INITIATORS FOR POLYMERIZATION

摘要

2049959 9011303 PCTABS00002 Use of compounds as initiators for cationic polymerization by means of thermal activation or photochemical activation (UV-irradiation) or activation by electron bombardment (EB) is described. The polymerization-initiator consists of a heterocyclic, arylsubstituted or with aryl-ring fused sulfonium salt in combination with a non-nucleophilic anion. During the activation of the initiator, a carbon-sulfur bond is broken via a ring-opening reaction leading to formation of a sulfide and a carbocation (carbenium ion) within the same molecule. The carbocation initiates the polymerization. Since the activation does not lead to fragmentation of the initiator-molecule into smaller molecules, no molecular sulfur-containing decomposition products form that otherwise would evaporate or migrate from the polymer causing bad smell. Some compounds described are also novel compounds per se. The polymerization initiator according to the present invention has one of structural formulae (I) or (II).