SBIR Phase I: A Novel Approach to Optically Transparent Hard Coatings on Polymer Substrate

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将带来一种经济的湿化学方法，在透明聚合物基板上沉积硬质和抗划痕涂层。拟议的计划如果成功实施，将解决普遍存在的透明聚合物表面被划伤和磨损的问题。溶液方法易于扩展，已被用于在透明聚合物上开发聚合物-氧化物纳米(杂化)透明涂层。这种材料缺乏高硬度值，可以通过在杂化基质中加入粗大的氧化物陶瓷颗粒来显著提高硬度值。基于这种创新的方法，即使在混合基质中添加大量的粗颗粒(0.25微米)也能保持透明度，将在聚碳酸酯和丙烯酸基材上开发具有优异耐磨性和耐化学性的透明涂料。溶液法制备聚合物纳米复合材料涂层比真空/气相工艺(如等离子聚合)经济得多，但由于涂层的耐磨性差，其应用受到了限制，这种新方法将导致优异的耐磨、耐划伤和耐化学腐蚀涂层，在汽车、航空航天等工业中将有广泛的应用。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will lead to an economical wet chemical method for depositing hard and scratch resistant coatings on transparent polymer substrates. The proposed program, when successfully carried out, will solve the ubiquitous problem of transparent polymer surfaces being scratched and worn. Solution methods, which are easily scalable, have been used to develop polymer-oxide nanoparticle (hybrid) transparent coatings on transparent polymers. Such materials lack high hardness values, which can be dramatically increased by incorporating coarse oxide ceramic particles in the hybrid matrix. Based on this innovative approach to maintain transparency even with addition of a significant volume fraction of coarse particles ( 0.25 microns) to a hybrid matrix, transparent coatings will be developed on polycarbonate and acrylic substrates with excellent wear and chemical resistance. Solution methods of forming polymer nanocomposites coatings are far more economical compared to vacuum/gas phase processing (e.g., plasma polymerization), but its use has been restricted because of the poor abrasion resistance of these coatings.This novel approach will lead to exceptional wear, scratch and chemical resistance coatings, which will have a wide range of applications in the automotive, aerospace and other industries.