UV-curable powder coatings containing interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs)

In spite of obvious advantages of radiation curable powder coatings some of their physical and mechanical properties such as impact resistance, flexibility, hardness and tensile strength are poorer than thermally curable powder coatings. It is believed that UV-curable powder coatings containing interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) inherently have the ability to develop these properties. In the present study, two different UV curing systems (i.e. free radical and cationic types) were used in order to obtain the prospective IPNs. Interesting properties are to be found by these coatings founded in the different possible morphologies caused by phase separations. These modified radiation curable powder coatings showed significant improvements in the mechanical and physical properties of such powder coatings. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.