Hybrid inorganic-organic UV-curable abrasion-resistant coatings

Silicones in UV-coatings have been used extensively far both modification of interfacial properties and for the enhancement of average properties. By coupling the enhanced abrasion resistance imported by incorporation of nano-particle silica (a colloidal dispersion of SiO2 in a solvent or solvents) with the advantages of light-induced cure processes, a class of ultra-abrasion-resistant UV-curable coatings has been developed. Incorporation of nano-particle silica con be achieved by the introduction of suitable functional groups of the colloidal silica from the correct silane-acrylate agent. The correct choice of functional group, type and level of silica allows optimisation of abrasion resistance whilst providing additional advantages such as flexibility, embossability, adhesion to specific substrates, and chemical resistance. In this paper are described results obtained with these new polyacrylate-silane-silica hybrid systems, and applications where their unique properties provide value ore discussed.