UV-curable organic-inorganic hybrid film coatings based on epoxidized cyclohexene derivatized linseed oil

Organic-inorganic hybrid films based on epoxidized cyclohexene derivatized linseed oil (ECLO) and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) oligomers were prepared via a UV-curing process. The kinetics of the hybrid materials were studied by photo-differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In addition to the kinetics, the tensile properties, pencil hardness, pull-off adhesion, reverse impact resistance, solvent resistance and abrasion resistance of the hybrid coatings were evaluated. Both dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to investigate the viscoelastic and thermal properties of the hybrid films. The morphology of the hybrid film was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Based on the results from the aforementioned evaluation of the coatings, the hybrid films exhibited higher pencil hardness, tensile strength, tensile modulus, fracture toughness, abrasion resistance, cross-link density and thermal stability compared to the ECLO organic film. The Photo-DSC data showed that the photo-curing speed of the hybrid materials increased with TEOS oligomers content. It was postulated that the TEOS oligomers were reactive diluents.