UV-cured Films Research Articles

UV-cured organic–inorganic composites for highly durable and flexible antireflection coatings

In this work, we develop novel UV-cured composite antireflection films by using UV curable silsesquioxanes (GPOSS) as the organic network and acidic silica sols as the inorganic parts. The composite films can be rapidly crosslinked and solidified under UV light and UV ozone exposure, respectively. The final coatings exhibit broadband antireflective properties with average transmittance of 92.71% from 400 nm to 2000 nm, and the coatings display mechanical robustness with relative transmittance reduced of only 0.38% and 0.08% after cyclic scrubbing and tape-peeling tests. Due to synergetic effect from vigorous organic-organic intramolecular crosslinking and delicate organic–inorganic intermolecular crosslinking, the coatings achieve good environmental durability with negligible optical loss after 48 h HAST test. By this design, the present UV cured composites pave the way to select novel functional materials for robust flexible antireflection use. And the method in this work opens up prospective opportunities for large-scale, flexible, and rapid coating preparation with multiple performances, which can be used to transparent displays and various flexible opto-electronic devices.

Fabrication of Self-Healable, Robust Superhydrophobic Surfaces Using UV-Crosslinked Nanocomposite Films.

Studies on fabricating robust superhydrophobic surfaces by a low-cost method have been rare, despite the recent demand for nature-inspired superhydrophobic surfaces including self-healing ability in various industrial applications. Herein, we propose a fabrication method for self-healable, robust superhydrophobic nanocomposite films by facile solution-processed spray coating and UV curing. The components of the coating solution include functionalized hydrophobic silica nanoparticles for producing high roughness hierarchical textured structures with low surface energy, and UV-crosslinkable v-POSS and bi-thiol hydrocarbon molecules to improve the film stability. As a result of the synergetic effect of the hydrophobic nanoparticles and UV-crosslinked polymeric compounds, the spray-coated and UV-cured nanocomposite films possess excellent superhydrophobicity (water contact angles > 150º) and high stability, in addition to self-healing abilities.

A novel UV-curable waterborne polyurethane-acrylate coating based on green polyol from hydroxyl telechelic natural rubber

A novel UV-curable waterborne polyurethane-acrylate (WPUA) was firstly prepared based on hydroxyl telechelic natural rubber (HTNR) via sequential emulsion polymerization. The WPUA was composed of HTNR, Hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), and the content of hydroxymethyl propionic acid (DMPA) was studied for effects on particle size, stability, and morphology of the new series of WPUA dispersions. The WPUA had a good stability at a total solids content of about 20%. Particle size and dispersion stability slightly decreased with DMPA content. The WPUA gave a good film formation and can provide good wettability with high surface free energy. The mechanical and thermal properties of WPUA film were improved by UV-curing. The effects of photoinitiator (Darocur1173) content were investigated. The UV-cured WPUA films showed better mechanical properties and less water absorption than the not cured WPUA film. Also, the surface wetting was the improvement in the water resistance of the coating on the substrate. In addition, the thermal properties by TGA and the dynamic properties by DMTA slightly increased with photoinitiator dose level due to the higher crosslink density and decreasing the molecular weight between crosslink (Mc) caused the Tg shift to a higher temperature.

Selective dry etching of UV-nanoimprinted resin passivation masks for area selective atomic layer deposition of aluminum oxide

To demonstrate area selective atomic layer deposition (ALD) using UV-nanoimprinted resin patterns as physical passivation masks, we investigated the removal of UV-cured resin films subjected to sequential mutual doses of trimethylaluminum (TMA) and H2O by using dry etching procedures. On the basis of the removal of a residual layer characteristic from imprint resin patterns by anisotropic oxygen reactive ion etching (O2 RIE), oxidatively etched UV-cured films were modified with TMA and H2O in an ALD-like cyclic manner. Atomic force microscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry [time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS)] analysis suggested that the combination of physical Ar ion milling and subsequent chemical O2 RIE enabled the elimination of oxidized UV-cured resin masks modified with 5-cycle TMA doses. By contrast, Ar ion milling or O2 RIE left organic or inorganic residues on silicon surfaces, respectively. A TMA-modified hybridized resin layer was etched by physical Ar ion milling; subsequently, the organic residual resin layer was removed by chemical O2 RIE in the case of 5-cycle modification with TMA. The mapping image of Al+ visualized by TOF-SIMS suggested that line patterns of aluminum oxide were left selectively on unmasked silicon substrate surfaces by site-selective dry etching of TMA-modified imprint resin passivation masks with 500 nm linewidth.

