Toughening of an Automotive Clearcoat using a Hyperbranched Polyester-Amide Macromolecule

Hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) can be utilized in a variety of applications such as catalysis, sensors, delivery devices and coatings. Low melt viscosity, high solubility in organicsolvents, well-defined structure, large degree of functionality and the possibility of modification of functional groups makeHBPs as a highly suitable material for coating applications [1]. HBPs has been proposed [2] as toughening agent for thermosetting systems. In spite of extensive use of HBPs as toughening agent for epoxy resins, their capability to be utilized in other thermosetting systems has been rarelyreported. The present study is an attempt to study the ability of HBPs in toughening of an acrylic melamine clearcoat. In addition, the influence of HBP loading on different thermomechanical properties of clearcoat is discussed