A process for coating a substrate is provided which includes the following steps:
- (a) applying a waterborne base coat composition to a surface of the substrate;
- (b) applying infrared radiation at a power density of 1.5-30.0 kW/m2
and a first air stream simultaneously to the base coat composition such that
a pre-dried base coat is formed upon the surface of the substrate; and
- (c) applying a second air stream in the absence of infrared radiation
to the base coat composition such that a dried base coat is formed upon the surface
of the substrate.
Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed including continuous,
batch, and semi-batch processes, which may include additional process steps, such
as subsequent application of a topcoat. The process may be used to coat a variety
of metal and polymeric substrates, for example, those associated with the body
of a motor vehicle.
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