Honeycomb Organization of Chitin Nanocrystals (ChNCs) in Nanocomposite Films of UV-Cured Waterborne Acrylated Epoxidized Soybean Oil Emulsified with ChNCs.

Stable biobased waterborne Pickering dispersions of acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) were developed using chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs) as sole emulsifier without any additives. Thin AESO-ChNC nanocomposite films were produced by UV-curing thin-coated layers of the AESO emulsion after water evaporation. The kinetics of photopolymerization were assessed by monitoring the consumption of the AESO acrylate groups by infrared spectroscopy (Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)). The curing was faster in the presence of ChNCs, with a disappearance of the induction period observed for neat AESO. The coating of AESO droplets with a thin layer of ChNCs was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation. SEM and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed the honeycomb organization of ChNCs inside the cured AESO-ChNC films. The mechanical, thermal, and optical properties of the nanocomposite films were studied by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), tensile testing, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and transmittance measurement, as a function of ChNC content. The inclusion of ChNCs is strongly beneficial to increase the stiffness and strength of the cured films, without compromising its optical transparency. The ability of ChNCs to act as an emulsifier for AESO in replacement of synthetic surfactants and their strong reinforcing effect in UV-cured films offer new opportunities to produce waterborne stable dispersions from AESO for application in biobased coatings and adhesives.

Synthesis of Amino Acid-derived Curing Reagents Containing a Disulfide Bond and Their Application to Anionic UV Curing Materials

Anionic UV curing has been applied for many kinds of industrial resins, because it overcomes technical problems in conventional radical and cationic UV curing. In this study, a cystine-based latent curing reagent was designed, and synthesized from l- and d-cysteine. The reagents showed not only good solubility toward organic media, but also good thermal decomposition behavior in the presence of basic species. Using them with a photo-base generator and an epoxy resin having a disulfide bond, UV-cured films of B-to-3B grade of pencil-hardness were fabricated successfully, after 10 J/cm2 of 365 nm-light irradiation and subsequent heating at 120-160°C for 30 min. Furthermore, two glass substrates were adhered by using this anionic UV curing system, and 1.6-3.7 MPa of shear stress was recorded in the photo-adhesion and re-adhesion experiments.

Functionalization of textiles by deposition of UV-cured organic thin layers with charge storage properties for electronic and environmental technology

Charge storing concepts receive an increasing interest in a view of the fast development of flexible textile electronics. The paper reports on initial charging capacity and charge conservation properties of technical textiles modified with UV-cured organic thin films. The results have been evaluated for three types of textile substrates and two types of monomers, an acrylic and allylic, with differing UV-absorption spectral characteristics. The most pronounced increase of the decay time from a few minutes to several hours has been found for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers coated with thin layers of UV-cured tetraallyloxyethane monomer, representing ca 1 wt-% add-on. The mechanisms behind the measured effects could be rationalized along the concepts of “grafting to” and “grafting from” polymerization, which defines the tethering density, layer thickness and the degree of cross-linking. The behavior proved to be stable both under normal conditions and under elevated temperature/humidity conditions. The reported results provide design strategies for thin organic coatings with regards to targeted applications.

