Scratch Resistant UV-Cured Coatings Containing Nano and Sub-Micron Aluminum Oxide Additives

By Roger H. Cayton, Abigail Farning, Patrick G. Murray, David Nelson

Nanotechnology is a rapidly growing field and new nano-scale products continue to be commercialized in a wide range of markets, including personal care, precision polishing, electronics, energy, and textiles, to name but a few examples. One industry which has rapidly embraced nanotechnology as a source of innovation and product differentiation is coatings.

The wide-ranging interest in nanotechnology by the coatings field is evidenced by the explosive growth in patent applications involving nanotechnology and various types of coatings—up by 25% in 2010 year-over-year, and up 100% over 2005.

The increase in patent filings in this area is anticipatory of the commercial adoption of nanomaterials; according to the Global Industry Analysts, Inc. report—Nanocoatings: A Global Market Report, San Jose, CA, April 12, 2010—the global market for nano-enabled coatings is expected to be $6.5 billion by 2013 and to reach $11.7 billion by 2015.

UV-cured coatings are typically high value, high performance coatings which are gaining market share for a variety of reasons, including that they can be applied in solvent-free form and that they allow high throughput owing to their rapid cure rates. UV-cured coatings can be applied to a broad diversity of substrates including those used in flooring, furniture, plastics, electronics, graphic arts, packaging, and can coatings. These UV-cured coatings are often used as clear topcoats to protect substrates from degradation resulting from wear and abrasion.