Preparation of UV-opaque Vis-transparent acrylic- modified SiO2 nanocomposite coating

Hybrid latex particles of acrylic-modified silica nanoparticles were prepared via miniemulsion polymerization. In order to create compatibility between inorganic and polymer phases, surface modification of SiO2 nanoparticles was performed with methylene bisphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with an optimized procedure for the first time. The TGA results shows the successful and efficient surface modification of silica nanoparticles (SiO2). The modification, introduced unsaturated bond on the surface of inorganic nanoparticles. The incorporation of the unsaturated bonds of SiO2 nanoparicles in the miniemulsion polymerization of acrylic monomers, established a covalent linkage between organic and inorganic phases and improve their compatibility. The compatibility of the phases and dispersibilty of nanoparticles in polymer matrix, influence the optical properties of nanocomposite coating. Uv-Vis spectra indicated that the incorporation of modified-SiO2 nanoparticles into coating composition didn’t deteriorate the optical properties of acrylic coating.