ABSTRACT

Let there be light The first and essential step in the ultraviolet (UV) curing process is the absorption of UV energy in the form of light. The photoinitiator that is introduced into the formulation is designed to do this and will respond to photons or packets of light energy to produce a reactive species. The free radical, or the cationic species, that is produced can then initiate a polymerization process depending on the chemistry of the monomers and oligomers that are used. The photoinitiator must be able to respond to the wavelength of the light that is supplied, and matching the absorbance of the initiator to the type of light source, UV or visible, is important for the whole process to take place efficiently.