The best photoinitiators for UV curing

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The best photoinitiators for UV curing

Wednesday, 8 January, 2025

Photoinitiators are chemical compounds used to initiate polymerisation reactions through the absorption of radiation.

When exposed to a UV light source, photoinitiators convert light energy into chemical energy, generating free radicals or ions that interact with monomers and oligomers to form polymers, resulting in a durable finish.

DOUBLECURE photoinitiators from our partner, Double Bond Chemical, play a key role by controlling both the degree of reaction initiation and the penetration of incident light, as well as the curing depth. They are widely used in coatings, adhesives and printing inks.

Photoinitiators can be divided into two categories:

  • Radical photoinitiators. These produce free radicals when exposed to UV light and are responsible for initiating the polymerisation of monomers. Depending on their reaction mechanism, they are classified as either Norrish Type I or Norrish Type II photoinitiators. Examples of Type I include:
  • DOUBLECURE 173: A highly reactive photoinitiator for clear coatings that does not yellow. It is often combined with DOUBLECURE 184 in various applications, such as varnishes, primers and wood lacquers, as well as paints for plastics, metals, leather and other materials
  • DOUBLECURE 184: Recommended when non-yellowing properties are essential. In addition to the applications mentioned, it is also suitable for UV-curing adhesives, screen printing and offset inks.
  • Cationic photoinitiators. These initiate polymerisation reactions through an ionic —typically cationic— mechanism. They are primarily used for ring-opening reactions, such as those involving epoxides.

Double Bond Chemical (DBC) develops and manufactures specialty products for UV-curable coating formulations. Headquartered in Taiwan, DBC supplies its products globally.

It is worth bearing in mind that Comindex are here to support you with your process; so do not hesitate to get in touch with our team of technical sales advisors.

 

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