UV-absorbing nanoparticles (NPs) and microparticles (MPs) were prepared by emulsion and dispersion copolymerization of the vinylic monomer 2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-methacryloxyethylphenyl)-2H-benzotriazole (Norbloc (NB)) with the crosslinking monomer divinylbenzene. The effect of the initiator concentration on the size and size distribution of the polyNB (PNB) particles was elucidated. Thin coatings of the formed PNB NPs or MPs of 19 ± 2 and 200 ± 25 nm dry diameter, respectively, onto polypropylene (PP) films were then prepared and characterized. Increasing the concentration or thickness of the PNB NP or MP thin coatings on the PP films decreased their UV transmittance, up to complete UV blocking with just 2 μm of a 4% NP coating. Migration of the UV-absorbing agents from the coated PP films was not observed during three years of storage at room temperature, offering a unique solution to current problems of migration of UV-absorbing additives. The thin coatings obtained by the PNB NPs were superior to those of the PNB MPs, in that no UV transmittance or loss of optical properties of the PP films were observed for the NP coatings, while the coatings produced by the PNB MPs resulted in damaged optical properties, particularly increasing the haze, and achieved incomplete UV blocking.
Keywords: UV absorbers; microparticles; nanoparticles; polymer additives; polypropylene; thin coatings.