Recent Developments in Radical Photoinitiator Chemistry

Abstract

Radiation curing is an established technology used in many industrial manufacturing processes. New applications and technical specifications stimulate the continuous development of tailor-made photoinitiators which can efficiently meet specific requirements. A new class of radical photoinitiators, bisacylphosphine oxides (BAPO), give four initiating radicals per photoinitiator molecule and undergo photo-bleaching of the low-energy absorption band. These features make the compounds highly efficient for radiation curing of highly opaque white pigmented systems, thick coatings, or fiber-reinforced formulations.