Compositions containing multifunctional nanoparticles

1. An uncured composition comprising:

(i) a fluoroelastomer having at least one cure site;

(ii) a multiolefinic crosslinker;

(iii) a free radical polymerization initiator; and

(iv) a nanosilica composite comprising:

a plurality of nanosilica particles which have been reacted with a silicon compound having at least one vinyl group, said silicon compound selected from the group consisting of: disilazanes, a first silane having a hydrolysable functional group, and a hydrolysis product or a hydrolysis and condensation product of the first silane, said hydrolysis product or hydrolysis and condensation product formed by reacting the first silane with a nanosilicon oxide colloid containing greater than 0% water; and said nanosilica particles further having been reacted with a second silane having at least one acryloyloxy or methacryloyloxy functional group and a hydrolyzable functional group bonded to the silicon of the second silane, and at least one of a hydrolysis product or hydrolysis and condensation product of the second silane; wherein the hydrolysis product or hydrolysis and condensation product is formed by contacting the second silane, in the presence of a catalyst, with from about 1 to about 15 moles of water per mole of hydrolyzable functional group bonded to the silicon of the second silane.

2. An uncured composition comprising:

(i) a fluoroelastomer having at least one cure site;

(ii) a multiolefinic crosslinker;

(iii) a free radical polymerization initiator; and

(iv) a nanosilica composite comprising:

a plurality of nanosilica particles which have been reacted with a silicon compound having at least one vinyl group, said silicon compound selected from the group consisting of: disilazanes, a first silane having a hydrolysable functional group, and a hydrolysis product or a hydrolysis and condensation product of the first silane, wherein the hydrolysis product or hydrolysis and condensation product is formed by contacting the first silane, in the presence of a catalyst, with from about 3 to about 9 moles of water per mole of hydrolyzable functional group bonded to the silicon of the first silane; and said nanosilica particles further having been reacted with a second silane having at least one acryloyloxy or methacryloyloxy functional group and a hydrolyzable functional group bonded to the silicon of the second silane, and at least one of a hydrolysis product or hydrolysis and condensation product of the second silane; wherein the hydrolysis product or hydrolysis and condensation product is formed by contacting the second silane, in the presence of a catalyst, with from about 1 to about 15 moles of water per mole of hydrolyzable functional group bonded to the silicon of the second silane.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the vinyl functional groups of the silicon compound are present at less than about 6 micromoles per m 2 of geometric area of the nanosilica particles.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said fluoroelastomer comprises copolymerized units of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, tetrafluoroethylene, and cure site monomer.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said at least one cure site is selected from the group consisting of bromine, iodine and ethenyl.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said at least one cure site is iodine.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the nanosilica particles are present in a quantity of about 10 to about 40 volume percent of the composition.

8. An optical film comprising a transparent substrate and having thereon a coating formed of the composition according to claim 1 or 2 .

9. The optical film of claim 8 having a scratch area percent of 7 or less as determined by Method 1 and a Rvis of 1.1% or less.

10. An article comprising a substrate having a coating comprising the composition of claim 1 .

11. An article comprising a substrate having a coating comprising the composition of claim 2 .

12. The article of claim 10 wherein the vinyl functional groups are present at less than about 6 micromoles per m 2 of geometric area of the nanosilica particles.

13. The article of claim 10 wherein said fluoroelastomer comprises copolymerized units of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, tetrafluoroethylene, and cure site monomer.

14. The article of claim 10 wherein said at least one cure site is selected from the group consisting of bromine, iodine and ethenyl.

15. The article of claim 10 wherein said at least one cure site is iodine.

16. The article of claim 10 wherein the nanosilica particles are present in a quantity of about 10 to about 40 weight percent of the composition.

17. The article of claim 10 wherein said abrasion resistant anti-reflective coating has a scratch area percent less than or equal to 4 as determined by Method 1 and a Rvis less than or equal to 1.1%.

18. A method for forming a coating on a substrate, comprising:

(i) forming a liquid mixture comprising a solvent having dissolved therein;

(i-a) a fluoroelastomer having at least one cure site;

(i-b) a multiolefinic crosslinker;

(i-c) a free radical polymerization initiator; and

(i-d) a nanosilica composite comprising:

a plurality of nanosilica particles which have been reacted with a silicon compound having at least one vinyl group, said silicon compound selected from the group consisting of: disilazanes, a first silane having a hydrolysable functional group, and a hydrolysis product or a hydrolysis and condensation product of the first silane, said hydrolysis product or hydrolysis and condensation product formed by reacting the first silane with a nanosilicon oxide colloid containing greater than 0% water; and said nanosilica particles further having been reacted with a second silane having at least one acryloyloxy or methacryloyloxy functional group and a hydrolyzable functional group bonded to the silicon of the second silane, and at least one of a hydrolysis product or hydrolysis and condensation product of the second silane; wherein the hydrolysis product or hydrolysis and condensation product is formed by contacting the second silane, in the presence of a catalyst, with from about 1 to about 15 moles of water per mole of hydrolyzable functional group bonded to the silicon of the second silane;

(ii) applying said liquid mixture onto a substrate to form a liquid mixture coating on said substrate;

(iii) removing solvent from said liquid mixture coating to form an uncured coating on said substrate; and

(iv) curing said uncured coating.

19. A method for forming a coating on a substrate, comprising:

(i) forming a liquid mixture comprising a solvent having dissolved therein;

(i-a) a fluoroelastomer having at least one cure site;

(i-b) a multiolefinic crosslinker;

(i-c) a free radical polymerization initiator; and

(i-d) a nanosilica composite comprising:

a plurality of nanosilica particles which have been reacted with a silicon compound having at least one vinyl group, said silicon compound selected from the group consisting of: disilazanes, a first silane having a hydrolysable functional group, and a hydrolysis product or a hydrolysis and condensation product of the first silane, wherein the hydrolysis product or hydrolysis and condensation product is formed by contacting the first silane, in the presence of a catalyst, with from about 1 to about 15 moles of water per mole of hydrolyzable functional group bonded to the silicon of the first silane; and said nanosilica particles further having been reacted with a second silane having at least one acryloyloxy or methacryloyloxy functional group and a hydrolyzable functional group bonded to the silicon of the second silane, and at least one of a hydrolysis product or hydrolysis and condensation product of the second silane; wherein the hydrolysis product or hydrolysis and condensation product is formed by contacting the second silane, in the presence of a catalyst, with from about 1 to about 15 moles of water per mole of hydrolyzable functional group bonded to the silicon of the second silane;

(ii) applying said liquid mixture onto a substrate to form a liquid mixture coating on said substrate;

(iii) removing solvent from said liquid mixture coating to form an uncured coating on said substrate; and

(iv) curing said uncured coating.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the vinyl functional groups are present at less than about 6 micromoles per m 2 of geometric area of the nanosilica particles.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said fluoroelastomer comprises copolymerized units of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, tetrafluoroethylene, and cure site monomer.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein said at least one cure site is selected from the group consisting of bromine, iodine and ethenyl.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein said at least one cure site is iodine.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein the nanosilica particles are present in a quantity of about 10 to about 40 weight percent of the composition.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein said coating has a scratch area percent less than or equal to 4 as determined by Method 1 and a Rvis less than or equal to 1.1%.