Patent ID: 8178160

Claim:
A method for preparing a decorative and durable coating having a homogeneous hue comprising: (a) dry-blend mixing a first powder coating composition having a first hue and a second powder coating composition having a second hue different than the first hue to form a heterogeneous association of the first powder coating composition and the second powder coating composition; and (b) directly applying the heterogeneous association of the first powder coating composition and the second powder coating composition to at least a portion of a substrate, wherein the first powder coating composition and/or the second powder coating composition comprises a particulate film-forming resin and polymer-enclosed color-imparting nanoparticles, the color-imparting nanoparticles having average particle size of 300 nanometers or less, wherein the particulate film-forming resin comprises an epoxy functional resin, wherein the polymer-enclosed color-imparting nanoparticles are enclosed by a polymer different from the particulate film-forming resin, wherein the polymer-enclosed color-imparting nanoparticles comprise a polymer comprising the reaction product of (i) an ethylenically unsaturated water-dispersible polymerizable dispersant, and (ii) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and wherein the water-dispersible polymerizable dispersant comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethane polymers, polyester polymers, polyether polymers, silicon-based polymers, co-polymers thereof, and mixtures thereof.