Using Colloidal Silica Acrylates - Effects of Lipophilic-Hydrophilic Additives and Silica Content
Hybrid organic-inorganic UV- or EB-cured coatings can be made from commercial easy-to-use low-viscosity acrylic monomers or pre-polymers containing a high content of pre-dispersed silica nanospheres. The use of such products has been described as fulfilling protection requirements for wood, metal, glass, plastic substrates and fiber optics, mainly against abrasion, scratch, chemical wear, tear, and barrier to gas.1-6 Three recent studies detailed the role played by silica particles in the enhancement of hardness, and resistance to scratch, abrasion and aggressive chemicals while maintaining transparency and gloss. The improvement was explained by the high surface covering by silica nanospheres and their homogeneous distribution in the bulk of the coatings.7-9 Another work described the increase of the photo-curing rates of colloidal silica acrylates compared to the unmodified monomers.10
In this study, we investigated some UV-cured hybrid coatings possessing hydrophobic or hydrophilic surface properties. The capacity of these coatings to resist staining is evaluated.