Photopolymerization reactions under visible lights: principle, mechanisms and examples of applications

A general overview of visible light photoinduced polymerization reactions is presented. Reaction mechanisms as well as practical efficiency in industrial applications are discussed. Several points are investigated in detail: photochemical reactivity of photoinitiating system (PIS), short overview of available photoinitiators (PIs) and photosensitizers (PSs), mechanisms involved in selected examples of dye sensitized polymerization reactions, examples of applications in pigmented coatings usable as paints, textile printing, glass reinforced fibers, sunlight curing of waterborne latex paints, curing of inks, laser-induced polymerization reactions, high speed photopolymers for laser imaging, PISs for computer-to-plate systems. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.