WO1997033938A1

WO1997033938A1 - Initiators for the cationic crosslinking of polymers containing organofunctional groups

Info

Publication number: WO1997033938A1
Application number: PCT/IB1997/000241
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Priou; Stuart Kerr, Iii
Original assignee: Rhodia Chimie
Priority date: 1996-03-14
Filing date: 1997-03-11
Publication date: 1997-09-18
Also published as: DE69707429D1; DE69707429T2; US5703137A; ATE207098T1; EP0886667A1; ES2163128T3; DK0886667T3; PT886667E; CA2248778A1; EP0886667B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to initiators for the polymerization and/or crosslinking, cationically and under photochemical and/or thermal activation and/or activation by a beam of electrons, of monomers and/or polymers containing organofunctional groups. The said initiators are of the type comprising an onium salt of an element from groups 15 to 17 of the Periodic Table (Chem & Eng News, Vol 63, N5, 26, of 4 February 1985) and they are characterized in that they contain at least one polymerization and/or crosslinking accelerator chosen from α-hydroxylated carboxylic acid esters such as, for example, lactic acid esters. Another subject of the invention is compositions based on at least one cationically crosslinkable polyorganosiloxane and on at least one initiator. Application in particular: paper antiadhesion.

Description

INITIATORS FOR THE CATIONIC CROSSLINKING OF POLYMERS

CONTAINING ORGANOFUNCTIONAL GROUPS

The field of the invention is that of the catalysis of cationic crosslinking and/or

polymerization reactions, of monomers and/or polymers, e.g. those containing silicon, comprising reactive functional radicals capable of forming intra- and intercatenary bridges, so as to obtain a polymerized and/or crosslinked material having a certain hardness and certain mechanical strength.

More precisely, the subject of the present invention is cationic crosslinking and/or polymerization initiators. Although these initiators are not catalysts strictly speaking, they may nevertheless be likened to catalytic compounds which allow the initiation and progresβ of the reaction for the formation of polymers and/or reticulates, from substrates formed of monomers and/or polymers containing reactive organofunctional groups.

The reactions more particularly concerned are those in which cationic agents act as direct promoters of the inter- and intracatenary bonds. Traditionally, these reactions can only take place under photochemical and/or thermal activation and/or activation by a beam of electrons. In practice, it is, for example, the light energy of UV radiation which allows the formation of the active protagonists, for example by radical cleavage, and thus the triggering and continuation of the crosslinking and/or polymerizatio .

Without this being limiting, the present account relates more particularly to polymerized or crosslinked substrates of polyorganosiloxane type containing reactive organofunctional groups, for example of the epoxide and/or vinyl ether type. These functional polyorganosiloxanes which are cationically croβslinkable using the initiators targeted above may be used in particular for the production of antiadheβive coatings on solid supports or articles (e.g. paper or polymer film of the polyester or polyethylene type) . The subject of the present invention is thus compositions based on crosslinkable functional polyorganosiloxanes and the above-targeted initiators. The invention also relates to the application

of these compositions aβ coatings for solid supports or articles, the latter themselves constituting another

subject of the invention.

Cationic initiators for the polymerization or

crosslinking, e.g. via a photochemical route, of functional monomers or polymers of the polyorgano-

βiloxane type in particular are described in European

patent application EP-A-0, 562, 897 in the name of the Applicant. These photoinitiators consist of oniu borates of an element from groups 15 to 17 of the

Periodic Table (Chem & Eng News, Vol 63, N5, 26 of 4

February 1985) or of an organometallic complex of an

element from groups 4 to 10 of the Periodic Table (Chem & Eng News, Vol 63, N5, 26 of 4 February 1985), the

borate anion species of which has the formula:

[BX_aR_b] ^' in which formula:

a and b are integers ranging from 0 to 4 with a + b _* 4,

the symbols X^* represent:

a halogen atom (chlorine or fluorine) with a -» 0 to 3, an OH function with a = 0 to 2,

the symbols R are identical or different and

represent:

an aryl radical substituted with at least one

electron-withdrawing group or with at least 2 halogen atoms, when the cationic species is

an onium,

an aryl radical substituted with at least one

halogen atom or an electron-withdrawing group, when the cationic species is an

organometallic complex.

These novel self-initiating salts represent appreciable technical progress relative to the known

initiators of onium salt or organometallic complex type, and in particular relative to those in which the anion of the initiator salt is SbF₆ ^", which is one of

the only ones which give good catalytic performance,

but which poses serious problems of use on account of

its toxicity. The photoinitiator salts according to

EP-A-0, 562, 897 are employed in combination with an

alcohol, such as methanol, in order to produce antiadheβive coatings on paper, from epoxidized monomers, crosslinked by irradiation under UV. In order to assess the performance of the photoinitiator, the reactivity of the substrate/initiator couple and the rate of crosslinking are evaluated by means of the throughput speed necessary to cure the layer coated on the paper and by means of the number of passages.

