Hydrophobic Scratch Resistant UV-Cured Epoxy Coating

A selective modification of the surface properties of UV-cured epoxy films was achieved, with an important enhancement of hydrophobicity and scratch resistance, by dispersion on the UV-curable formulations of fluorinated functionalized silica particles. The photopolymeriza- tion process was investigated and the films were fully characterized. Contact angle measurements with water on UV-cured films showed a linear increase of the contact angle of cross-linked films by increasing the functionalized SiO2 content in the photocurable formulation. Also, a consistent and linear improvement of penetration resistance was noted in terms of penetration depth by increasing the fluorinated functionalized silica content