Hybrid Organic/Inorganic UV‐Cured Acrylic Films with Hydrophobic Surface Properties

Hybrid organic/inorganic acrylic nanostructured films were prepared by a UV/thermal dual‐curing process. The role of a fluorinated hydroxyl acrylate monomer (AF) as coupling agent was investigated. Increased T_g values and modulus of the dual‐cured films were achieved by increasing the TEOS inorganic precursor. The coupling agent deeply modified the surface properties of the cured films: the formation of hybrid films characterized by high hydrophobicity together with an increase on surface hardness was achieved. TEM analysis clearly evidenced the reducing of the nanosize dimensions of the inorganic silica domains by increasing the coupling agent content in the photocurable formulation.