High Performance UV Multi-Layer Coatings Using Inorganic Nanoperticles

The sensitivity of organic coatings to scratching, abrasion and chemical attack can by significantly reduced by using UV curable monomers containing concentrated suspensions of inorganic nanoparticles. Commercial monomers containing up to 50% colloidal silica nanoparticles have been used to make UV nanocomposite coatings. The properties of multi-layered coatings using nanocomposite topcoats over hard and soft basecoats were evaluated in this work. Surface hardness (HU), Young Elastic modulus (Ey) and Elastic recovery (ER) were measured by Micro-identation. Scratch resistance was measured with the Erichsen tester while micro-abrasion was measured with Taber abrasion test. Dynamic thermal analysis (DMA) was used to measure the viscoelastic properties of the coatings. High resolution AFM, SEM microscopy were used to locate the nanoparticles in the nanocomposite. High performance scratch and abrasion resistant coatings can be formulated with an optimal use of silica nanoparticles.