Cationic Photoinitiators for Curing Epoxy‐Modified Silicones

In recent years, special attention has been given to cationic photopolymerization. The synthesis and characteristics of new cationic photoinitiators are presented. They are readily prepared by reacting a diaryliodonium halide with lithium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate. They exhibit a suprising high reactivity in apolar media such as silicone resins. The design of these new photoinitiators will be presented. An example of application in silicone release coatings will be given. This system offers advantages over thermal cure systems of lower temperature and faster cure permitting all types of plastic or paper substrates to be coated.