Glass lap joints with UV-cured adhesives: Use of a perfluoropolyether methacrylic resin in the presence of an acrylic silane coupling agent

In this work the adhesion to glass of a UV-curable resin with a high fluorine content, namely a methacrylic resin based on perfluoropolyether (PFPE) chains, was studied. In particular, focus was on how the presence of a silane coupling agent, with an acrylate functional group, used either for functionalizing the glass substrates or as an additive to the resin formulations, influenced such adhesion. The adhesive bond strength in shear of lap joints and their resistance to a humid environment and water were assessed. The silane was found to enhance the adhesive strength of the PFPE resin joints, and the silanization of glass proved to be more efficient than the addition of the additive into the formulations. The results were compared to those obtained with a fluorine free acrylic resin. Although the adhesion strength of the PFPE resin was lower compared to that of the fluorine free resin, it showed a better resistance to water as the hydrophobicity of the PFPE chains hindered the transport of water molecules at the resin/glass interface.