A curable composition contains: a) functionalized
colloidal silica obtained from the reaction of surface hydroxyl groups of
colloidal silica with at least one functionalizing
silane of the general formula: (R1)aSi(OR2)4-a wherein each R1 is, independently, a monovalent
alkyl, cycloalkyl,
aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl group of up to 18 carbon atoms, optionally possessing at least one chemically reactive functionality selected from the group consisting of alkenyl,
acrylate and
epoxy; b) at least one first curable
monomer possessing at least one of alkenyl and
acrylate functionality; c) at least one second curable
monomer possessing
epoxy functionality; d) at least one third curable
monomer possessing at least one of alkenyl and
acrylate functionality together with
epoxy functionality, the third curable monomer replacing or supplementing the first and / or second curable monomer, provided, that when the third curable monomer replaces both the first and second curable monomers, the functionalized
colloidal silica possesses at least one of alkenyl and acrylate functionality together with epoxy functionality; and, optionally, e) at least one curing agent for the curable monomer(s). The composition when cured exhibits scratch and abrasion resistant properties making it particularly well-suited for use as a
coating for many different kinds of substrates, e.g., DVD discs and especially the more recent Blu-
ray Discs, where these properties are highly desirable or even necessary.