CA2230964A1 - Process for making a paintable polymer article - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for making a paintable polymer article is described which comprises impregnating a polymeric substrate having a plurality of pores, the pores having a number average pore cross section of less than 50 square microns, with a liquid sealant having a viscosity less than 25 mPa.s and heating the impregnated polymeric substrate to cure the sealant. The paintable polymer article may be coated with a paint to form a painted polymer article. The inventors have found that this invention helps prevent paint popping due to the expansion of solvents trapped in voids in the polymer article during paint drying or curing operations, particularly paint popping caused by voids in the polymer article which are exposed by cutting or trimming the polymer article after compression molding.

Description

PROCESS FOR MAKING A PAINTABLE POLYMER ARTICLE

The present invention pertains to processes for making composite articles. In particular, the present invention relates to composite articles having a paintable polymeric surface having improved physical properties.
Rein~orced resins are commonly used today in the manufacture of such products as automobile or truck bodies, chairs, heater housings, trays, etc. Advantages of such products over corresponding products made of metal include light weight, high strength to weight: ratio, resistance to ~-- corrosion, and part design flexibility. Typical examples are the various fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester resins. A problem which occurs with fiber reinforced polyester resins is that in some applications, such as the manufacture of automobile body parts, the rough surface obtained with a conventional fiber reinforced polyester resin is not acceptable.
The rough surface is attributed, at least in part, to the shrinkage in volume of the polymer relative to the reinforcing material as the resin poly~erizes. One approach that has been used to try to eliminate surface roughness is to use low-profile additives, such as disclosed in U.S.
~ Patents 3,701,748 ; 4,525,498 ; 5,082,878 ; 5,202,366 ;
5,376,721 ; 5,386,963 ; and 5,401,803 ; European Patent Applications 413,085 ; 414,468 ; 43~,814 ; 560,113 ; and 600,478 ; Australian Patent 91/76,416 ; British Patent 2,278,117 and International Patent Applications WO 92/01727 ~ and WO 95/09202~ ~ 1 of ~hich alc incorpGLa~c~ by rof~r~nc~
X for th~ir rGlcvant di~closu~c~ a~ ;f full~- ~ct forth hcr~
Low-profile additives are generally thermoplastic materials which reduce shrinkage through what is believed to be a-cGmplex mechanism of incompatibility between the thermoplastic resin and the matrix resin resulting in phase separation which, upon cooling of the polymer, creates microscopic voids and/or microscopic cracks in the composite that compensate for the above-mentioned volumetric shrin~age l~HS a~a~

of the matrix resin during polymerization. This is explained in more detail by K.E. Atkins in PolYmer Blends edited by D.R. Paul and S. Newman, New York Academic Press ;
~ Volume 2, Page 391 (1978)ll, which 1~ ~ol~vld~ h~ ~ill ~y k 5 rcf_L~ r~, its rc~c~an' di_alocurc as if _ul'y LCt forth ~' hcrci~. These micro voids and micro cracks cause the surface of the resulting reinforced resin to be porous due to the intersection between some of those voids and cracks with the sur~ace of the composite. Those pores cause problems during the painting process, because the solvents used in the paint penetrate the pores when the paint is ~ applied and then during the paint curing cycle (which generally includes heating the paint) the solvent trapped in the pores expands, causing the paint to "pop" at the surface o~ the part, causing surface de~ects. The craters and pin holes caused by paint popping need to be sanded and repainted, which are expensive and labor-intensive steps and which can expose more pores.
This latter problem is part~cularly noticeable at the edges of the part where the part has been; trimmed after molding to remove excess resin, becauseltrimming exposes more pores which would have otherwise been hidden below the surface as voids. This phenomenon of increased paint ~; popping is often called "edge popping". One approach that is used to try to eliminate paint popping is to use the in-mold coating process (IMC) in which additional resin is injected over the molded part while it is still in the mold by releasing some of the pressure on the mold and injecting additional resin under pressure. This, however, does not solve the problem of '~edge popping", because the part generally still needs to be trimmed after it is removed from the mold. Therefore there continues to be a need for a method to solve ihese problems.
The present invention solves the problem of surface defects due to paint popping through a process for making a paintable polymer article comprising ~,E~D~D S~rt ~ CA 02230964 1998-03-03 L.~ r.~

