Cage Effect Dynamics under Photolysis of Photoinitiators

The efficiency of photoinitiators depends upon the quantum yield of photogeneration of reactive free radicals and the cage effect value. Only radicals that escape the cage can initiate free radical polymerization. The modern concept of the cage effect is presented. Dependencies of the cage effect upon increasing of solvent viscosity in the course of polymerization are discussed. Cage effect dynamics or kinetics of geminate recombination is of special interest. Results of a kinetic study on the cage effect using ns laser flash photolysis are described.