EPOXY COATINGS BASED ON NANOTECHNOLOGY BY USING ORGANIC INORGANIC HYBRID POLYMERS

Organic/inorganic hybrid polymers (HP) having properties similar to hyperbranched polymers have been prepared in our laboratory. These may be applied e.g. as additives for polymer products like thermoset plastics and in lacquers and other types of coatings for surface protection. Used in appropriate amounts and with convenient particle size, such hybrid polymers may significantly improve the properties of paint formulations like wear resistance/scratch resistance and/or weather resistance. It is shown in this paper that epoxy formulations for (top coat) industrial applications modified by reactive HP additives showed improved mechanical properties and UV resistance of various test species with respect to unmodified references. Thus, epoxy formulations are showing various material properties which are comparable to those of polyurethanes derived from aromatic isocyanates and used in this field of flooring application.