(a) impregnating a polymeric substrate having a plurality of pores, the pores having a num~er average pore cross-section of less than 50, preferably less than 30, X square r c~ons, with a heat curable liquid sealant having a viscosity less than 25 mPa.s (25 cps) and (b) heating the impregnated polymeric substrate to cure the heat curable sealant.
The expression "polymeric substrate" is defined herein to mean any substrate comprising a solid polymeric component which has at least one surface bearing a plurality of pores. In a preferred embodiment, the polymeric i-- substrate comprises a pol~7mer, a reinforcing material, and a low profile additive, wherein the polymer preferably çomprises unsaturation in the form of double bonds, such as an unsaturated polyester or vinyl ester.
In another preferred embodiment, the polymeric substrate comprises a hollow filler such as glass or polymeric microspheres, preferably having an internal void X diameter less than 200 T icrons, more preferably less than i X 20 lO0~ icrons and even more preferably less than 50 ~ ron3, and at least one surface of the polymeric substrate has a plurality of open filler in the form of blind pores. The source of these blind pores can vary, but typically these pores are the result of cutting or abrading the surface of the polymeric substrate. The substrate optionally may contain reinforcing fiber.
In either embodiment, preferred reinforcing materials include a reinforcing ~iber, such as glass fiber, graphite fiber, carbon fiber, synthetic fiber such as KevlarTM, etc. Fiber reinforced molding compounds having a polyester matrix resin are particularly preferred, such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,525,498~ ~7hich i3 in~,~uLatcd by reLc~cncc ~~ if ~nlly~ LGiLh hcrci~.
The term "pore" as defined herein is a void in the polymeric substrate which intersects ~with the surface of the substrate so as to form an opening in the surface of the substrate. Blind pores, i.e., poreS which intersect With ~E~) S~

the surface of the material at one location, and through pores, i.e. pores which intersect with the surface of the material at more than one location so that it forms a passagewa~ through the material, are included in this definition. The term "void" as used herein denotes a three-dimensional space in the polymeric substrate matrix resin in which there is an absence of solid or semi-solid material.
This term includes cracks in the matrix resin. The polymeric substrate matrix resin preferably has a percent void volume less than 5 percent, more preferably less than 1 percent, of the total volume of th~ poIymeric substrate.
The void volume includes voids which do not intersect with the surface of the polymeric substrate. The percent void volume may be determined by calculation :

% void volume= [(Volumetric shrinkage of the resin) x (resin content of the substrate) + (weight fraction hollow filler) x (weight average void volume of hollow filler)] x 100.

