Radiation epoxies

Pentaerythritol and trimethylolpropane acryUc esters are usefiti in solventiess lacquer formulations for radiation curing (qv), providing a cross-linking capabihty for the main film component, which is usually an acryUc ester of urethane, epoxy, or polyester. Some specialty films utilize dipentaerythritol and ditrimethylolpropane (94,95). 

As the length and frequency of branches increase, they may ultimately reach from chain to chain. If all the chains are coimected together, a cross-linked or network polymer is formed. Cross-links may be built in during the polymerisation reaction by incorporation of sufficient tri- or higher functional monomers, or may be created chemically or by radiation between previously formed linear or branched molecules (curing or vulcanisation). Eor example, a Hquid epoxy (Table 1) oligomer (low molecular weight polymer) with a 6-8 is cured to a cross-linked soHd by reaction of the hydroxyl and... 

Earlier material systems were screened epoxies, but both laminatable dry-film and Hquid uv photoimageable coatings are finding wide acceptance. These radiation-cured coatings offer high resolution and registration accuracy, and can be either epoxies or epoxy acrylates. 

Silicone acrylates (Fig. 5) are again lower molecular weight base polymers that contain multiple functional groups. As in epoxy systems, the ratio of PDMS to functional material governs properties of release, anchorage, transfer, cure speed, etc. Radiation induced radical cure can be initiated with either exposure of photo initiators and sensitizers to UV light [22,46,71 ] or by electron beam irradiation of the sample. 

Radiation curing of epoxies with cationic initiators is well known [20—28]. UV-visible light has been the predominant radiation source the process has been limited to thin coatings due to the low penetration of the visible-UV light [22,23], Thermal and mechanical properties of these materials are low and the curing is incomplete. Several studies have shown that commercially available epoxies with various cationic initiators can be polymerized with EB curing [20,29-34]. 

An analogous mechanism should also produce polymers on irradiation of epoxies. Crivello s recent mechanistic suggestions [29] are consistent with the mechanisms given above. One can conclude that radiation-induced polymerization of epoxies can proceed via several mechanisms. However, further work is needed to determine the relative contributions of the different mechanisms, which might vary from one epoxy to another. As part of the Interfacial Properties of Electron Beam Cured Composites CRADA [37], an in-depth study of the curing mechanism for the cationic-initiated epoxy polymerization is being undertaken. 

Janke, C.J., Dorsey, G.F., Havens, S.J. and Lopata, V.J., Toughened epoxy resins eured by eleetron beam radiation. 28th International SAMPE Technical Conference, S71, 1996. Janke, C.J., Electron beam curable cationic epoxy resin systems and composites. 1st Annual Electron Beam Curing of Composites Workshop, September 18-19, Oak Ridge, TN, Ref. ID, 1996. 

The evaluation of the components of the tinplate container showed that the preferred enamel for irradiation processing was the epoxy phenolic the preferred end-sealing compound was the blend of cured and uncured isobutylene—isoprene copolymer. Component testing of tinplate and solder for possible changes in mechanical properties, microstructure, and corrosion resistance indicated that the radiation caused... 

Reactive species can be generated prior to monomer exposure (preirradiation grafting), during contact with monomer, or, after the polymer surface has been saturated with monomer and isolated (postirradiation grafting). The radiation-induced (y-ray and EB) graft copolymerization of AA and vinyl acetate monomer onto PE surface has been reported [170]. The grafted sheets show excellent bonding with an epoxy adhesive and enhanced adhesion with aluminum. 

Transparent PVC plates were coated with a 70 pm thick film of an epoxy-acrylate resin containing 0.5 % of a benzotriazole UV absorber. They were first UV cured for one second and then exposed at 40°C to the low intensity radiations of a QUV accelerated weathering tester. The extent of the degradation was followed by Invisible spectroscopy, a very sensitive method that permits detec-... 

Radiation-curable epoxy acrylates, 10 450 Radiation cures, silicone network preparation via, 22 567-569 Radiation curing coatings, 7 133-135 of printing inks, 14 314 Radiation damage, ion implantation and, 14 435-436 Radiation drying coatings, 7 29-30 Radiation effects... 

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