Overcoming oxygen inhibition in UV-curing of acrylate coatings by carbon dioxide inerting: Part II

The photomitiated radical polymerization of acrylate resins has been shown to proceed more rapidly and extensively in a carbon dioxide atmosphere than in the presence of air. Polymerization profiles were recorded by real-time infrared spectroscopy for a few micron thick coatings exposed for 1 s to UV radiation. The importance of O-2 inhibition was shown to depend on a number of factors, such as the nature and concentration of the photoinitiator, the reactivity and viscosity of the acrylate monomer, and the wavelength and intensity of the UV radiation. CO2 inerting was required for achieving an effective surface cure of poorly reactive formulations exposed to UV light of low intensity. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.