Compositions and coatings for UV-VIS and IR transparent thin films

A film comprising a polymer composition which comprises:

• a thiol-containing copolymer which comprises (1) 10-(3-butyl-2-hexyl-6-(9-mercaptononyl)cyclohexyl) decane-1-thiol;
• and (2) at least one multifunctional terminally unsaturated hydrocarbon monomer;
• wherein (1) and (2) are combined to form a UV curable crosslinked thermoset polymer network and particulate fillers are not added to the composition;
• wherein said polymer composition is applied to a surface of a substrate and cured by UVC light or UV light to form the film;
• and
• wherein the film exhibits a specular transmission of greater than 70% in a visual spectrum at about 400-700 nm, and IR wavelengths at about 4-5 μm, and about 7.5-12 μm when applied to a surface of a substrate in a coating thickness of about 1 to 500 μm.

A method for making a film comprising:

• providing a thiol-containing copolymer which comprises 10-(3-butyl-2-hexyl-6-(9-mercaptononyl)cyclohexyl) decane-1-thiol;
• providing at least one multifunctional terminally unsaturated hydrocarbon monomer;
• dissolving the thiol-containing copolymer which comprises 10-(3-butyl-2-hexyl-6-(9-mercaptononyl)cyclohexyl) decane-1-thiol and the at least one multifunctional terminally unsaturated hydrocarbon monomer in a solvent and forming a reaction mixture;
• depositing the reaction mixture onto a surface of a substrate to form a coating;
• and
• curing the coating with UVC light or UV light to form the film.