The compositions based on polyorganosiloxanes which are crosslinkable with the aid of onium borates according to EP-A-0, 562,897 are described and claimed in European patent application EP-A-0,562, 922, also in the name of the Applicant. According to the latter document, the photoinitiator systems used contain onium or oxoiβothiochromaniuxn borate and an alcoholic solvent. The quality of the coatings obtained reflects the performance of these photoinitiator systems. Moreover, in order to assess this quality of coating, the antiadhesive properties of the layer of crosslinked silicone polymer attached to the support is evaluated. The reβults measured are acceptable, but it nevertheless remains that, in order to satisfy the productivity requirements of the users, the initiator systems need to be of increasingly high performance. They must thus achieve reactivities and crosslinking/ polymerization rates which are as high as possible, so as to be able to increase the frequency of coating.

Given thiβ situation, one of the essential aims of the present invention is to satisfy the aboveβaid requirements.

Another essential aim of the invention is to provide initiators which give good performance with the majority of monomers/polymers, in particular including functional polyorganosiloxanes, which are crosslinkable cationically and under UV, but also purely organic, epoxidized or vinylic monomers.

Another essential aim of the invention is to provide cationic initiators which are effective but also inexpensive, easy to handle and of low toxicity. Another aim of the invention is to provide organofunctional monomer/polymer compositions, in particular organofunctional polyorganosiloxanes, which are crosslinkable cationically and under photonic and/or thermal activation and/or activation by a beam of electrons.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a process for coating solid supports or articles using the abovesaid compositions, aβ well as the articles with a crosslinked antiadhesive coating obtained.

These aims and others are achieved by the invention, which relates, firstly, to initiators for the cationic crosslinking and/or polymerization, tinder photochemical and/or thermal activation and/or activation by a beam of electrons, of monomers and/or polymers containing organofunctional groups,

+ the said initiators being of the type compris-ng a catalytically effective amount of at least one onium salt of an element from groups 15 to 17 of the Periodic Table (Chem & Eng News, Vol 63, N5, 26 of 4 February 1985) and/or of at least one oxoisothiochromanium salt according to application WO-A-90/11303,

+ characterized in that they contain at least one polymerization and/or crosslinking accelerator chosen from the hydroxylated carboxylic acid esters, which are liquid at

room temperature (23°C) , of general formula:

OH RJ-CH-CO O-R² (I) in which the symbols R¹ and R², which are identical to or different from each other, each represent:

a linear or branched C_-C₁₀ alkyl radical, optionally substituted with a linear or branched ^cι~C alkoxy group,

a C₄-C₁₀ cycloalkyl radical, optionally substituted

with one or more linear or branched C--C₄ alkyl or alkoxy group (s) ,

a C₅-C₁₂ aryl radical, optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C--C₄ alkyl or

alkoxy group (s) , an aralkyl or aroxyalkyl radical in which the aryl

part is a C₅-C₁₂ group optionally subβtituted with

one or more linear or branched ^-^ alkyl or

alkoxy groups, and the alkyl part is a linear or branched C,-C₄ group,

it being also possible for the symbol R to represent:

a linear or branched C_ - C_{ι s} alkoxy radical,

a C₄-C₁₀ cycloalkyloxy radical, optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched

C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy group(s) .

These accelerators make it possible to improve significantly the performance of the cationic initiators in terms of reactivity and kinetics, as well

as the final properties of the crosslinked coatings obtained. Moreover, the Applicant has, to its credit,

been able to isolate a family of specific organic compounds which are particularly suitable aβ accelerator.

The accelerator is preferably formed by at least one hydroxylated carboxylic acid ester of general

formula (I) in which: - R¹ represents: a linear Ci-C_j alkyl radical, and

R , which is identical to or different from R , represents: a linear or branched C₂-C₆ alkyl

radical.

The accelerator is more preferably formed by at least one lactic acid ester of general formula (I) in which R represents a methyl radical and R

represents a linear C₃-C₅ alkyl radical.

In practice, the weight proportions between the initiator salt or salts, in particular the onium

borates, on the one hand, and the accelerator, on the

other hand, expressed as parts by weight, are respectively between 0.1:100 and 1:0.5, preferably

between 2:100 and 1:1, and more preferably between 4:100 and 1:1. When the accelerator is chosen from the sub-family of lactic acid esters, the weight proportions which are most especially suitable are between 15:100 and 40:100. In accordance with an advantageous arrangement of the invention, the initiators comprise a catalytically effective amount of an onium borate the cationic species of which is chosen from: 1) the onium salts of formula (II) [(R³)_n-A-(R⁴) ^* (II) in which formula:

A represents an element from groups 15 to 17 such as, for example, I, S, Se, P and N,

R³ represents a C₆-C₂₀ carbocyclic or heterocyclic aryl radical, preferably phenyl, tolyl or toluyl, it being possible for the said heterocyclic radical to contain, for example, nitrogen or sulphur as hetero elements,

