Preparation of scratch and abrasion resistant polymeric nanocomposites by monomer grafting onto nanoparticles, 2 - Characterization of radiation-cured polymeric nanocomposites

By in situ grafting methacroyloxy functionalized on commercial nanoglobular silica polymerization-active: silico-organic nanoparticles were prepared. In radiation (UV, EB) induced polymerization reactions these modified nanop articles form covalent crosslinks to acrylate substrates, thus efficiently modifying their viscoelastic properties. The transparent nanopowder composi tes can be used as scratch resistant coatings. The composite films show exc ellent adhesion on PC and PVC and good abrasion resistance after the Taber abraser test with haze values of about 6% after 500 cycles. [GRAPHICS] Microscopic images (enlargement 30x) of pure SR 494 (on the left) and SIMA- modified SR 494 electron beam cured coatings after 60 manual steal wool scr atching cycles, each being of a thickness of about 100 mum.