The volumetric shrinkage of the resin is obtained by measuring the density difference between the liquid resin and the solid/cured resin.
The expression "number average pore cross-section"
is defined herein to equal the total area on the surface o~
the polymeric substrate occupied by the pores in that surface area divided by the number of pores occupying the same surface area. The polymeric substrate according to the present invention has a plurality of pores having a number X average pore cross-section less than 50 square r icr~n3, k~ preferably less than 30 square ~ ~rcns, more preferably less X 30 than 5 square r ic~ns and even more pre~erably less than 1 square/mlcron. There is no particular lower limit to the number average pore cross-section other than that the pores be large enough to allow impregnation of the heat curable sealant into the pores having average pore size. The number average pore cross-section may be determined using Scanning ' CA 02230964 1998-03-03 Electron Microscopy as exl,lained by V. .7' ~attison et al., J.
Appl. Polym. Sci , 18:2763 (1974)~ ~7hloh i~ Vl~Uld-~d ' ' ~f~rcncc ~or it~ ~lcv~t di3~1O~urc a~ ly c~ ~orth h~ei~
~he heat curable sealant may be any polymerizable or crosslinkable liquid composition which is heat curable and has an intrinsic viscosity less than 25 mPa.s, preferably less than 20 mPa.s and more preferably less than 15 mPa.s (1 mPa.s = 1 cps). Preferably, the heat curable sealant undergoes less than 10~ volumetric shrinkage during cure.
~ In a preferred embodiment, the heat curable polymeric composition comprises ~13 an emulsifiable unsaturated polyester ; (2) a monofunctional (meth)acrylic monomer and (3) a polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer. The unsaturated polyester is preferably present in an amount from 1 to 20 weight percent, more preferably in the range from 5 to 15 weight percent. The monofunctional (meth)acrylic monomer is preferably present in an amount up to 98 weight percent, preferably in the range from 25 to 55 weight percent. The polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer is preferably present in an amount from 1 to 80 weight percent, preferably in the range from 40 to 60 weight percent.
The unsaturated polyester component (1) of the above sealant compositions is a water emulsifiable unsaturated polyester resin reactive with the acrylate k monomers of components (2) and (3), and rptionally (4) to form a cross-linked solid upon curing or polymerization of the liquid sealant. A suitable polyester is Stypol~ 72 0802 which is available from Cook Composites and Polymers Company. f Polymerizable mo ~unctional methacrylate and acrylate monomers suitable for component (2) of the above sealant compositions are monomers of the type formula :

0~~5 CH2 = CCOOR2 R
in which :
~1 is H or CH3, and R2 is CnH2n+l or CnH2nOH in which n is an integer of 1 to about 20, preferably 2 to 12.
Exemplary monomers of the above type formula are methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl methacrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate and lauryl methacrylate. Compounds of this type are available commercially from a number of chemical companies.
Polyfunctional monomers suitable for component (3) are the dimethacrylate and diacrylate esters formed by the reaction of methacrylic acid or acrylic acid, or their anydrides, and triethylene glycol, tripropylene glycol or tetraethylene glycol. Exemplary monomers of this type include triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and tetraethylene glycol diacrylate.
Compounds of this type are commercially available from a number of chemical companies.
Polyfunctional monomers suitable as optional component (4) are the dimethacrylate and diacrylate esters formed by the reaction of methacrylic acid or acrylic acid, or their anhydrides, and ethylene glycol, 1,2- or 1,3-propylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, and 1,3- or 1,4-butylene glycol. Exemplary monomers include ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, butanediol dimethacrylate, and neopentylglycol diacrylate. Compounds of this type are known to enhance the heat and chemical resistance of the cured sealant. They are available commercially from a number of chemical companies. They are preferably present in an amount from 0 to 20, more preferably 10 to 15, wt.% of the li~uid sealant.

The liquid sealant may also contain dicyclopentenyloxyethyl methaclylate or acrylate which is of ' the type formula :