Siloxane-modified waterborne UV-curable polyurethane acrylate coatings: Chemorheology and viscoelastic analyses

The effects of molecular weight of PDMS on chemorheology and viscoelastic behavior of siloxane modified waterborne UV-curable polyurethane acrylate dispersions (Si-WUPAs) were assessed via a photo rheometer as a versatile tool for in situ observation of chemical and mechanical characteristics during photopolymerization reaction. The roles of PDMS soft segment and its Mw on the rheological behavior were examined followed by exploring the flow curves of Si-WUPA system. The viscosity of Si-WUPA samples decreased with increasing shear rate, showing a pseudoplastic behavior for high-molecular-weight PDMS. However, the unmodified sample and specimens containing dual soft segments of PTMG and low Mw of PDMS revealed a Newtonian behavior. The curing process was accomplished using a photoinitiator to induce polymerization of acrylate double bonds at 40 °C and 60 °C, signifying a-three-step curing process. Enhanced drying time and gelation points were observed upon increasing Mw and content of PDMS. Correspondingly, the storage modulus diminished due to incomplete curing because of contribution of more flexible PDMS chains to reaction. Thermomechanical properties of UV-cured Si-WUPAs films were systematically studied via DMTA, revealing two different behaviors depending on the Mw of PDMS. Si-WPUAs systems showed enlarged width of tanδ peak in half of heights unconditionally, suggesting increased incompatibility and non-uniformity of the final film caused by micro-phase separation of PDMS chains. Mechanical properties were also inspected by tensile test confirming the DMTA results. Tensile isotherms of cured Si-WPUA specimens were remarkably sensitive to both Mw and the content of PDMS.

Synthesis and characterization of UV-curable waterborne Polyurethane–acrylate modified with hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane: UV-cured film with excellent water resistance

In this paper, a series of UV-curable waterborne polyurethane–acrylate (WPUA) emulsions were synthesized by using isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) as the hard segment, polybutylene adipate glycol (PBAG) and different dosages of hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (HTPDMS) as the soft segment, 2,2-dimethylolpropionic acid (DMPA) as hydrophilic chain extender, and pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA) as the blocking agents. The properties of the WPUA emulsions were then characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, Zeta potential analysis, dynamic light scattering, and UV-cured films were characterized through Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, UV–vis spectrophotometer, and thermogravimetric analysis, as well as by measuring the contact angle of water, testing the water absorption. The results indicated that with increasing HTPDMS content in the WPUA, the particle size of the emulsion was increased significantly, while the absolute value of Zeta potential was increased slightly. The resistance of WPUA cured film to water was increased. The ultimate water absorption declined from 11.12 % to 6.81 % and the equilibrium time of water absorption extended from 50 h to more than 100 h. When the HTPDMS content of WPUA was 10.0 wt%, the water contact angle of the cured film was the largest at 114°, which indicated that the surface of the cured film has been changed from a hydrophilic surface to a hydrophobic one. Thermogravimetric analysis results showed that the initial decomposition temperature of WPUA film gradually increased with adding of HTPDMS, performing better thermal stability.

Optimizing the immobilization conditions of β-galactosidase on UV-cured epoxy-based polymeric film using response surface methodology.

UV-cured epoxy-based polymeric film was prepared from glycidyl methacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, and poly(ethylene glycol) methylether acrylate. 2-hydroxy-2- methylpropiophenone was used as photo initiator. Covalent binding through epoxy groups was employed to immobilize β-galactosidase from Escherichia coli onto this film, and immobilization conditions were optimized by the response surface methodology. ATR-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was carried out to characterize the epoxy-based polymeric film. Immobilization yield of β-galactosidase on the material was calculated as 3.57mg/g and the highest enzyme activity for the immobilized enzyme recorded at pH 6.5°C and 60°C. The immobilized enzyme preserved 51% of its activity at the end of 12 runs. Free and immobilized enzyme hydrolyzed 163.8 and 172.3µM lactose from 1% lactose, respectively. Kinetic parameters of both free and immobilized β-galactosidase were also investigated, and Km values were determined to be 0.647 and 0.7263mM, respectively. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In our study we prepared a UV-cured epoxy-based polymeric film and optimized the immobilization conditions of β-galactosidase from Escherichia coli onto this polymeric film by using response surface methodology (RSM). For this purpose, three-level and three-factor Box-Behnken design, which is an independent, rotatable or nearly rotatable, quadratic design, was applied. Optimal levels of three variables, namely, the amount of enzyme, immobilization time, and pH were determined using Box-Behnken experimental design. Lactose hydrolysis studies were performed from milk and lactose samples using free and immobilized enzyme. In addition, kinetic parameters, storage stability, and re-usability of immobilized β-galactosidase were examined.

