ABSTRACT
Photopolymerization is caused by radical or cationic initiation. It induces various changes in solubilities, adhesion, melting points, phases, and chemical and physical properties. Photopolymers were historically applied to photography and printing materials, and they have recently been applied to ultra-fine fabrication of electronic and mechanical devices. The photo-curing of paints, the curing of printing ink, and photo-adhesive agents are also performed by photopolymerization. Photo-crosslinking gives larger effects in solubilities of polymers. Therefore, photo-crosslinking is also an important field in photopolymerization. Photo-dissociation degrades molecular weight in polymers. Therefore, photo-dissociation must be included in photopolymerization. Those phenomena are discussed in this chapter.
