A curable film-forming composition is provided that on curing produces a coating,
comprising in a medium (i) 10 to 90 percent by weight based on the total weight
of resin solids in the film-forming composition of a crosslinking agent; (ii) 10
to 90 percent by weight based on the total weight of resin solids in the film-forming
composition of a polymer containing a plurality of functional groups reactive with
the crosslinking agent; and (iii) 20 to 85 percent by volume based on the total
volume of the film-forming composition of particles having a mean particle size
less than 100 nm. The particles further have an index of refraction sufficiently
similar to that of the polymer of (ii) to minimize haze, and have an affinity for
the medium sufficient to keep the particles suspended therein. The affinity of
the particles for the medium is greater than the affinity of the particles for
each other, thereby preventing agglomeration of the particles within the medium.
The film-forming compositions exhibit improved scratch (mar) resistance compared
to compositions of the prior art, as well as improved sag resistance when compared
to similar coating compositions prepared without the particles.
A multi-component composite coating composition is also provided. The coating
composition
comprises a pigmented film-forming composition serving as a base coat and a clear
film-forming composition serving as a transparent topcoat over the base coat. The
transparent topcoat, or clear coat, is derived from the curable film-forming composition
described above.