Synthesis and characterization of UV-curable cellulose acetate butyrate-based oligomers and their cotton fabric coatings

In order to improve the thermal stability and flexibility, cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) was modified with toluene diisocyanate–hydroxyethyl methacrylate (TDI–HEMA) adduct in various molar ratios. The obtained oligomer was characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. Gloss, cross-hatch, contact angle, and Taber abrasion tests were all used to investigate the film forming performance of the modified CAB oligomers on glass plates. The UV-cured free films of the synthesized oligomers were examined in terms of the mechanical tests. By using the synthesized CAB oligomers, coating formulations were prepared and applied onto cotton fabrics in order to make the cotton fabrics more durable in outdoor environments. The existence of the coating layer on the fabric surfaces was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The coated UV-cured fabrics were evaluated separately in terms of abrasion, thermal conductivity, and air and water vapor permeability properties. Results proved that the oligomer (50%-CAB) in which 50% of the hydroxyl groups of CAB were reacted with TDI–HEMA adduct showed the best mechanical properties with the highest tensile strength and modulus values. Considering the coated fabrics, the least deformation against abrasion, the highest air/water vapor permeability, and the best thermal conductivity were all recorded in 50%-CAB coated sample.

UV-curable cationic waterborne polyurethane from CO2-polyol with excellent water resistance

Though cationic waterborne polyurethane (CWPU) has been regarded as an important environmental friendly material, it is hampered by poor water resistance due to incorporation of excessive hydrophilic groups to assure the stability of water dispersion. Here UV-curing in combination with terminal hydrophilicity induced dispersion strategy was employed to prepare water-resistant CWPU from CO2-polyol which was an oligoethercarbonate diol from telomerization of propylene oxide and CO2. In this system, multiple vinyl ether side chains were incorporated on CWPU backbone using 3-allyloxy-1,2-propanediol as functional chain extender to achieve efficient UV curing, and a small amount of terminal hydrophilicity was designed to ensure the stable dispersion of CWPU. The typical UV-cured CWPU film reached water absorption equilibrium at 72 h, maintaining water absorption rate as low as Ca. 5.8% even immersed in water for 240 h. Moreover, compared with traditional polyester and polyether polyols from petroleum resources, UV-cured CWPU from CO2-polyol not only used partially sustainable raw material like CO2, but also provided excellent water resistance in corrosive media for a long time (tensile strength retention above 90% for 336 h) due to hydrolysis resistant structure like carbonate and ether units in CO2-polyol.

The Effect of Curing Temperature on the Morphology and Electro-Optical Properties of a Flexible UV-Cured Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC)

In this work, the experimental data on flexible PDLC films at the industrial scale and the effect of cure temperature (Tc) on the morphology and electro-optical properties of a UV-cured PDLC system via polymer-induced phase separation (PIPS) method were studied. Under constant UV radiation intebsity and thickness, the morphological parameters such as dimension, number density, and volume fraction of the phase-separated liquid crystal droplets as well as the optical transmissions and switching voltages as a function of cure temperature were determined. The effect of cure temperature on the morphology and electro-optical properties of UV-cured PDLC films were analyzed.

Effect of UV-Curable Inkjet Printing Parameters on Physical, Low-Stress Mechanical, and Aesthetic Properties of Polypropylene Knitted Fabrics

