Highly efficient antifogging and frost-resisting acrylic coatings from one-step thermal curing

Herein, we report an acrylic coating with both antifogging and frost-resisting performances via a one-step thermally initiated crosslinking method. This work adopted a facile and easily controlled process to prepare cross-linked acrylic polymer coatings. Among those, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPS) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were used as the hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomers, respectively, to endow the coating with delicate hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance. Meanwhile, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and 3-trimethoxysilylpropyl methacrylate (TMSMA), as the cross-linkers, were applied to adjust the cross-linking density as well as to improve adhesion toward the substrate. The influences of the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance and the cross-linking density on the antifogging/frost-resisting performances were explored. Moreover, the water absorption capacity of the coating was investigated by time-depended water contact angle changes to further examine the origin of the antifogging/frost-resisting performances. Due to its simplicity and scalable characteristics, we believe this type of coating may find broad applications where both antifogging and frost-resisting properties are required.