Coating composition, a process of producing a coating composition, a coated article, and a method of making such articles

1. A coating composition comprising:

(a) a dispersion comprising the melt blending of:

from 20 to 70% by weight of one or more base polymers, based on the total weight of the solid content of the dispersion, wherein said one or more base polymers are one or more thermoplastic polymers selected from the group consisting of copolymers of ethylene and one or more alpha-olefins, and copolymers of propylene and one or more alpha-olefins;

from 30 to 95% by weight of at least one first pigment, based on the total solid content of the dispersion, wherein said first pigment is a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of TiO 2 , SiO 2 , ZnO, Al 2 O 3 , and combinations thereof; and wherein said first pigment has an average particle size diameter in the range of from 0.1 to 1 μm; from 1 to 50% by weight of one or more stabilizing agents, based on total weight of the solid content of the dispersion;

in the presence of water and one or more neutralizing agent in an extruder, wherein the content of water is from 35 to 70% by volume, based on the total volume of the dispersion,

wherein said at least first one pigment is partially encapsulated by said one or more base polymers, wherein said dispersion comprises (b) a binder composition that is selected from the group consisting of acrylic latex, vinyl acrylic latex, styrene acrylic latex, vinyl acetate ethylene latex, and combinations thereof.

2. A method for producing a coating composition comprising the steps of:

selecting at least one first pigment, wherein said first pigment is a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of TiO 2 , SiO 2 , ZnO, Al 2 O 3 , and combinations thereof; and wherein said first pigment has an average particle size diameter in the range of from 0.1 to 1 μm;

selecting one or more base polymers, wherein said one or more base polymers are one or more thermoplastic polymers selected from the group consisting of copolymers of ethylene and one or more alpha-olefins, and copolymers of propylene and one or more alpha-olefins

selecting one or more stabilizing agents;

melt blending 30 to 95% by weight of said first pigment, based on the total weight of the solid content of the dispersion, and 20 to 70% by weight of said one or more base polymers, based on the total weight of the solid content of the dispersion, in the presence of 1 to 50% by weight of said one or more stabilizing agent, based on the total weight of the solid content of the dispersion, one or more neutralizing agents, and water; wherein the content of water is from 35 to 70% by volume, based on the total volume of the dispersion,

thereby at least partially encapsulating said first pigment with said one or more base polymers, and wherein at least partially encapsulating said first pigment with said one or more base polymers are dispersed in the water;

thereby forming a dispersion;

admixing said dispersion with a binder composition, wherein the binder composition that is selected from the group consisting of acrylic latex, vinyl acrylic latex, styrene acrylic latex, vinyl acetate ethylene latex, and combinations thereof; and

thereby forming a coating composition.

3. A coated substrate comprising:

a substrate; and

the coating composition of claim 1 associated with said substrate.

4. A method of making a coated article comprising the steps of:

selecting a substrate;

selecting the coating composition of claim 1 ;

applying said coating composition to said substrate;

optionally removing at least a portion of said water;

thereby forming said coated article.

5. A method of improving opacity of a coating composition comprising the steps of:

selecting at least one first pigment, wherein said first pigment is a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of TiO 2 , SiO 2 , ZnO, Al 2 O 3 , and combinations thereof; and wherein said first pigment has an average particle size diameter in the range of from 0.1 to 1 μm;

selecting one or more base polymers, wherein said one or more base polymers are one or more thermoplastic polymers selected from the group consisting of copolymers of ethylene and one or more alpha-olefins, and copolymers of propylene and one or more alpha-olefins

selecting one or more stabilizing agents;

melt blending 30 to 95% by weight of said first pigment, based on the total weight of the solid content of the dispersion, and 20 to 70% by weight of said one or more base polymers, based on the total weight of the solid content of the dispersion, in the presence of 1 to 50% by weight of said one or more stabilizing agent, based on the total weight of the solid content of the dispersion, one or more neutralizing agents, and water; wherein the content of water is from 35 to 70% by volume, based on the total volume of the dispersion,

thereby at least partially encapsulating said first pigment with said one or more base polymers, and wherein at least partially encapsulating said first pigment with said one or more base polymers are dispersed in the water;

thereby forming a dispersion;

admixing said dispersion with a binder composition, wherein the binder composition that is selected from the group consisting of acrylic latex, vinyl acrylic latex, styrene acrylic latex, vinyl acetate ethylene latex, and combinations thereof; and

thereby forming a coating composition having improved opacity.

6. The coating composition according to claim 1 , wherein said neutralizing agent is selected from the group consisting of hydroxides, amines, carbonates, and combinations thereof.

7. The coating composition according to any of the claims 1 - 5 , wherein said coating composition further comprises optionally one or more fillers, optionally one or more additives, optionally one or more second pigments, optionally one or more solvents, optionally one or more surfactant, optionally one or more defoamers, optionally one or more preservatives, optionally one or more thickeners, or optionally one or more second neutralizing agents.

8. The coating composition according to claim 7 , wherein said one or more second pigments are selected from the group consisting of mica, calcium carbonate, silica, zinc oxide, clay, and combinations thereof.

9. The coating composition according to claim 7 , wherein said one or more solvents are selected from the group consisting of glycols, glycol ethers, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate, alcohols, mineral spirits, benzoate esters, and mixtures thereof.

10. The coating composition according to claim 7 , wherein said one or more preservatives are selected from the group consisting of biocides, mildewcides, fungicides, algaecides, and combinations thereof, and wherein said one or more thickeners are selected from the group consisting of cellulosic thickeners, hydrophobically modified alkali soluble emulsions, hydrophobically modified ethoxylated urethane thickeners, and combinations thereof, and wherein said one or more second neutralizing agents are selected from the group consisting of hydroxides, amines, carbonates, and combinations thereof.