I am currently developing a high hardness coating for PET and the problem now is that the coating can be very hard (pencil hardness 6H), but it is so brittle that it cracks easily when bent.
The main materials I use are urethane acrylate and nano silica sol, and The thickness of UV-cured coating is about 20um. Is there any way to maintain the hardness of the coating while increasing its flexibility ?
Can you give me some advices ?
thank you a lot !
The hardness can be checked by A Shore D Durometer
it is a small hand-held device that is used to measure the indention hardness of various materials like hard rubber, plastics, soft metals, and epoxies and other coating materials.
Hardness can be increased by following without effecting the flexibility
1. Increase the power to increase temperature to melt the powder. 2. Decrease gas to increase oxidation. 3. Increase coating density. 4. Change gun to part distance.
One way to increase the hardness of a coating without affecting its flexibility is to use a hybrid coating with two or more components. By combining harder and softer materials, it is possible to create a coating that is harder and more durable while still maintaining its flexibility. Additionally, solid-solution strengthening, nanostructure formation, and surface modification can also be used to improve the hardness and durability of coatings without sacrificing their flexibility.
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