,t R

CH2=CcOOcH2cH20cloHl3 in which R1 is H or CH3.
Compounds of this type are known to increase the heat resistance or the cured sealant. They are available commercially from Rohm and Haas under their traden~m~s Rocryl~ 57, 672 and 657T and consist of high molecular weight liquids (MW = 262, 248 and 262 respectively) with a specific gravity of 1.064, 1.085 and 1.064 respectively.
They are preferably present in an amount in tlle range from 0 to 15, more preferably from 5 to 15, wt.%.
The sealants generally include an inhibitor when formulated for shipment to an end user. The inhibitor is included to prevent premature polymerization o* the sealant and provide a stable sealant with acceptable shelf life.
Suitable inhibitors include quinones, hydroquinones or phenols and substituted phenols. A small amount of inhibitor, such as about 0,01% to 2%, is generally sufficient ; about 0,~1% to 0,4% of inhibitor typically gives satisfactory results.
A catalyst is mixed with the liquid sealant by the end user at the time a sealant is added to the impregnation tank or reservoir tank of impregnation apparatus. Many catalysts are suitable, such as benzoyl peroxide, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, alkyl peresters, cumene hydroperoxide, or an azonitrile such as, for example, 2, 1'-azo bis (isobutyronitrile) identified herein as AZBN. The sealant need contain only a small amount of the selected catalyst, such as in the range from about 0.03 to 1 wt.~.
The liquid~sealants also may include a surfactant as an optional ingredient to assist in the washability or CA 02230964 l998-03-03 rinsability of excess uncured sealant from an article prior to curing. Sealants may include from 0% to about 4% of surfactant. Many types of anionic and nonionic surfactants, or mixtures thereof can be added. Examples of suitable anionic sur~actants include sodium alkyl and alkylaryl sulfates, petroleum sulfonates and sulfonated ethoxylated surfactants ; examples of suitable nonionic surfactants include ethoxylated alcohols, linear or branched ethoxylated alkyl phenols and polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene glycols and esters;. Appropriate surfactants are available commercially ~rom a number o~ companies under various tradenames such as, for example, E.I~ Du Pont de Nemours &
Co. (Alkanol~ and Duponol~), Union Carbide Corp.
(Tergitol~), Shell Chemical Co.(Neodol~), GAF Corp. (Alipal~
and Igepal~), Rohm & Haas Co. (Triton~), and ICI (Tween~).
Another optional element is a dye, preferably a fluorescent dye, to provide for visual inspection of cured sealant. The sealants may include from 0 to about 1% of dye, although only a small amount is needed, such as about 20 0.01 to 0.05%.
Suitable sealants are described in U.S. Patents 2,772,185 ; 4, 147,821 ; 4,416,921 ; 5,098,748 ; and 5,212,233/~ thc rclcv~nt ,lic(~ ~,oc c,f ~Ihich GL~
incorpor~tcd by rof~rc~co ~ ;f fl~lly GCt ~G~ L~ h~le~
The step of impregnating the polymer substrate may be carried out by any process and apparatus known in the art for impregnating a liquid into a porous solid. One approach is to use the dry vacuum-pressure' method in which the article is placed in a closed vessel and the vessel is 30 subjected to a vacuum (such as 266,65 to 1333,22 Pa (2 to 10 Torr) for 10 to 15 minutes or more) to cause air trapped in any pores in the dry article to escape. The sealant is drawn from a reservoir into the vessel so as to cover and fill the pores of the article. The vacuum is then released 35 and pressure is applied to the sealant (such as air at 6, 89 x 105 Pa (100 psi) for 10 to 15 minutes or more) to drive the sealant further into the pores. Following this, ~\0-~~

the excess sealant is drained, the parts rinsed, and the sealant is polymerized, i.e. cured, to fill the pores with solid material.
Another impregnation method is the "dry vacuum"
process in which the articles are placed in a closed vessel and the vessel is subjected to a vacuum as in the "dry vacuum-pressure" method. The articles are then submerged in or flooded by the liquid polymerizable composition so as to cover the articles and fill the pores for 10 to 15 minutes or more at atmospheric pressure, after which the excess polymerizable composition is drained, the articles are rinsed and the polymerizable composition is polymerized to fill the pores with solid material. An apparatus which may be used to carry out the "dry vacuum" process is described in U.S. patent 4,479,986~ th~ ~; CAl~Cll~ ~f. ~ThiCh i~
i~Q~poL~d by rof~r~nc~ ~s i~ f"l ly seL r~L ~he~lCL~i-~
Another approach for impregnation of the polymericsubstrate is the "wet vacuum" process which includes the steps of submerging the article in the bath of liquid sealant in an enclosed impregnation tank, and then evacuating the tank to a sufficiently low vacuum (e.g.
226.65 to 1333.22 Pa (2 to lO Torr) for 10 to 15 minutes or more) to enable most of the air entrapped in the pores in the polymeric substrate to escape so that the pores can be filled with the liquid polymerizab]e composition. The vacuum in the impregnating tank is then released, the articles are drained and rinsed, and the sealant is cured.
Typically, the articles are transferred to a tank in which the excess sealant is allowed to drain off. The articles are also generally transferred to another tank in which they are rinsed with water and/or detergent in order to wash off excess sealant. The articles are then transferred to a curing station to polymeriz2 or cure the solid material to fill the pores.
Yet another approach is the "dry vacuum-wet vacuum"
process which includes the steps o~ placing the article in a closed vessel, subjecting the vessel to a vacuum (e.g.
,S a~a~