R⁴ represents R³ or a linear or branched C_J-C_JO alkyl or alkenyl radical, the said radicals R³ and R⁴ optionally being subβtituted, in particular with a C--C_2S alkoxy, Cx-Cjs alkyl. nitro, chloro, bromo, cyano, carboxyl or mercapto group,

n is an integer ranging from 1 to v + 1, v being the valency of the element A,

m is an integer ranging from 0 to v - 1 with n + m = v + 1,

2) the oxoisothiochromanium saltβ described in patent application WO-A-90/11303, the anionic borate species of which has the formula (III) :

tBX,R_b] (III) in which formula: a and b are integers ranging from 0 to 4 with a + b = 4, - the symbols __ represent:

♦ a halogen atom (chlorine or fluorine) with a = 0 to 3,

♦ an OH function with a - 0 to 2, the symbols R are identical or different and represent:

♦ a phenyl radical substituted with at least one electron-withdrawing group such as, for example, OCF₃, CF₃, N0₂ or CN or with at least

2 halogen atoms (most particularly fluorine) ,

♦ an aryl radical containing at least two

aromatic rings such as, for example, biphenyl or naphthyl, optionally substituted with at

least one element or an electron-withdrawing group, in particular a halogen atom (most particularly fluorine) , CF₃, OCF₃, N0₂ or CN.

Advantageously, the anionic borate species is chosen from the following anions:

[B (C₆F₅)₄]- [B(C₆H₄CF₃)4J- [B{C₆H₃(CF₃)₂.4_-

[⁽C₆F₅)2BF₂]- [B(C₆F₄OCF₃)4J- [B (C₆H₃F₂)4r

As regards the cationic species, it is

advantageously of onium type and is preferably selected

from the following cations:

[(Φ)2U⁺ [C₈H_l7-O-Φ-l-Φ]⁺ [(Φ-CH₃)₂l]⁺

[C₁2H₂5-Φ-I-Φ]⁺ [(C₈H₁ -O-Φ)₂l]⁺ [(Φ)3S]⁺ [(Φ)2-S-Φ-O-C₈H₁ ]⁺

[ -S-Φ-S-(Φ)₂]⁺ [(Ci2H25-Φ)2^|l⁺ In accordance with the invention, the

initiators which will be used more particularly are the following onium borates: KΦ-CH3.2l]⁺ ,[B(C₆F₅)_ιJ- l(Φ>2 l]⁺.[B(C₆F₅)4J- [Φ₂I]⁺.[B{C₆H₃(CF₃)₂}4]- [C₁2H₂5-Φ-i-Φ]^,[B(C₆F₅)4J- [(C₈H₁₇-OΦ)₂l]⁺ .[B(C₆F₅) [(C₈H₁₇)-O-Φ-l-Φ)}⁺ , [B(C₆F₅)4J- [(Φ)₃S3⁺ .[B(C₆F₅)_v]- [(Φ)₂S-Φ-O-C₈H₁₇]⁺,[B(C₆H4CF3)4J- [(C₁2H25-Φ)2'l⁺.IB(CeF5)₄J

The onium borates entering into the formulation of the initiator system according to the invention are defined in detail in the abovementioned European patent applications EP-A-0,562,897 and EP-A-0, 562, 992. The content of these patents is incorporated into the present account by way of reference.

The cationic species of oxoisothiochromanium type, entering into the formulation of the initiator system according to the invention, preferably corresponds to the structure Dl which is defined on page 14 of application WO-A-90/11303 and has the formula:

in which the radical R is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl radical; a cationic species of this type which is more preferred is that in which R ..55⁵ represents a linear or branched C₁-C₂₀ alkyl radical. As oxoisothiochromanium salts which are particularly suitable, mention will be made in particular of the sulphoniu salt of 2-ethyl-4-oxoisothiochromanium or of 2-dodecyl-4-oxoisothiochromanium.

In practice, the initiators according to the invention are very simply prepared by disβolving the onium borate, which is in solid (powder) form, in the accelerator (liquid) .

According to an alternative with regard to the onium borate, the latter may be prepared directly in the accelerator, from a salt (e.g. chloride) of the cation (iodonium) and a salt (for example the potasβium salt) of the borate anion.

The precursor system thus obtained may be used aβ it is in monomer/polymer compositions which are intended to be polymerized/crosβlinked cationically and under activation, for example UV activation. According to another of these aspects, the present invention relates to compositions based on at least one cationically crosslinkable polyorganosiloxane and on at least one initiator of the type in accordance with the invention and described above.

