Decorative paint film laminate

1. A decorative paint film laminate having enhanced gloss and distinctness of image after processing for providing a decorative finish for a part, the decorative paint film laminate comprising: a paint film having an inner surface and an outer surface with no mask adhered to the outer surface, and a backing sheet applied to the inner surface of the paint film, wherein the paint film comprises a clear coat layer, a gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer, and a color coat layer, and wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer has a tensile strength that is the same as or higher than the higher of the tensile strength of either the clear coat layer or the color coat layer at the thermoforming temperature.

2. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 1 , wherein processing is selected from the group consisting of forming or molding.

3. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 2 , wherein the forming is thermoforming at a thermoforming temperature.

4. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 3 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer has a tensile strength that is higher than the higher of the tensile strength of either the clear coat layer or the color coat layer at the thermoforming temperature.

5. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer is cast or coated.

6. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of urethane, acrylic, fluoropolymer, nylon, an alloy thereof, and a combination thereof.

7. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 6 , wherein the urethane is a polyurethane.

8. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 6 , wherein the fluoropolymer is polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl fluoride, an alloy thereof, or a combination thereof.

9. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer is present between the clear coat layer and the color coat layer of the paint film.

10. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the paint film further comprises a color adjustment layer.

11. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 10 , wherein the color adjustment layer is present between the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer and the color coat layer.

12. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the part is an automobile part.

13. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer is about 0.2 mils to about 2.0 mils in thickness.

14. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer further comprises a cross-linking agent.

15. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 14 , wherein the cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of poly-aziridine, poly-isocyanate, and blocked poly-isocyanate, and amino cross-linking agents.

16. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 14 , wherein the cross-linking agent is present in an amount from about 0.1 to about 4.0 weight percent.

17. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 1 , further comprising a primer layer.

18. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer.

19. The decorative paint film laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the clear coat layer is about 0.3 mils to about 3 mils in thickness.

20. A paint film thermoformable at a thermoforming temperature, the paint film comprising: a clear coat layer, a gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer, and a color coat layer; wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer has a tensile strength the same as or higher than the higher of the tensile strength of either the clear coat layer or the color coat layer at the thermoforming temperature.

21. The paint film according to claim 20 , wherein the tensile strength of the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer is higher than the higher of the tensile strength of either the clear coat layer or the color coat layer at the thermoforming temperature.

22. A paint film comprising: a clear coat layer with no mask adhered to the clear coat layer; a gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer; and a color coat layer; wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of urethane, acrylic, fluoropolymer, nylon, an alloy thereof, and a combination thereof, and wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer has a tensile strength that is the same as or higher than the higher of the tensile strength of either the clear coat layer or the color coat layer at the thermoforming temperature.

23. A composite shaped part comprising: a substrate; and a decorative paint film laminate comprising a paint film comprised of a clear coat layer, a gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer, and a color coat layer, the paint film having an inner surface and an outer surface, a backing sheet applied to the inner surface of the paint film, and no mask on the outer surface of the paint film, and wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer has a tensile strength that is the same as or higher than the higher of the tensile strength of either the clear coat layer or the color coat layer at the thermoforming temperature.

24. The composite shaped part according to claim 23 , wherein the paint film is thermoformable at a thermoforming temperature.

25. The composite shaped part according to claim 24 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer has a tensile strength that is higher than the higher of the tensile strength of either the clear coat layer or the color coat layer at the thermoforming temperature.

26. The composite shaped part according to claim 23 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer is cast or coated.

27. The composite shaped part according to claim 23 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of urethane, acrylic, fluoropolymer, nylon, an alloy thereof, and a combination thereof.

28. The composite shaped part according to claim 27 , wherein the urethane is a polyurethane.

29. The composite shaped part according to claim 27 , wherein the fluoropolymer is polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl fluoride, an alloy thereof, or a combination thereof.

30. The composite shaped part according to claim 23 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer is present between the clear coat layer and the color coat layer of the paint film.

31. The composite shaped part according to claim 23 , wherein the paint film further comprises a color adjustment layer.

32. The composite shaped part according to claim 31 , wherein the color adjustment layer is present between the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer and the color coat layer.

33. The composite shaped part according to claim 23 , wherein the composite shaped part is an automobile part.

34. The composite shaped part according to claim 23 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer is about 0.2 mils to about 2.0 mils in thickness.

35. The composite shaped part according to claim 23 , wherein the gloss and distinctness of image retaining layer further comprises a cross-linking agent.

36. The composite shaped part according to claim 35 , wherein the cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of poly-aziridine, poly-isocyanate, blocked isocyanate, and amino cross-linking agents.

37. The composite shaped part according to claim 35 , wherein the cross-linking agent is present in an amount from about 0.1 to about 4.0 weight percent.

38. The composite shaped part according to claim 23 , further comprising a primer layer.

39. The composite shaped part according to claim 23 , further comprising an adhesive layer.