W O 97/11118 PCTrEP96/04123 226.65 to 1333.22 Pa (2 to 10 Torr) for 10 to 15 minutes or more), submerging or flooding the article in the liquid sealant so as to cover the article and fill the pores, continuing to apply a vacuum (e.g. 226.65 to 1333.22 Pa (2 to 10 Torr) for 10 to 15 minutes or more), releasing the vacuum in the vessel, draining the excess sealant, rinsing the impregnated article, and curing the sealant.
Examples of applying the process of the present invention to make paintable composites with improved physical properties, along with a comparative example, are given below.
Example 1 Heat curable polymerizable compositions were prepared and applied using the dry vacuum-pressure method to impregnate the polymer substrate. In each case, the polymer substrate was made as follows: a First Sheet Molding Compound was made by mixing the components in Table 1 below:
Table 1 First Sheet Molding Compound Material Parts by weight Unsaturated Stypol'~9 040-3948165.0 polyester resin Polyvinyl acetate Neulon H2 35.0 Tertiary butyl perbenzoate 1.4 Viscosity modifier W9953 1.5 Zinc stearate 4.0 Calcium carbonate Camel Wite 200.00 p-Benzoquinone 0.02 '' Cook Composites and Polymers 2 Union Carbide 3 BYK Chemie ' CA 02230964 1998-03-03 v ~
~ 11 This First Sheet Molding Compound is mixed with a magnesium oxide paste, Plasticolors PG 9033, as the Second Sheet Molding Compound, incorporating 30% glass by weight, using the sheet molding compound (SMC) process described in H.G. Kia, Sheet Moldinq ComPounds - Science and Technoloqy (Hansen/Gardner Publics : 1993). After three days, the material was molded into sheets by compression molding at 149'C (300 F) for 2.5 minutes under 6.89 MPa (1000 psi) pressure. The number average pore cross section on the resulting molded parts was 0.075 square ~ crons with a void volume of 1.85~.
' Impregnation of the panels corresponding to the Comparative Example and the Example of the Present Invention was carried out as follows :

DrY vacuum - pressure Process :

Step 1 Vacuum 10 min./400 Pa (3 Torr) Step 2 Resin Filling/vacuum 10 min./400 Pa (3 Torr) Step 3 Pressure 10 min./6.2 x 105 Pa (go psi) 20 Step 4 Rinse in room temp. water Step 5 Cure in 93 C (200-F) water for 15 minutes -The sealants used to treat the Comparative Example and the Example of the Present Invention were formulated as set forth in Table 2 below.

P~'~

Table 2 Sealant Formulations Parts by weight Component ComparativeExample of the Example Present Invention Polyester4 15 8 DEGDMA ~

