Click to enlargeWater-based polymer coatings that cure under ultraviolet (UV) light are being developed as an environmentally friendly alternative to existing coating technologies. Our latest research effort looks at how methylene malonate monomers can enable the synthesis and property enhancement of these coatings.
Conducted jointly with the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the research investigates a new in situ method for creating UV-curable emulsion coatings using hydroxyethyl methacrylate methylidene malonate (HEMA-MM) as a crosslinking agent. HEMA-MM is an experimental material based on our newly synthesized methylidene malonate monomer, which can cure anionically at ambient temperatures like our other malonate monomers.
The research focused on the synthesis of high-performance latex emulsion coatings—with the HEMA-MM covalently grafted on the latex particles to facilitate UV initiated, free radical crosslinking to improve the coating’s physical properties. Demonstration of this selected application suggests broader implications for other coatings, emulsion polymers and polymer dispersions.
The research is described in detail in a joint technical paper from Sirrus and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Titled Methylene Malonate For High Performance Coatings, the paper will be presented at two upcoming industry conferences:
- 2019 CoatingsTech Conference, April 8-10 in Cleveland, Ohio
- Eastern Coatings Show, May 13-15 in Atlantic City
The ACS Applied Polymer Materials Journal will also publish related research in an article entitled Anionic Polymerization of Methylene Malonate for High Performance Coatings.