As the use of textile polypropylene (PP) fibers becomes more common in commercial textiles and sportswear, the investigation of the effects of UV-curable ink on the heat-sensitive PP knitted fabrics is crucial to optimize functional clothing design. This study investigated the effects of UV-curable ink on the heat-sensitive PP knitted fabrics when the ink was cured using UV light at room temperature, to avoid degradation of the PP fabric by high temperature, and provided an alternative coloring method for PP fabric used in sportswear. The influences of printing parameters such as the printing distance, number of overprints, and color of ink on fabrics as well as aesthetic, physical, and low-stress mechanical properties in terms of tensile, bending, shearing, surface, and compression were systematically investigated. The results indicated that the physical properties and low-stress mechanical properties of PP fabrics printed with UV-curable ink were significantly affected by the number of overprints and the color of the prints, whereas the color appearance was affected mainly by the number of overprints and the printing distance. In terms of the fabric’s hand value, only 2HB and 2HG5 were significantly affected by the number of overprints and the color of the prints, with the prediction rate exceeding 40 % among the low-stress mechanical properties. The fabric’s hand value was not significantly affected by the thin UV-cured ink film when compared with the fabric itself. Fabric printed in a color with the greatest lightness and the fewest overprints had the lowest fabric weight, thickness, and color difference (ΔE) towards the reference color, in addition to better bending recovery and resilience properties. The new knowledge from this study can provide an alternative coloring method for PP knitted fabric to increase the design variety available to textile designers who use PP fabric. The results from this study contribute to the textile and knitwear design industry.

Dielectric Elastomers UV-Cured from Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Solution in Vinyl Acetate.

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) has been extensively used as an electroactive polymer material because it exhibits not only excellent moldability but also mechanical properties sufficient enough for electroactive performance despite low dielectric permittivity. Its low dielectric property is due to its molecular non-polarity. Here, we introduce a polar group into a PDMS elastomer by using vinyl acetate (VAc) as a crosslinker to improve the dielectric permittivity. We synthesized a high-molecular weight PDMS copolymer containing vinyl groups, namely poly(dimethylsiloxane-co-methylvinylsiloxane) (VPDMS), and prepared several of the VPDMS solutions in VAc. We obtained transparent PDMS films by UV curing of the solution layers. Electromechanical actuation-related physical properties of one of the UV-cured films were almost equivalent to or superior to those of platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation-cured PDMS films. In addition, saponification of the UV-cured film significantly improved the electrical and mechanical properties (ɛ′ ~ 44.1 pF/m at 10 kHz, E ~ 350 kPa, ɛ ~ 320%). The chemical introduction of VAc into PDMS main chains followed by saponification would offer an efficacious method of enhancing the electroactive properties of PDMS elastomers.

Hot Embossing of Micro-Pyramids into Thermoset Thiol-Ene Film.

This paper presents the first attempt to texturize a fully crosslinked thermoset shape memory polymer using a hot embossing technique. UV-cured thiol-ene films were successfully embossed with anisotropically-etched Si (100) stamps at a temperature of 100 °C, which is about 50 °C above the glass transition temperature of the polymer. The low storage modulus of the polymer in a rubbery state allowed us to permanently emboss random micro-pyramidal patterns onto the surface of the film with high fidelity by applying 30 MPa pressure for 1 h. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigation showed perfect replication of the stamp micropattern with typical height of the largest inverted pyramids close to 0.7 µm and lateral dimensions in the range of 1–2 µm. Changes in surface roughness parameters of the embossed thiol-ene films after annealing them at 100 °C for 1 h or storing for 2 months in air at standard room conditions were negligible. The achieved results open new perspectives for the simple and inexpensive hot embossing technique to be applied for the micropatterning of prepolymerized thermoset shape memory films as an alternative to micropatterning using UV casting.

Polymerizable Hydrophobically Modified Ethoxylated Urethane Acrylate Polymer: Synthesis and Viscoelastic Behavior in Aqueous Systems