Viscosity (mPa.s) 35 15 4 Water emulsifiable polyester resin designated Stypol~ 72-0802 (see above) 5 HPMA = hydroxypropyl methacrylate 6 TEGDMA = triethylene glycol dimethacrylate 7 DEGDMA = diethylene glycol dimethacrylate 8 DCPOEMA = dicyclopentenyloxyethyl methacrylate The Example of the Present Invention and the Comparative Example were tested for relative porosity by marking each sample with an indelible marker (Sanford's overhead projector pen), allowing the marker to dry, and then wiping each sample with acetone. An untreated panel was used as the Control. The Control and the Comparative Example remained stained after wiping with acetone, indicating that they contained porosity retaining the indelible marker ink below the surface, whereas the Example of the Present Invention wiped completely clean with acetone, indicating that the porosity had been eliminated.
This shows that the present invention prevents the occurrence of a major source of the paint popping problem.
The Example of the Present Invention, the Comparative Example, and the Control were tested for paint pops in a side-by-side comparison. F.ach panel was painted with a standard automotive polyurethane automotive paint.
The Control exhibited numerous paint pops both on the flat area of the panel as well as on the trimming area, i.e., the edge. The Comparative Example exhibit:ed a few paint pops on the edge while the Example of the Present Inven.ion did not have any paint pops.
The inventor has also found that the present invention provides an unexpected improvement in certain physical properties of the polymeric substrate, particularly ,- in regard to flexural modulus and flexural strength, while maintaining other physical properties, such as tensile modulus and tensile strength. Tensile modulus and tensile strength properties were measured according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) procedure D638, flexural modulus and flexural strength properties were measured according to ASTM procedure D790, and the Izod and Notched Izod impact strength properties were measured according to ASTM procedure D2s6. fA_T~ procoduro~ D63~, D790 and D 56 ~ro incorpor~t~ by rcfcre~4e lS if fully s~
fo ~ ~reil~ The date is presented in Table 3 below.

~...

." ~ , C ~_ ~
ô ~ o ô o ~ ô ~1 +
~ ~ ~ +l -- '--E ~ o +l ~ _ N ', + + ~ C~
S ~ ~ ~ ~
a) ~ + C~ C~l ~ ~

n ~ ~ + O ~ N

~ E ~~ ~ + G ~ ~ ~ ~ -H ~ 0 N

O ~ 0 ~ N

~1~ ~
Q ~
G

O +l + I N +

+ G ~ + N +

~ ~
~ ~ ,C

N z ~ E ~

C Ca) X X ~ ~o o U~

' CA 02230964 1998-03-03 f ~ L ~
~ 15 Example 2 Heat curable polymerizable compositions were prepared and applied using the dry vacuum - wet vacuum method to impregnate the polymer substrate. The polymer substrates were made as follows : A First Sheet Molding Compound was made by mixing the components of Table 4.

Table 4 , First Sheet Molding Compound Parts by weight Material Formulation #1 Formuiation #2 10 Unsaturated Polyest~r Stypol 040-3948~ 70 70 Resin (Polyvinyl Acetate) Neulon H(2) 30 30 Resin (Saturated Polyester) 044-8012(3) 10 0 Viscosity Modiher W995~3~ 1.67 1.67 P-Benzoquinone 0.0~ 0.05 15 Te~tia~ Butyl Perbenzoate 1.25 1.25 Zinc Stearate 4.0 4.0 Calcium Carbonate Camel Fil 155 165 (1) Cook Composites and Polymers (2) Union Carbide (3) BYK Chemie The First Sheet Molding Coumpound is mixed with magnesium hydroxide (Marinco H), as the Second Sheet Molding Coumpound, incorporating 20% glass by weight, using the SMC
process described in Example 1. After thickening, the material was molded into substrates by compression at 149-C
(300'F) for 3 to 9 minutes under 1.72-6.89 MPa (250-1000 psi). Substrates contained surface defects ranging k from cracks less than 2.5 ~ i¢rons in width and pores averaging 5-10 ~ cr~n~ in diameter. Each substrate was .

machined in half. One half on each substrate was impregnated using the sealant described in Table 5 and the dry vacuum-wet vacuum process as follows :

Dry Vacuum - Wet Vacuum Step 1 Vacuum 10 min./400 Pa (3 Torr) Step 2 Immersion/Vacuum 15 min./400 Pa (3 Torr) Step 3 Rinse in room temp. water Step 4 Cure in 121-C (250 F) oven for 20 minutes The sealant used to treat the substrates was formulated as set forth in Table 5.

