Radiation cure, and in particular UV cure of urethane prepolymers, is a viable alternative to thermal cure of cast urethane prepolymers with different curatives. Urethane acrylates based on polyols are widely used traditional radiation-curable materials. This paper describes principles of urethane acrylates (methacrylates) UV cure. Development of these prepolymers (oligomers), which meets demands of the modern coatings market, requires a resolution of a number of chemical problems, which are outlined in this paper. Properties of liquid and cured coatings, including their application in the industry, are briefly discussed. Properties range from hard, abrasion-resistant, tough coatings to soft elastomers with 10 times elongation-to-break. Physical and mechanical properties of several commercial urethane acrylate oligomers are presented.