Author(s)

Danuta Kotnarowska

Kazimierz Pulaski University of Technology and Humanities, Radom, Poland.

Investigated systems of acrylic-polyurethane coatings consisted of three kinds of coatings: base coat (acrylic), intermediate (polyurethane) and top coat (acrylic); each made up of two layers. Mean thickness of the coating system was equal (145 ± 1) μm. In time of accelerated UV ageing, electromagnetic radiation was emitted of wave length in the range (300 - 400) nm which was progressively inducing a destruction of coatings chemical structure, especially photooxidation and photolysis of coating material. Carried out X-ray investigations revealed increased contents of oxygen in aged coatings due to their photooxidation which resulted in increased tendency of coating microfragments to chip off from surface layer with the ageing time flow. The hardness increase of UV aged coatings was also observed which intensified their surface layer brittleness. This contributed to their thickness decrease by more than 10% after 2016 h of ageing. Photodestruction of UV aged coatings was documented as well by characteristics obtained during investigations carried out with DMA method use. A noticeable physical destruction of the coatings was observed in the form of silver cracks, etchings and grooves in surface layer as well as craters extending also into interlayer. Processes of physical and chemical destruction undergoing in aged coatings influenced roughness profile change and coatings surface topography shaping. After 2016 h of UV ageing, the roughness parameters (Ra, Rz, Rt) increased several times. Long-lasting UV radiation influence on the surface of investigated acrylic-polyurethane coating systems contributed to their decorativeness loss. Microscopic examinations revealed colour change (yellowing) of blue pigment contained in polyurethane interlayer. Decline in coating gloss was also observed as the result of surface roughness increase.

UV Radiation, Acrylic-Polyurethane Coatings

Kotnarowska, D. (2018) Influence of Ageing with UV Radiation on Physicochemical Properties of Acrylic-Polyurethane Coatings. Journal of Surface Engineered Materials and Advanced Technology, 8, 95-109. doi: 10.4236/jsemat.2018.84009.