Preferably, this polyorganosiloxane has organofunctional groups of the epoxide and/or vinyl ether type and it is chosen from polyorganosiloxanββ which are:

→ linear or substantially linear and conβisting of units of formula (IV) , ending with units of formula (V) ,

—> or cyclic and consisting of units of formula (IV) :

^R6

I i

-Sι-0-H- (IV) Y—Si—O— (V)

Y R^<

in which formulae:

the symbols R are identical or different and represent: either a linear or branched C_-C_ε alkyl radical, optionally substituted, advantageously with one or more halogens, the preferred optionally substituted alkyl radicals being : methyl, ethyl, propyl, octyl and 3 , 3,3-trifluoropropyl.

or an optionally substituted C₅-C₈ cycloalkyl radical,

or a C₅-C₁₂ aryl radical or aralkyl radical having a C₃-C₁₂ aryl part and a _^-C_t alkyl part, optionally substituted on the aromatic part:

■ in particular with halogenβ or C_x-C₃ alkyls

and/or alkoxys

■ phenyl, xylyl, tolyl and dichlorophenyl radicals being most particularly selected,

and, even more preferably, at least 60 mol% of the radicals R being methyls,

the symbols Y are identical or different and

represent:

either the radical R , or a cationically crosslinkable organofunctional

group, preferably an epoxyfunctional or vinyloxyfunctional group, connected to the silicon

by a divalent radical advantageously containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms optionally containing a hetero atom. at least one of the symbols Y corresponding to a cationically crosslinkable organofunctional group.

According to a preferred mode of the invention, the polyorganosiloxane contains from 1 to 10 organofunctional groups per mole. For an epoxyfvinetional group, this corresponds to epoxide levels ranging from 20 to 200 molar meq/100 g of product.

As examples of divalent radicals connecting an organofunctional group of the epoxy type, mention may be made of those included in the following formulae (Y) :

^•(CH,⁾—O-CH,—CH^^CH, ; __(CH2)r_o-CH CH,

O

As regards organofunctional groups of vinyl ether type, mention may be made, for example, of those contained in the following formulae (Y) :

—⁽CH.⁾-0-CH=CH. —(CH_j)₂—0-R⁷-0-CH=CH₂ with R⁷ = linear or branched alkylene, optionally substituted - or C₅-C₁₂ arylene, preferably phenylene, optionally substituted, preferably with one to three C^Cg alkyl groups.

The linear polyorganosiloxanes may be oils with a dynamic viscosity of about 10 to 10,000 Pa s at

25°C, generally of about 50 to 5000 mPa β at 25°C and,

even more preferably, of 100 to 600 mPa β at 25°C, or gums having a molecular mass of about 1,000,000.

The dynamic viscosity at 25°C of all of the silicone polymers considered in the present account may be measured using a Brookfield viscometer, according to AFNOR standard NFT 76 102 of February 1972.

The viscosity considered in the present

account is the dynamic viscoβity at 25°C, referred to as the "Newtonian" viscosity, that is to say the dynamic viscosity which is measured, in a manner which is known per se, at a shear rate gradient which is sufficiently low for the viscosity measured to be independent of the rate gradient. When these are cyclic polyorganosiloxanes, they constitute units (IV) which may be, for example, of the dialkylsiloxy or alkylarylsiloxy type. These cyclic polyorganosiloxanes have a viscosity of about 1 to 5000 mPa s. With the availability of thiβ large variety of polyorganosiloxanes, it is entirely conceivable to use a mixture of various products of formulae (IV) and (V) , as defined above, within the context of the invention. The preferred epoxyfunctional or vinyloxyfunctional polyorganosiloxanes are described in particular in patents DE-A-4,009, 889; EP-A-0,396,130; EP-A-0,355,381; EP-A-0,105,341; FR-A-2,110,115; FR-A-2,526,800. The epoxyfunctional polyorganosiloxanes may be prepared by hydrosilylation reaction between oils containing Si-H units and epoxyfunctional compounds such as, for example, 4-vinylcyclohexene oxide or allyl glycidyl ether.

The vinyloxyfunctional polyorganosiloxanes may be prepared by hydrosilylation reaction between oils containing Si-H units and vinyloxyfunctional compounds such as, for example, allyl vinyl ether or allylvinyloxyethoxybenzene.

The polyorganosiloxanes given above by way of

example are particularly advantageous insofar as the accelerators in accordance with the invention proved to be fully soluble in these polyorganosiloxanes.

According to the invention, the expression

catalytically effective amount of onium borate refers to an amount which is sufficient to initiate the crosslinking. This amount is generally between 0.01 and

20 parts by weight, usually between 0.1 and 8 parts by weight, in order to crosslink, photochemically,

100 parts by weight of polyorganosiloxanes.

The compositions according to the invention

may also comprise at least one photosensitizer selected from (poly) aromatic (optionally metallic) and heterocyclic products and, preferably, from the

following list of products: toluene, pyridine,

ferrocene, benzene, thioxanthone, anthracene, benzophenone.

