Abrasion-resistant coatings for plastic and soft metallic substrates by sol–gel reactions of a triethoxysilylated diethylenetriamine and tetramethoxysilane

Inorganic–organic hybrid materials have been prepared by sol–gel reactions of a metal or semi-metal alkoxide along with a silane-modified organic compound or polymer. Mixtures of a triethoxysilylated diethylenetriamine (f-DETA) and tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) were hydrolyzed in an acidic medium, and the resulting hydrolysates were spin- or dip-coated onto polymeric substrates or metallic substrates and then thermally cured into transparent abrasion-resistant coatings. The influences of the pH, concentrations of water and TMOS, pre-hydrolysis time and curing temperature on the abrasion resistance and hardness of the resulting coatings were studied. These hybrid coatings were applied on substrates of bisphenol-A polycarbonate (bis-A PC), APEC HT9353®, copper, brass and stainless steel, and the coated substrates exhibited much lower wear rates than the corresponding uncoated ones in standard abrasion tests.