , wherein the anionic polyacrylic dispersant comprises a salt group formed from a neutralization of an acid group with a compound forming a cation.

14 . The coated building panel according to claim 12 , further comprising a thickener.

15 . The coated building panel according to claim 14 , wherein the thickener comprises hydroxyethylcellulose.

16 . The coated building panel according to claim 12 , wherein the pigment blend comprises a first pigment, a second pigment that is different than the first pigment, and a third pigment that is different than the first pigment and the second pigment.

17 . The coated building panel according to claim 12 , wherein the pigment blend comprises kaolin.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 11, 2025
From: ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073194/0448 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2023
From: LU, LIDA; CALDWELL, KENNETH G.; HUGHES, JOHN E.; WANG, MICHELLE X.
To: ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 062945/0977 →
Continuity (3)
Division 15647432 · Jul 12, 2017
Provisional Application 62361147 · Jul 12, 2016
Related Publication 20230183974A1 · Jun 15, 2023
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