Investigation of Nanomechanical and Aging Properties of Scratch-Resistant Coatings on Polycarbonate through Nanoindentation

Abstract:

Polycarbonate has been widely used in optical and aeronautic areas due to its low weight, transparency and high impact strength. The deposition of hard, transparent and scratch-resistant coatings on polycarbonate can significantly improve the surface mechanical behavior while capitalizing on their desirable bulk characteristics. In this work, nanomechanical properties of transparent scratch-resistant coating on polycarbonate, including nanoindentation and nanoscratch behaviors, were detailed investigated. The significant enhancement of nanomechanical response, containing hardness elastic modulus and friction-resistance, could be obtained after the deposition of the scratch-resistant coating. The results of the systematic investigation of indentation and scratch performance at the nanoscale reveal their significant differences between the surface region and bulk of coatings. Furthermore, the aging properties of scratch-resistant coatings under hygrothermal environment (65°C water for different time) can be followed-up and quantitatively detected in terms of hardness and maximum loading depth changing by nanoindentation technique, which prove to be a new and available method to study aging behavior of thin coatings.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 704)
• Pages: 220-228
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.704.220
• Online since: June 2013
• Authors: Xuan Zhang, Yan Li Zhong, Xiao Wen Zhang, Lei Li, Xiao Yu Li, Yue Yan
• Keywords: Aging Properties, Nanoindentation, Nanomechanical Properties, Scratch-Resistant Coatings

References

[1] M. Dinelli, E. Fabbri, F. Bondioli, TiO2-SiO2 hard coating on polycarbonate substrate by microwave assisted Sol–Gel technique, J. Sol-Gel. Sci. Technol. 58 (2011) 463-469.

DOI: 10.1007/s10971-011-2413-z

[2] Y.L.W. Linda, E. Chwa, Z. Chen, X.T. Zeng, A study towards improving mechanical properties of Sol–Gel coatings for polycarbonate, Thin. Solid. Films. 516 (2008) 1056-1062.

DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2007.06.149

[3] J.H. Lee, J.S. Cho, S.K. Koh, D. Kim, Improvement of adhesion between plastic substrates and antireflection layers by ion-assisted reaction, Thin. Solid. Films. 449 (2003) 147-151.

DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2003.08.060

[4] S.K. Lee, K.K. Oh, S.Y. Park, J.S. Kim, H. Kim, Scratch resistance and oxygen barrier properties of acrylate-based hybrid coatings on polycarbonate substrate, Korean J. Chem. Eng. 26 (2009) 1550-1555.

DOI: 10.1007/s11814-009-0263-y

[5] D.K. Hwang, J.H. Moon, Y.G. Shul, K.T. Jung, D.H. Kim, D.W. Lee, Scratch resistant and transparent UV protective coating on polycarbonate, J. Sol-Gel. Sci. Technol. 26 (2003) 783-787.

DOI: 10.1023/a:1020774927773

[6] J.D. Masso, Evaluation of coating for plastic ophthalmic lenses, SPIE-Proc. 601 (1985) 60-69.

[7] J.M. Urreaga, M.C. Matias, V. Lorenzo, M.U. Orden, Abrasion resistance in the Tumble test of Sol–Gel hybrid coatings for ophthalmic plastic lenses, Mater Lett. 45 (2000) 293-297.

DOI: 10.1016/s0167-577x(00)00120-8

[8] M.E.L. Wouters, D.P. Wolfs, M.C. Linde, J.H.P. Hovens, A.H.A. Tinnemans, Transparent UV curable antistatic hybrid coatings on polycarbonate prepared by the Sol-Gel method, Prog. Org. Coat. 51 (2004) 312-320.

