Fabrication of photocurable liquid-like easy-cleaning coatings based on a polydimethylsiloxane-modified silicone resin

Smooth liquid-like surfaces formed by flexible polymer brushes or alkyl monolayers exhibit great potential as easy-cleaning coatings. However, solvent-free, and easily curable coating formulations that are environmentally-friendly, omniphobic, low-cost, and durable liquid-like surfaces are still lacking. This paper reports the synthesis of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) modified silicone resin additive for the preparation of easy-cleaning photocurable liquid-like coatings. A highly-branched silicone resin (MAP) containing PDMS and acrylate groups was synthesized by acid hydrolysis condensation and then added to polyurethane acrylate (PUA) to prepare UV-curable coatings. The coatings with only 1 wt% MAP addition exhibited hydrophobicity and oleophobicity, as well as dust and graffiti resistance due to their low surface tension and the self-migration of PDMS chains in the MAP resin. Meanwhile, the coating surface was smooth, highly transparent, and showed excellent abrasion resistance because the highly-branched structure of MAP was conjugated with many acrylate groups. This enhanced the compatibility of the MAP resin with PUA and strengthened the cross-link density of the coating. Consequently, the photocurable easy-cleaning coating provides a facile strategy for preparing environmentally friendly and mechanically robust anti-smudge coatings.