Thermoplastic coating compositions and process using same

This invention provides for a coating composition comprising: (A) at least one polymeric material selected from (i) at least one homopolymer of ethylene having a melt index of at least about 220 grams per ten minutes as determined by ASTM D1238, condition 190/2.16, or (ii) at least one copolymer of ethylene and a second ethylenically unsaturated monomer having a melt index of at least about 20 grams per ten minutes as determined by ASTM D1238, condition 190/2.16, or (iii) at least one thermoplastic acrylic homopolymer or copolymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of greater than 0 DEG C. but less than 110 DEG C., or (iv) a mixture of (i), (ii) and/or (iii); and (B) at least one thermoplastic polymeric material different than (A) having a melting point in the range of about 80 DEG C. to about 130 DEG C. and being miscible with (A) and wherein the viscosity of the polymer composition (A) and (B) is in the range of about 5,000 cps to about 100,000 cps at a temperature range of about 200 DEG F. to about 300 DEG F. The invention further provides for a process for applying the foregoing coating composition to a substrate such as glass, ceramic, metal, fiberboard, textile or plastic substrate (e.g., glass jars or bottles) preferably using hot melt screen printing; the process employs a low-temperature cure that requires only a relatively brief cure time (e.g., less than about one second). The coating composition can be reheated to obtain higher gloss and/or enhance the adhesion of the coating to the substrate.