Conventionally, the compositions according to

the invention may also comprise various additives which are chosen as a function of the final application intended. These may be, for example, mineral or non-

mineral fillers and/or pigments, such as synthetic or natural (polymer) fibres which are ground, calcium carbonate, talc, clay, titanium dioxide or fumed silica. This may make it possible to improve e.g. the mechanical properties of the final materials.

Soluble dyes, oxidation inhibitors, and/or any other material which does not interfere with the catalytic activity of the photoinitiator and which does not absorb in the wavelength range chosen for the photoactivation may also be added to the composition or used in the context of the process according to the invention.

Lastly, the compositions according to the invention may contain other ingredients such as, in particular, adhesion modifiers (for example: linear silicone resins or polymers bearing vinyl, epoxy, vinyl ether or alcohol functions) , fungicides, bactericideβ and antimicrobial agents, or corrosion inhibitors. These compositions in accordance with the invention are prepared, indiscriminately, before (or even a long time before) or alternatively immediately before use. It should be noted that these compositions are particularly stable on storage and that they offer, in accordance with the procesβ of the invention, rapid

crosslinking kinetics. In addition, their non- crosslinked state, before exposure to the activating light radiation, offers great ease of handling, of application and of placement on various supports or other shaping moulds.

The compositions according to the invention may be used as they are. They are useful in particular: in the field of antiadhesion coatings on solid supports of any nature, such as cellulose materials, plastics, metals, ceramics, films or paints; or in the field of the encapsulation of electrical and electronic components; or in the field of textile coatings; or in the field of optical fibre sheaths.

They are most particularly advantageous when they are used as they are in order to render a material, such as metal sheets, glass, plastics or paper, non-adhesive to other materials to which it would normally adhere. The composition advantageously has a viscosity not exceeding 5000 mPa β, preferably

not exceeding 4000 mPa ε, at 25°C. The invention is thus also directed towards a procesβ which makes it possible to render articles (for example sheets) non-adhesive to surfaces to which they normally adhere, which procesβ is characterized in that it consists in applying an amount of composition of the invention, generally of between 0.1 and 500 g per m² of surface to be coated, and in crosslinking the composition by supplying it with energy, at least some and preferably all of which is provided by UV radiation.

The UV radiation used has a wavelength of between 200 and 400 nanometres, preferably of between 254 and 360 nanometres.

The irradiation time may be short and it is generally less than 1 second and it is about a few hundredths of a second for coatings of very email thickness. The crosslinking carried out is excellent, even in the absence of any heating. Obviously, the coupling of photoactivation with thermal activation,

e.g. by heating to between 25 and 100°C, is not excluded from the invention.

Obviously, the curing time may be adjusted, in particular by the number of UV lamps used, by the duration of exposure to the UV and by the distance between the composition and the UV lamp.

The amounts of compositions deposited on the

supports are variable and usually range between 0.1 and 500 g/m of surface treated. These amounts depend on the

nature of the supports and on the desired antiadhesive properties. They are usually between 0.5 and 3 g/m for non-porous supports. These amounts may range up to 200 g/m in the case of organic resins. Another subject of the present invention is

articles (for example sheets) consisting of a solid material (for example: metal, glass, plastic or paper)

at least partly coated with the composition described

above, which is at least partly crosslinked.

The examples which follow are given by way of illustration and should not be considered aβ a limit of

the field or spirit of the invention.

EXAMPLES

I - Starting materials 1.1. The functionalized polyorganosiloxanes used are ( 1 , 2 -epoxy- 4 - ethylcyclohexyl )polydimethylsiloxanes of formula :

Epoxidized PDMS The values of a and b vary according to the examples. 1.2. The ini tia tor used is an oni m borate: di tolyl iodonium tetrakis ( pentaf luorophenyl )borate of formula

The cation of this onium borate is prepared according to ths general methodology described in European patent applications EP-A-0, 562 , 922 and EP-A-0, 562 , 897. As regards the anionic borate species,

the process is performed as follows:

Bro opentafluorobenzene (21.3 g, 0.086 mol) and iβopropyl ether are loaded, under an inert

atmosphere, into a 500 ml round-bottomed flask equipped

with a mechanical stirrer, a condenser and a dropping

funnel. The mixture is stirred and is cooled to a

temperature of -78°C using an acetone + cardice bath.

n-Butyllithium in solution in hexane (1.6 M,

52.3 ml, 0.97 eq) is loaded into the dropping funnel

and is then added over about 10 minutes. The mixture is then left stirring for about 30 minutes at a

temperature of -78°C. The dropping funnel is replaced by a dropping funnel containing boron trichloride in

solution in hexane (1.0 M, 19 ml) . The boron trichloride is added over 15 min and the reaction

mixture is then left stirring for 30 min at a

temperature of -78°C. The mixture is then allowed to return to room temperature over about 1 h. Saturated

aqueous KC1 solution (100 ml) is then added. The

mixture is then in two phases and homogeneous. The

isopropyl ether is distilled off. The __B(C_€F₅)₄ precipitates at the end of the distillation. It is recovered by filtration and is then washed with saturated KC1 solution (100 ml) before being dried

under vacuum at a temperature of 35°C. A product assaying at 97% of expected product is thuβ obtained, in a yield of 99%.

