| abstract |
A method of forming a colored polymer coating on a substrate is disclosed which comprises mixing a reactive polymer, a reactive colorant, and a linking agent, and reacting the linking agent with the reactive polymer and reactive colorant under suitable conditions to form the colored polymer coating. The polymer from which the coating is formed has reactive groups which can react with the linking agent. The reactive colorant has the general formula: R-[polymeric constituent-X]n wherein R is an organic dyestuff radical; the polymeric constituent is selected from polyalkylene oxides and copolymers of alkylene oxides in which the alkylene moiety of the polymeric constituent contains 2 or more carbon atoms; n is an integer from 1 to about 6; and X is a reactive moiety. The linking agent has a reactive group capable of reacting with reactive groups in the polymer and a reactive group capable of reacting with the reactive moiety of the reactive colorant. A method of coating a substrate with a lightfast colored polymer finish is also disclosed which comprises forming a colored polymer coating on the substrate in accordance with the method described above and then overcoating the colored polymer coating with a second polymer layer containing an ultraviolet absorber. A composition comprising a mixture of the coating polymer, a reactive colorant, and a linking agent is also disclosed. |