Cured within 30 seconds: Substrate-independent anti-smudge coating
Researchers have introduced a novel and transparent UV-curable coating with excellent anti-smudge performance. The coating exhibits an excellent repellency of water- and oil- contaminants.
Anti-smudge coatings are recognised as being strongly desirable because they are able to repel numerous contaminants and maintain surfaces spotless without cleaning. However, a simple preparation process suitable for various substrates has rarely been reported. Herein, a novel UV-curable transparent anti-smudge coating with adjustable wetting properties was prepared. Introducing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a low surface energy additive and trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) as a crosslinking agent to a polyurethane acrylate (PUA) skeleton results in a coating that shows dynamic dewetting performance as well as extensive repellency to water- and oil-borne contaminants, including graffiti, ink, cooking oil, and salt solution.
Variety of substrates
Additionally, owing to the advantages of a non-thermal and rapid UV-curing strategy, the obtained coating can be applied to a variety of substrates including heat-sensitive materials. According to the researchers, their study provides unique insights into the design and fabrication of functional coatings aimed at dewetting surfaces, membrane separation, and petroleum and biomedical engineering applications.
The study has been published in Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 173, December 2022.