The accelerator according to the invention which is used is n-butyl lactate of formula:

OH I CH,—CH—CO-O-CH_j—CH_j—CH—CH_j

The photoinitiator system is prepared by dissolving the onium borate (optionally supplemented with some of the epoxidized PDMS to be used) , on the one hand in isopropyl alcohol (IPA) for the comparative example, and, on the other hand, in the accelerator based on n-butyl lactate for the examples. The concentrations of photoinitiator in the solution vary according to the examples. II. The σeneral procedure followed is as followa. to 100 parts by weight of epoxidized PDMS is added the βolution of onium borate in isopropyl alcohol or in n-butyl lactate, and the mixture is stirred nuinually for 30 min.

Ill ________& :

III.l Reactivity tests

The reactivity tests described in the

following examples were carried out on a VNC (Vibrating

Needle Curemeter) machine for measuring the freezing point, marketed by the company RAPRA Ltd, to which was

added a UV irradiation device. During the crosslinking, the needle of the VNC immersed in the mixture to be

studied encounters a resistance which manifests itself by a decrease in the output voltage of the machine. The

time required to decrease the output voltage of the

machine by 10, 50 and 90%, for a thickness to be polymerized of 2 mm, is measured. III.2 Evaluation of the delamination forces by peeling tests :

This evaluation is made, after formulation of

the silicone coating, according to the following steps:

coating of the mixture on a PET 6028

polyester film (marketed by Rhδne-

Poulenc) using a Meyer bar. The thickness deposited may range from 1 to 4 μm (deposition rate ranging from 0.5 to 3 g/m²) ,

crosslinking of the coating under UV at

a wavelength of 360 nanometres with an irradiation power of 120 W/cm, bonding of three representative types of adhesive onto the crosslinked coating:

adhesives TESA^® 4154 (rubber) TESA^® 4651 (rubber) TESA* 4970 (acrylic) placing under a preββ (70 g/m ) for 20 to

24 hours:

under cold conditions (22-23°C) for the adhesives 4154 and 4970,

according to FINAT test No. 10

under hot conditions (70°C) for the adhesive 4651, according to FINAT

test No. 11. The level of adhesion may then be evaluated by

measuring the delamination or peeling force. This force is measured by a dynamometer delaminating the adhesives at a speed of 300 mm/min. The result is given in g/cm. IV . Resul ts

IV.1 Comparative Example and Example 1: Effect on the reactivi ty and VNC evaluation:

To 100 parts by weight of epoxidized silicone

polymer in which a = 7 and b = 70 (or POS A) , are added

2.5 parts by weight of a solution containing 20% by weight of onium borate (initiator: 0.5 parts by weight)

in isopropyl alcohol (comparative example) and in n-butyl lactate (Example 1; accelerator: 2 parts by weight) . The photoinitiator concentration in the solution is expressed as a percentage by weight of this

compound relative to the initiator + accelerator

combination.

The results are given by the curves of the attached Figure 1. These curves represent the change in

output pressure of the VNC in mV as a function of time.

Table I below gives the times in minutes necessary to

reach a voltage decrease of 10, 50 and 90%, for a polymerization thickness of 2 mm.

Table I

It is seen clearly that the use of butyl

lactate as accelerator makes it possible to decrease

the crosslinking times significantly. IV.2 Examples 2 to 16: evaluations of the forces to make into a thin layer:

These examples show that the antiadhesion

performances, after crosslinking, are improved and that

there is a most especially suitable value as regards

the photoinitiator concentration of the solution of

this compound in the accelerator based on n-butyl

lactate.

In these examples, a mixture of epoxidized

silicone polymers is used consisting of :

- 100 parts by weight of epoxidized silicone

polymer, referred to aβ POS A, used in Example 1, and

5 parts by weight of epoxidized βilicone polymer,

referred to aβ POS B, in which a = 2 and b = 250.

The photoinitiator is predissolved in the

n-butyl lactate at 5 different concentrations: 5%, 10%,

20%, 30% and 40% (the percentages are given by weight and express the amount of photoinitiator relative to the photoinitiator + accelerator combination) .

The definitions of the various compositions which are prepared are collated in Table 2 below:

Table 2

(^*) The concentrations of photoinitiator and of n-butyl lactate are expressed in parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of mixture POS A + POS B,

These 15 different compositions were applied to a polyester film as described above, and were crosslinked with a throughput speed of 50 m/min under a 125 W/cm UV lamp of type Fusion H. The delamination forces reported in the attached Figure 2 were obtained with a TESA 4970 acrylic adhesive. The adhesion forces were measured directly after adhesion ("initial") and after ageing ("aged") for 20 h at 70°C under a weight

which generates a contact pressure of 6.89xl0³ Pa.

