UV-curable waterborne unsaturated polyesters for wood coatings were prepared. The effects of different polyols and acids on the properties of the UV-curable waterborne unsaturated polyesters were investigated. Several different unsaturated polyester prepolymers were prepared from three different polyols [ethylene glycol (EG), diethylene glycol (DEG), and propylene glycol (PG)] and three different acids [tetrahydrophthalic anhydride (THPAn), terephthalic acid (TPA), and trimellic anhydride (TMAn)]. UV-curable coating materials were formulated from the prepolymers and 2-hydroxy-2-methylphenyolpropane-1-one as a photoinitiator with distilled water as a diluent. Trimethylolpropane diallyl ether was used as an air inhibitor of cure. The dynamic mechanical studies showed the properties of those unsaturated polyesters were well correlated with their glass transition temperature behaviors. It was found that the unsaturated polyester prepared with 60/40 (mol %) TMAn/THPAn and the equimolar mixture of EG, DEG, and PG showed balanced coating properties such as good tensile properties and weatherability, as well as proper viscosity (ca. 2500 cps) when using distilled water as a diluent.

SYNOPSISUV-curable polyurethane acrylates for poly(viny1 chloride) (PVC) floor coating were prepared using nonyellowing polyisocyanates. The effects of the chemical structure of the polyisocyanates and hydroxyacrylates, and the compositions of the prepolymer/diluent on the properties of the UV-curable polyurethane acrylates were investigated. Several different urethane acrylate prepolymers from four different polyisocyanates, isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) adduct, hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) adduct, HDI biuret, and HDI isocyanurate, and two different hydroxyacrylates, hydroxypropyl acrylate (HPA), polycaprolactone modified hydroxyethylhexylacryylate (PCMHEA). UV-curable coating materials were formulated from the prepolymers and 1-hydroxycyclohexylphenyl ketone as a photoinitiator with polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) as a diluent. The polyurethane acrylates prepared with HDI isocyanurate and the equimolar mixture of HPA and PCMHEA showed balanced coating properties such as tensile properties, hardness, weatherability, and good adhesion. The dynamic mechanical studies showed the properties of those polyurethane acrylates were well correlated with their glass transition temperature behaviors. It was also found that the adhesion was best as a PVC floor coating with the appropriate viscosity (below 150 P a t 25OC) when 35% PEGDA as a diluent was used.