Transparency- and Repellency-Enhanced Acrylic-Based Binder for Stimuli-Responsive Road Paint Safety Improvement...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Road signs require durable, transparent coatings resistant to yellowing.
• Acrylic polymers are widely used but can suffer from yellowing due to aromatic structures and photo-degradation.

Purpose of the Study:

• Develop an acrylic polymer binder for road signs with improved transparency and reduced yellowing.
• Investigate the impact of silicone-based monomers on binder properties.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of acrylic polymer binders using various acrylic monomers, acrylates, and photoinitiators.
• Incorporation of amorphous acrylic monomers and silicone-based monomers (3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate - TMSPMA).
• Evaluation of optical properties, yellowing resistance, mechanical strength, and water resistance.

Main Results:

• Excluding aromatic rings reduced yellowing.
• Optimized monomer ratios and crosslinking agents improved optical properties.
• 15 wt% TMSPMA addition significantly enhanced water repellency and mechanical properties, alongside improved transparency and shear strength.

Conclusions:

• A novel acrylic polymer binder with excellent transparency, yellowing resistance, and mechanical properties was successfully synthesized.
• The developed binder is suitable for applications in the coating and adhesive industries, particularly for road signs.