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 −CnF2n+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.