Table 5 Sealant Formulation Component Wt.%
Polyester Solids3 10.12 HPMA 59.84 TEGDMA 19.75 DEGl 5.98 DCPOEMA 1.OO
DTBPC2 0.30 Hydroquinone 0.01 Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan 3.00 Viscosity (mPa.s) 22 (1) DEG = diethylene glycol (2) DTBPC = ditertiary-2,6-butyl-para-cresol (3) Water emulsifiable polyester resin designated Stypol 072-0802 t CA 02230964 1998-03-03 The sealant was catalyzed with 0,4% by weight (based on resin) Vazo~ 64 from E.I. Dupont de Nemours & Co.
The remaining half o~ each substrate was not impregnated and retained as a control. All substrates were painted with a standard automotive base coat and clear coat system. All substrates were visually and microscopically evaluated for paint defects occurring between the substrate and base coat. The control (not impregnated) substrates contained an average o~ 59 defects/m2 (5.5 de~ects/ft2) of surface area. The impregnated substrates contained 16 defects/m2 (1.5 defects/ft2) of surface area Although the invention has been described._-in considerable detail through the preced'n~~ specific embodiments, it is to be underst~3~~~ t these embodiments are for purpose of ill~s~r~tion only~ Many variations and modi~icatio ~ e made by one skilled in the art without from the spirit and scope of the invention.

~';

Claims (12)

1 - A process for making a composite article having a polymeric surface which is rendered paintable without surface defects caused by phenomena of popping or of edge popping, said process comprising :
(a) impregnating a polymeric substrate having a plurality of pores, the pores having a number average pore cross-section of less than 50 square micrometers, with a liquid sealant having a viscosity less than 25 mPa.s and (b) heating the impregnated polymeric substrate to cure the sealant.

2 - The process according to claim 1 wherein the liquid sealant comprises :
(a) an emulsifiable unsaturated polyester (b) a monofunctional (meth)acrylic monomer and (c) a polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer ;
(d) optionally dicyclopentyloxethyl (meth)acrylate and (e) optionally an inhibitor.

3 - The process according to claim 2 wherein the unsaturated polyester is present is an amount from 1 to wt.% ; the monofunctional (meth)acrylic monomer is present in an amount up to 98 wt.% ; and the polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer is present in an amount from 1 to 80 wt%.

4 - The process according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the monofunctional (meth)acrylic monomer is hydroxypropyl methacrylate.

5 - The process according to anyone of claims 2 to 4 wherein the polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer is triethylene glycol dimethacrylate.

6 - The process according to anyone of claims 1 to 5 wherein a catalyst is mixed with the liquid sealant prior to impregnating the polymeric substrate.

7 - The process according to anyone of claims 1 to 6 wherein the impregnating is carried out using the wet vacuum method which includes the steps of submerging the polymeric substrate in a bath of liquid sealant in an enclosed impregnation tank, and then evacuating the tank to a sufficient low vacuum to enable most of the air entrapped in the pores in the polymeric substrate to escape so that the pores can be filled with the liquid polymerizable composition, releasing the vacuum in the impregnating tank, draining and rinsing the articles and curing the sealant, or using the dry vacuum-wet vacuum method which includes the steps of placing the article in a closed vessel, subjecting the vessel to a vacuum, submerging or flooding the article in the liquid sealant so as to cover the article and fill the pores, continuing to apply a vacuum in the vessel, draining the excess sealant, rinsing the impregnated article, and curing the sealant.

8 - The process according to anyone of claims 1 to 7 wherein the polymeric substrate comprises a polymer resin, a reinforcing material and, optionally, hollow glass or polymeric microspheres.

9 - The process according to anyone of claims 1 to 8 further comprising cutting or trimming the polymeric substrate prior to impregnating the polymeric substrate.

10 - The process according to anyone of claims 1 to 9 further comprising painting the paintable article with a paint.

11 - The paintable composite article obtainable by the process of any one of claims 1 to 9.

12 - The painted composite article obtainable by the process of claim 10.