The maleimide modified epoxy resins for the preparation of UV-curable hybrid coatings

In the present study, maleimide-modified epoxide resin containing UV-curable hybrid coating materials were prepared and coated on polycarbonate substrates in order to improve their surface properties. UV-curable, bismaleimide-modified aliphatic epoxy resin was prepared from N-(p-carboxyphenyl) maleimide (p-CPMI) and cycloaliphatic epoxy (Cyracure-6107) resin. The structure of the bismaleimide modified aliphatic epoxy resin was analyzed by FTIR and the characteristic absorption band for maleimide ring was clearly observed at 3100 cm−1. Silica sol was prepared from tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and methacryloxy propyl trimethoxysilane (MAPTMS) by sol–gel method. The coating formulations with different compositions were prepared from UV-curable bismaleimide-based epoxy oligomer and sol–gel mixture. The molecular structure of the hybrid coating material was analyzed by 29Si-CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy techniques. In the 29Si CP/MAS NMR spectrum of the hybrid coating, mainly two kinds of signals were observed at −68 and −110 ppm that correspond to T3 and Q4 peaks, respectively. This result shows that a fully condensed structure was obtained. The thermal and morphological properties of these coatings materials were investigated by using TGA and SEM techniques. Hardness and abrasion resistance properties of coating materials were examined and both were found to increase with sol–gel precursor content of the coating. The photopolymerization kinetics was investigated by using RT-IR. 70% conversion was attained with the addition of 15 wt% of BMI resin into the acrylate-based coating formulation. It was found that the UV-curable organic–inorganic hybrid coatings improved the surface properties of polycarbonate. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.