| abstract |
PCT No. PCT/US89/01779 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 20, 1990 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 20, 1990 PCT Filed Apr. 27, 1989.A protective and decorative polymeric sheet material for bonding to substrates by thermoforming comprises a flexible carrier film, a paint layer on one surface of the carrier film containing a colorant or light reflective flakes or both; and a transparent topcoat overlying the paint layer. At least a portion of the transparent topcoat is a rubbery cushioning layer formed of a non-crosslinked, or lightly crosslinked polymeric composition of low Tg. The sheet material has an unextended state and is heat softenable to a plastic state in which it is extendable to an extended state at least 50% greater in area than the unextended state. The paint and topcoat layers have substantially uniform quality and appearance in both the unextended and extended states. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the transparent topcoat is at least 0.1 millimeter. The thick topcoat provides improved retention of gloss and distinctness of image when the sheet material is stretched. As compared with sheet material of which the topcoat layer consists entirely of crosslinked polymer of relatively high Tg, the sheet material of the invention shows a reduced tendency to peel back from the substrate when cut and subjected to high temperature. |