RECENT ADVANCES IN UV-CURABLE FUNCTIONAL COATINGS

This chapter reviews the very recent advances achieved over the last three years by exploiting photo-induced polymerization processes for the obtainment of functional (and often nanostructured) coatings. In fact, the high fastness of the polymerization method, together with the low energy consumption and the possibility of designing and tailoring the UV-curable formulations, allows producing smart functional coatings. These latter exhibit the peculiar features required for selected advanced applications. In particular, it is possible to obtain superhydrophobic, thermally and/or electrically conductive, anti-corrosion (nano)coatings. Furthermore, photo-induced polymerization allows designing nanostructured thin films with high barrier properties toward different gases, as well as nanocoatings for biomedical applications. This surface approach possesses remarkable advantages, as it is able to provide any underlying substrate with the desired functional properties, without changing the structure and behavior of the bulk.