DOI: 10.1016/j.porgcoat.2004.07.020

[9] Zhang, H, Zhang, H, Tang, LH, Zhou, LY, Eger, C, Zhang, Z, "Comparative Study on the Optical, Surface Mechanical and Wear Resistant Properties of Transparent Coatings Filled with Pyrogenic and Colloidal Silica Nanoparticles." Compos. Sci. Technol., 71 (4) 471-479 (2011)

DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2010.12.022

[10] Malzbender, J, de With, G, "The Use of the Indentation Loading Curve to Detect Fracture of Coatings." Surf. Coat. Technol., 137 (1) 72-76 (2001)

DOI: 10.1016/s0257-8972(00)01091-4

[11] Charitidis, C, Laskarakis, A, Kassavetis, S, Gravalidis, C, Logothetidis, S, "Optical and Nanomechanical Study of Anti-Scratch Layers on Polycarbonate Lenses." Superlattices Microstruct., 36 (1-3) 171-179 (2004)

DOI: 10.1016/j.spmi.2004.08.015

[12] Wang, ZZ, Gua, P, Zhang, Z, "Indentation and Scratch Behavior of Nano-SiO2/polycarbonate Composite Coating at the Micro/nano-scale." Wear, 269 (1-2) 21-25 (2010)

DOI: 10.1016/j.wear.2010.03.003

[13] Liu, D, Wu, C, "Adhesion Enhancement of Hard Coatings Deposited on Flexible Plastic Substrates Using an Interfacial Buffer Layer." J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., 43 (17) 301-175310 (2010)

DOI: 10.1088/0022-3727/43/17/175301

[14] Cakmak, UD, Schöberl, T, Major, Z, "Nanoindentation of polymers." Meccanica, 47 (2) 707-718 (2012)

DOI: 10.1007/s11012-011-9481-6

[15] Zhou, T, Nie, P, Lv, HP, Chen, QL, "Assessment of Elastic Properties of Coatings by Three-point Bending and Nanoindentation." J. Coat. Technol. Res., 8 (3) 355-361 (2011)

DOI: 10.1007/s11998-010-9313-y

[16] Yang, XF, Vang, C, Tallman, DE, Bierwagen, GP, Croll, SG, Rohlik, S, "Weathering Degradation of a Polyurethane Coating." Polym. Degrad. Stabil., 74 (2) 341-351 (2001)

DOI: 10.1016/s0141-3910(01)00166-5

[17] XF, Li, J, Croll, SG, Tallman, DE, Bierwagen, GP, "Degradation of Low Gloss Polyurethane Aircraft Coatings Under UV and Prohesion Alternating Exposures." Polym. Degrad. Stabil., 80 (1) 51-58 (2003)

DOI: 10.1016/s0141-3910(02)00382-8

[18] Y, Sellitti, C, Anderson, JM, Hiltner, A, Lodoen, GA, Payet, CR, "An FTIR-attenuated Total Reflectance Investigation of in Vivo Poly(ether urethane) Degradation." J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 46 201-211 (1992)

DOI: 10.1002/app.1992.070460202

[19] Hong, SG, "The Thermal-oxidative Degradation of an Epoxy Adhesive on Metal Substrates: XPS and RAIR Analyses." Polym. Degrad. Stab., 48 (2) 211-218 (1995)

DOI: 10.1016/0141-3910(95)00042-k

[20] Yadav, AP, Nishikata, A, Tsuru, T, "Electrochemical Impedance Study on Galvanized Steel Corrosion under Cyclic Wet-dry Conditions--Influence of Time of Wetness." Corrosion Science., 46 (1) 169-181 (2004)

DOI: 10.1016/s0010-938x(03)00130-6

[21] Yari, H, Moradian, S, Tahmasebi, N, Arefmanesh, M, "The Effect of Weathering on Tribological Properties of an Acrylic Melamine Automotive Nanocomposite." Tribol Lett., 46 (2) 123-130 (2012)

DOI: 10.1007/s11249-012-9928-5

[22] Briscoe, BJ, Fiori, L, Pelillo, E, "Nano-indentation of Polymeric Surfaces." J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 31 (19) 2395-2405 (1998)

DOI: 10.1088/0022-3727/31/19/006

[23] Oliver, WC, Pharr, GM, "An Improved Technique for Determining Hardness and Elastic Modulus using Load and Displacement Sensing Indentation Experiments." J. Mater. Res., 6 (7) 1564-1583 (1992)

DOI: 10.1557/jmr.1992.1564

[24] Malzbender, J, Den, Toonder, JMJ, Balkeneddea, AR, De With, G, "Measuring Mechanical Propertie of Coating: a Methodology Applied to Nano-particle-filled Sol-Gel Coating on Glass." Mater. Sci. Eng. R., 36 (2) 47-103 (2002)

DOI: 10.1016/s0927-796x(01)00040-7