Properties of UV-curable coatings containing fluorinated acrylic structures

UV-curable systems based on the copolymerisation of typical acrylic resins with fluorinated derivatives were prepared and their properties investigated. Firstly we used as comonomer, 4,4'-hexafluoroisopropylidendiphenoldihydroxyethyletherdiacrylate which gives rise to homogeneous systems when mixed with the corresponding hydrogenated monomer. By using perfluoropolyetherurethanemethacrylates, films having interesting properties were obtained. When copolymerising a low amount of fluorinated acrylates with acrylic resins, the bulk properties of the films remained unchanged, but a selective modification of the surface was obtained. A series of acrylic esters of alcohols having a perfluorinated group -C(n)F(2n+1) were investigated. In all cases, a selective enrichment of the fluorinated monomer on the film surface was observed, depending on the monomer structure, its concentration and the type of substrate. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.