Study of the effect of hyperbranched polyols on cationic UV curable coating properties

Cycloaliphatic epoxide‐based cationic UV curable coatings containing three different hyperbranched polyols (HBPs) were systematically formulated and characterized. Polyether polyols were found to deter epoxide conversion under low UV intensity. For high UV intensity, the cycloaliphatic epoxide conversion increased with polyol content. Coatings with HBPs had better flexibility and solvent resistance than those containing a reference triol. Compared to the triol and polyester HBPs, polyether HBPs imparted lower Tg and hardness but a better flexibilizing effect to the coatings. At higher R values, the coating solvent resistance decreased except for those with one polyether HBP. A two‐peak phenomenon was discovered in the residual thermal reaction heat curve after photoDSC experiments. These two peaks were found to be related to the thermal relaxation behavior of the photocured inhomogeneous film, and the reactivation and reaction of the ‘trapped living cationic species’. The capability of the polyol to lower the high‐temperature‐peak temperature corresponded well with the flexibilizing ability.