Hydrophobically modified ethoxylated urethanes (HEURs) comprising hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) backbone and hydrophobic end groups are widely applied as rheological additives to regulate the viscoelastic behavior of waterborne systems such as coatings and inks. However, the conventional HEURs are usually nonreactive and remain free in final films, which may bring some defects and damages to the final cured films during the service time. An appealing way to improve filming properties may be to design reactive HEURs, which can participate in the post-crosslinking reactions with other components in formula during the film curing. In this work, a polymerizable acrylic-type HEUR (acrylic-HEUR) end-functionalized by the reactive methacrylate group and hydrophobic octadecyl tail is reported. The typical free radical polymerization feature of acrylic-HEUR based on the highly reactive methacrylate group is carefully clarified by dynamic light scattering, in situ nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), and rheological measurements. The excellent thickening performance of acrylic-HEUR in waterborne UV emulsions and its effective copolymerization reactivity with the UV-curable matrix resin are demonstrated by in situ rheological measurements under UV irradiation in detail. Compared to conventional nonreactive HEURs, the copolymerization reactivity of acrylic-HEUR may make it especially suitable for applications in waterborne UV coatings to avoid its migration from final UV-cured films. This work may not only open a new perspective for the fabrication of HEUR polymers with high chemical reactivity but also promise the potential of polymerizable HEURs as superior associative thickeners in industry.

Synthesis and photo-curing properties of polyurethane acrylates with difunctional acrylate

Although a photo curing is more efficient in terms of time, solvent, and cost than a thermal one, photo-curable coatings require low viscosity and fast curing speed due to workability and time saving, respectively. A high viscous oligomer with multi-acryl groups is one of main components to determine its physical property after curing and then viscosity of coatings is controlled by adding a diluent. The polyurethane acrylates were newly synthesized by using ethylene diamine as a chain extender in poly(ε-caprolactone) polyol, dicyclohexylmethane 4,4′-diisocyanate, and isocyanato acrylate (ICA) containing diacrylate and diisocyanate groups. IR spectra were used to identify the synthesis and photo curing process. The mechanical properties of the cured films were analyzed by UTM. The results showed that the tensile strength of the UV-cured films was depended on the ICA content in the polyurethane acrylates.

A novel multi-functional bio-based reactive diluent derived from cardanol for high bio-content UV-curable coatings application

A cardanol-based UV-curable reactive diluent (CACAA) was synthesized via two facile acrylation reactions and then copolymerized with acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) under UV irradiation to prepare cured films with high bio-based content. For comparison, petroleum-based reactive diluents, including pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA) and bisphenol-A ethoxylated (2) diacrylate (BPAEODA), were also used to copolymerize with AESO under UV irradiation. The characterizations of 1H NMR and FT-IR were implemented to confirm the chemical structure of CACAA. The bio-based content and rheological behavior of the coating solutions with different diluents were compared. Besides, the gel content, volume shrinkage and solvent absorption of the UV-cured films were measured. Furthermore, the dynamic mechanical properties (via DMA), thermal stability (via TGA), mechanical properties (via tensile test) and coating properties (such as coating hardness, solvent resistance, and glossiness) of the UV-cured films were studied. Results revealed that the addition of CACAA could significantly improve the gel content, glass transition temperature, tensile strength and solvent resistance of the cured AESO films. Besides, CACAA exhibited better dilution effect and lower volume shrinkage than petroleum-based diluents (PETA and BPAEODA). Therefore, the cardanol-based UV-curable reactive diluent (CACAA) shows great potential to substitute petroleum-based diluents to prepare low-viscosity and low-shrinkage UV-curable coatings with high bio-based content. Also, the novel method proposed in this study provides a guideline to the preparation of highly bio-based coatings, and it will facilitate the development of bio-based polymers.

UV-Curable Surface-Attached Antimicrobial Polymeric Onium Coatings: Designing Effective, Solvent-Resistant Coatings for Plastic Surfaces.

Contact-active ammonium and phosphonium antimicrobial polymeric coatings grafted to plastic surfaces by UV treatment are described. Robust, antimicrobial styrenic polymeric scaffolds copolymerized with a low loading of UV-curable benzophenone were prepared by nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP). Similar reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT)-controlled radical polymerizations were attempted for comparison. These random styrenics were further functionalized into partially quaternarized water-soluble cationic polymers. UV-cured polymeric thin film coatings possessing cationic groups with n-alkyl substituents of n ≤ 2 demonstrate antimicrobial properties against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, while species containing bulkier or longer substituents were biologically inactive. The UV-cured cationic antimicrobial polymeric onium thin films also demonstrate enhanced abrasion and chemical resistance.