The curves featured in the attached Figure 2

show that there is a value which is most especially

suitable as regards the photoinitiator concentration in

the n-butyl lactate: this value is about 20% by weight. The stability of the adhesive forces is improved for

this concentration.

Claims

What is Claimed is:

1. A composition useful for polymerizing or cationically crosslinking one or more monomers containing organofunctional groups as a result of exposure to photochemical, thermal or electron beam radiation comprising:

(a) a catalytically effective amount of either an onium salt of an element selected from the group consisting of I, S, Se, P and N, or an oxoisothiochromanium salt; and

(b) an accelerator comprising a compound of formula (I)

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of: a linear or branched C₁-C₁₀ alkyl radical, optionally substituted with a linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkoxy group; a C₄-C₁₀ cycloalkyl radical, optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups; a C₅-C₁₂ aryl radical, optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups; an aralkyl or aroxyalkyl radical in which the aryl part of the radical is a C₅-C₁₂ group optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups, wherein the alkyl part of the radical is a linear or branched C₁-C₄ group; a linear or branched C₁-C₁₅ alkoxy radical; and a C₄-C₁₀ cycloalkyloxy radical, optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups; and wherein R² is selected from the group consiβting of a linear or branched C₁-C₁₀ alkyl radical, optionally substituted with a linear or branched

C₁-C₄ alkoxy group; a C₄-C₁₀ cycloalkyl radical, optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups; a C₅-C₁₂ aryl radical, optionally subβtituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups; and an aralkyl or aroxyalkyl radical in which the aryl part is a C₅-C₁₂ group optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁ - C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups, wherein the alkyl part or the radical is a linear or branched C₁-C₄ group.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein R represents a linear C₁ -C₃ alkyl radical, and R² represents a linear or branched C₂-C₆ alkyl radical.

3. The composition according to claim 2, wherein R¹ represents a methyl radical and R² represents a linear C₃-C₅ alkyl radical.

4. The composition according to claim 1 wherein

(a) comprises a catalytically effective amount of an onium borate salt wherein the cationic species of said salt is selected from the group consisting of:

(1) onium salts of formula (II)

[(R³)_n-A-(R⁴)m] ^* (II) in which: A represents an element selected from the group consisting of I, S, Se, P and N;

R represents a C₆-C₂₀ carbocyclic or heterocyclic aryl radical, when R representβ a heterocyclic aryl radical, βaid heterocyclic radical may contain nitrogen or sulphur as hetero elements. R⁴ represents the same moiety as R³ or a linear or branched C₁-C₃₀ alkyl or alkenyl radical; said radicals R³ and R⁴ optionally being substituted with a C₁-C₂₅ alkoxy, C₁-C₂₅ alkyl, nitro, chloro, bromo, cyano, carboxyl or mercapto group; n is an integer ranging from 1 to (v + 1), v being the valence of the element A, m is an integer ranging from 0 to (v - 1) wherein n + m = v + 1; or (2) an oxoisothiochromanium salt; and wherein said anionic borate specieβ iβ of formula (III):

[BX_aR_b] - (III) in which:

a is an integer ranging from 0 to 3, and b is an integer ranging from 0 to0 4, wherein a + b = 4; X represents either a halogen atom with the proviso that a is an integer from 0 to 3, or an OH function with the proviso that a is an integer from 0 to 2,

R is identical or different and representβ a member selected from the group consisting of: a phenyl radical substituted with at least one electron-withdrawing group; and an aryl radical containing at least two aromatic rings optionally substituted with at least one element or an electron-withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, CF₃, OCF₃, NO₂ or NN.

5. The composition according to claim 4, wherein the anionic borate species is selected from the group consisting of:

6. The composition according to claim 4, wherein the cationic species of said salt is selected from the group consisting of :

wherein Φ represents a phenyl group.

7. The composition according to claim 4, wherein said onium borate is selected from the group consisting of : [(Φ-CH₃)₂I] [B(C₆F₅)₄]-; [(Φ)₂I]⁺ [B(C₆F₅)₄]-;

[Φ₂I]⁺[B{C_sH₃(CF₃)₂}₄]-; [C₁₂H₂₅-Φ-I-Φ]⁺ [B(C₆F₅)₄]-;

[(C₈H₁₇-O-Φ)₂I]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]--

[(C₈H₁₇)-O-Φ-I-Φ)]⁺ [B(C₆F₅)₄]-; [(Φ)₃S]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]-;

[(Φ)₂S-Φ-O-C₈H₁₇[B(C₆H₄CF₃)₄]-; and [(C₁₂H₂₅-Φ)₂I]

[B(C₆F₅)₄]- wh-rein Φ represents a phenyl group.

