Wear response and mechanical behaviour of silicone-based photoluminescent coatings

•The thickness of the photoluminescent coatings depends on deposition technology.•Pigment size and concentration influence the morphology of the coatings.•Pigment size and concentration influence the tribological and scratch response.•Sprayed coatings are characterized by the lowest wear volume and best scratch resistance.•Photoluminescent intensity is correlated to pigment size and concentration. Photoluminescent coatings were manufactured by dispersing different sized hydrophobic silane surface-modified SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ photoluminescent pigments in a waterborne, silicone-modified 1-pack polyurethane binder. The resulting emulsions were deposited by spraying and automatic drawdown applicator on medium density fiberboard (MDF) panels covered with decorative paper. After automatic drawdown applications, half of the photoluminescent coatings were recoated with a transparent acrylic topcoat for protection purpose. The visual appearance of the coatings was analyzed by combined contact gauge profilometry and field emission gun scanning electron microscopy. Mechanical and tribological properties of the coatings were then analyzed by progressive and continuous load scratch as well as by linear reciprocating ball-on-flat sliding wear tests. High resistant, flexible and partially transparent photoluminescent coatings are achieved with a very simple, reproducible and eco-sustainable procedure, which can be easily extended to industrial applications for a wide range of substrates.