Abstract
Protective coatings and glass laminates have been readily obtained by sunlight-curing of acrylate monomers dispersed in a poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix or in a styrene–butadiene rubber, in the presence of an acylphosphine oxide photoinitiator. The polymerization reaction was followed by infrared spectroscopy and by gel fraction measurements and was shown to proceed extensively within minutes. As expected, the inhibitory effect of atmospheric O2 on such radical-initiated reactions was less pronounced in solid than in liquid samples. The monomer, photoinitiator, and plasticizer concentrations were found to have a strong influence on the rate of polymerization, the final degree of conversion, and the hardness of the sun-cured polymer. The adhesion of the cured coating on glass was substantially improved by the addition of an acrylate-grafted organosol silica. To produce strongly adhesive glass laminates, a photocurable acrylate resin was poured between two coated glass plates and exposed to sunlight for a few seconds. The same formulation can serve as a light-sensitive quick setting glue to bond glass to a variety of materials [polycarbonates, poly(vinyl chloride), aluminium, and steel]. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 70: 2269–2282, 1998
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