abstract |
A radiation polymerizable protective coating composition or paint, coated articles bearing such a protective radiation polymerizable paint which, on a non-polymerizable solvent, pigment, initiator and particulate filler-free basis, consists essentially of a binder solution of: (1) between about 90 and about 10 parts of a saturated, thermoplastic vinyl polymer prepared from at least about 85 weight percent of monofunctional vinyl monomers; (2) between about 10 and about 90 parts of vinyl solvent monomers for said vinyl polymer, at least about 10 weight percent, preferably at least about 30 weight percent, of said solvent monomers being selected from the group consisting of divinyl monomers, trivinyl monomers, tetravinyl monomers and mixtures thereof; and (3) between about 1.0 and about 15.0 parts per 100 parts of the total of said thermoplastic vinyl polymer and said vinyl solvent monomers of a triester of phosphoric acid bearing one or more sites of vinyl unsaturation. The composition exhibits excellent quality and good adhesion to a variety of substrates, in particular metals, including vapor deposited metals. Preferred articles bearing such a coating are prepared by: applying a base coat to a substrate and curing the same; vapor depositing a coating of metal over the surface of the base coat; and applying to and curing on the surface of the deposited metal the radiation polymerizable topcoat, preferably with little or no pigment contained therein. |