Stress reduction mechanisms during photopolymerization of functionally graded polymer nanocomposite coatings

- Graded and homogeneous photocurable nanocomposites are synthesized.
- Reaction kinetics, modulus and shrinkage build-up are experimentally analyzed.
- Residual stresses are evaluated through a Finite Element Modeling approach.
- Graded composites reduce stresses compared to homogeneous composites by 25%.
- Graded composites reduce stresses compared to the pure polymer by 40%.