Fog resistant coatings

Abstract

A coating composition may include one or more radiation-curable resins having reactive groups in a hydrophilic region, a reactive surfactant comprising a reactive moiety; and a photoinitiator, wherein, upon the exposure of the photoinitiator to light energy, the one or more radiation-curable resins are cured to form a hydrophilic network with the reactive surfactant being bound to the network by binding of the reactive moiety of the surfactant to the reactive groups of the one or more radiation-curable resins. The cured coatings provide long lasting, washable, anti-fog properties.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cured coating comprising:
 a hydrophilic network comprising one or more radiation cured acrylates having hydrophilic regions comprising one or more hydrophilic alkoxylate groups, the one or more hydrophilic alkoxylate groups having the formula—((CH2) n O—) m —, where n can be equal or greater than 1 and equal or less than 3 (1≤n≤3) and m can be equal or greater than 1 and equal or less than 10 (1≤m≤10); and   a reactive surfactant comprising a reactive moiety, wherein the reactive surfactant is bound to the network by binding of the reactive moiety of the surfactant to one or more acrylate groups in the hydrophilic regions of the one or more radiation cured acrylates.   
     
     
         2 . The coating of  claim 1  further comprising metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed throughout the network. 
     
     
         3 . The coating of  claim 2  wherein the coating is a transparent, abrasion-resistant, washable anti-fog coating when applied to a substrate. 
     
     
         4 . An article comprising: a substrate and a transparent, washable anti-fog coating applied onto the substrate, wherein the coating comprises:
 a hydrophilic network comprising one or more radiation cured acrylates having hydrophilic regions comprising one or more hydrophilic alkoxylate groups, the one or more hydrophilic alkoxylate groups having the formula—((CH2) n O—) m —, where n can be equal or greater than 1 and equal or less than 3 (1≤n≤3) and m can be equal or greater than 1 and equal or less than 10 (1≤m≤10); and   a reactive surfactant comprising a reactive moiety, wherein the reactive surfactant is bound to the network by binding of the reactive moiety of the surfactant to one or more acrylate groups in the hydrophilic regions of the one or more radiation cured acrylates.   
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 2  wherein the coating further comprising metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed throughout the network.