Enhancement of scratch-resistance properties of methacrylated UV-cured coatings

► We report about hybrid coatings containing silica, titania or alumina domains. ► The inorganic domains were generated in-situ via a sol-gel process combined with UV light. ► Enhanced thermal and surface hardness properties were achieved. Methacrylic based organic–inorganic hybrid coatings containing silica, titania or alumina domains, were generated in situ combining a UV-induced polymerization reaction with a sol–gel process of metal alkoxide precursors. While the presence of TEOS and ALP did not influence significantly the rate of curing and the final methacrylic double bond conversion, a certain effect is evident when TIP is added as inorganic precursor both on UV-curing rate and final double bond conversion. An increase of the rigidity of the cured coating was achieved in the presence of the inorganic fillers with an increase of T g values by increasing the metal alkoxide content in the photocurable formulations. Scratch test showed a general increase of first and second critical load values for hybrid coatings together with an increase in the Persoz hardness values.