Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Materials Today Communications journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/mtcomm The role of organic and inorganic UV-absorbents on photopolymerization and mechanical properties of acrylate-urethane coating Thien Vuong Nguyen a,b, *, Phuong Nguyen -Tri c , Sohrab Azizi d , Tran Chien Dang e , Duc Minh Hoang f , Thu Ha Hoang g , Thi Linh Nguyen h , Thuy Thi Le Bui h , Viet Hung Dang i , Ngọc Linh Nguyen j , The Tam Le k , Thi Ngoc Linh Nguyen l , Quoc Trung Vu m , Dai Lam Tran a,b , Thi My Linh Dang b , Le Trong Lu a,b a Graduate University of Science and Technology, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam b Institute for Tropical Technology, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam c Département De Chimie, Biochimie Et Physique, Université Du Québec à Trois-Rivieres, Québec, Canada d Department of Automation Production, École De Technologie Supérieure, University of Quebec, Canada e Institute of Theorical and Applied Research (ITAR), Duy Tan University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam f Ha Noi -Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, 1 Hoang Minh Giam, Cau Giay, Ha Noi, Vietnam g University of Education - Vietnam National University, 144 Xuan Thuy, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam h Oil Refinery and Petrochemmistry Department, Faculty of Oil and Gas, Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, 18 Vien, Duc Thang, Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi, Vietnam i Polymer Composite and Paper Center, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, 01 Dai Co Viet, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi, Vietnam j Faculty of Training Bachelor of Pactice, Thanh Do University –Kim Chung, Hoa Duc, Ha Noi, Vietnam k Vinh University, 182 Le Duan, Vinh Nghe An, Vietnam l Thai Nguyen University of Sciences, Tan Thinh Ward, Thai Nguyen City, Vietnam m Faculty of Chemistry, Hanoi National University of Education, 136 Xuan Thuy, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam ARTICLE INFO Keywords: UV curable acrylate urethane resin UV absorbents UV crosslinking Mechanical properties ABSTRACT In this study, the kinetic of photopolymerization reaction, mechanical properties and the morphology of UV curable acrylate urethane coating were investigated. Coatings consisting of 2 wt.% of tinuvin 384, R-TiO 2 , A- TiO 2 and ZnO were fabricated. Loading of 2 wt.% of Tinuvin 384 organic UV absorbent was found to decrease the conversion of acrylate double bonds, gel fraction, relative hardness and abrasion resistance of the coating. R- TiO 2 nanoparticles showed insignificant impact on the conversion of acrylate double bonds but improved me- chanical properties of the coating. A-TiO 2 and ZnO enhanced both the conversion of acrylate double bonds and mechanical properties of the coatings. A mechanism of photopolymerization reaction of UV-curable acrylate urethane coating in the presence of inorganic UV absorbents has proposed. Nanoparticles were dispersed well in a polymer matrix, with a size of about 50−200 nm. 1. Introduction Acrylate resins are widely used in exterior and interior coating ap- plications thanks to high transparency, remarkable glossiness and chemicals, and weathering resistance [1–4]. However, the acrylate- based-solvent resins used for coatings suffer from the emitting a large amount of toxic organic solvents in which limit its application due to the environmental issues. Therefore, water-based resins and UV-curing technique have been addressed as an environmental-friendly solution [4–10]. Several efforts have been performed to improve the drawbacks of the acrylate resins. For example, the coating of acrylate resin by fluorine groups by means of solvent polymerization resulted in a higher hydrophobicity, chemical resistance, glass transition temperature and thermal stability [11]. Inorganic fillers such as SiO 2 , TiO 2 , ZnO, ZrO 2 , Ag, and their hybrid materials were suggested as a superior additive to improve not only the mechanical, thermal [12–15], UV-shielding [16], weathering and anti-corrosion properties [17,18] but also provided remarkable antibacterial and self-cleaning properties [19–22]. Outdoor coatings degrade under some weathering circumstances such as ultraviolet radiation, heat, oxygen, and moisturized condition in which this degradation depends on the nature, structure and the com- ponents of the coating [23,24]. The weathering stability of the coating can be improved by adding organic and inorganic UV-absorbents into the coatings. For example, the addition of Tinuvin 384 and Tinuvin 292 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2019.100780 Received 2 August 2019; Received in revised form 16 November 2019; Accepted 17 November 2019 ⁎ Corresponding author at: Institute for Tropical Technology, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam E-mail address: vuongvast@gmail.com (T.V. Nguyen). Materials Today Communications 22 (2020) 100780 Available online 18 November 2019 2352-4928/ © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. T