8. The composition according to claim 1 further comprising at least one cationically crosslinkable polyorganosiloxane.

9. The composition according to claim 8, wherein the polyorganosiloxane haβ organofunctional groupβ of the epoxide or vinyl ether type and are βelected from the group conβisting of:

either linear or substantially linear comounds consiβting of units of formula (IV), ending with units of formula (V);

or cyclic and consisting of units of formula (IV)

in which formulae: the symbols R⁶ are identical or different and represent: either a linear or branched C₁-C₆ alkyl radical, optionally substituted with one or more halogens; an optionally subβtituted C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl radical; or a C₅-C₁₂ aryl radical or aralkyl radical having a C₃-C₁₂ aryl part and a C₁-C₄ alkyl part, optionally substituted on the aryl part with halogens, C₁-C₃ alkyl or alkoxy groups;

Y is identical or different and represents: either the radical R⁶; or a cationically crosslinkable organofunctional group connected to the silicon by a divalent radical containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms optionally containing a hetero atom; wherein at least one of the symbols Y is a cationically crosslinkable organofunctional group.

10. The compositions according to claim 9, wherein the polyorganosiloxane contains from 1 to 10 organofunctional groups per mole.

11. The composition according to claim 9 wherein the polyorganosiloxane has a structure in which: at least 60 mole % of the radicals R are methyl radicals, and at least one of the symbols Y corresponds to an epoxyfunctional or vinyloxyfunctional group.

12. The compositions according to claim 9 wherein said polyorganosiloxane is linear and has a viscosity at

25°C of about 10 to 10,000 mPa s.

13. A process for rendering articles non-adhesive to surfaces to which they would normally adhere, comprising the steps of:

(a) applying a composition comprising:

(1) a catal/tically effective amount of either an onium salt of an element selected from the group consisting of I, S, Se, P and N, or an oxoisothiochromanium salt;

(2) an accelerator comprising a compound of formula (I)

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of:

a linear or branched C₁-C₁₀ alkyl radical, optionally substituted with a linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkoxy group; a C₄-C₁₀ cycloalkyl radical, optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁ -C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups; a C₅-C₁₂ aryl radical, optionally subβtituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups; an aralkyl or aroxyalkyl radical in which the aryl part is a C₅-C₁₂ group optionally subβtituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups, wherein the alkyl part or the radical is a linear or branched C₁-C₄ group; a linear or branched C₁-C₁₅ alkoxy radical; and a C₄-C₁₀ cycloalkyloxy radical, optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups; and wherein R is selected from the group consisting of: a linear or branched C₁-C₁₀ alkyl radical, optionally substituted with a linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkoxy group; a C₁-C₄₀ cycloalkyl radical, optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups; a C₅-C₁₂ aryl radical, optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups; and an aralkyl or aroxyalkyl radical in which the aryl part is a C₅-C₁₂ group optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups, wherein the alkyl part or the radical is a linear or branched C₁-C₄ group; and (3) at least one cationically crosslinkable polyorganosiloxane; in an amount of between 0.1 and 500 g per m² of a surface of the said article to be coated; and

(b) exposing said surface to photochemical, thermal or electron beam radiation to cure said polyorganosiloxane onto said surface.

14. The process according to claim 13, wherein step (b) comprises exposing said surface to ultraviolet radiation at a of wavelength of about 200 to 400 nanometers.

15. The process according to claim 14 wherein step (b) further comprises exposing said surface to thermal radiation.

16. An article of manufacture having coated and cured on one or more of its surfaces a film of a composition comprising:

(1) a catalytically effective amount of either an onium salt of an element selected from the group consisting of I, S, Se, P and N, or an oxoisothiochromanium salt; and (2) an accelerator comprising a compound of formula (I)

wherein R¹ is selected from the group consisting of: a linear or branched C₁-C₁₀ alkyl radical, optionally substituted with a linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkoxy group; a C₁ - C₁₀ cycloalkyl radical, optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C_j-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups; a C₅-C₁₂ aryl radical, optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups; an aralkyl or aroxyalkyl radical in which the aryl part is a C₅-C₁₂ group optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups, wherein the alkyl part or the radical is a linear or branched C₁-C₄ group; a linear or branched C₁-C₁₅ alkoxy radical; and a C₄-C₁₀ cycloalkyloxy radical, optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups; and wherein R is selected from the group consisting of: a linear or branched C₁-C₁₀ alkyl radical, optionally substituted with a linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkoxy group; a C₄-C₁₀ cycloalkyl radical, optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups; a C₅-C₁₂ aryl radical, optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups; and an aralkyl or aroxyalkyl radical in which the aryl part is a C₃-C₁₂ group optionally substituted with one or more linear or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl or alkoxy groups, wherein the alkyl part or the radical is a linear or branched C₁-C₄ group; and

(3) at least one cationically crosslinkable polyorganosiloxane.