Photopolymerizable epoxy systems containing cyclic amide gelation inhibitors

Claim 2

The composition of claim 1, in which the polymerizable material is a mixture of epoxides and a lactone.

Claim 3

The composition of claim 3, in which said lactone is gamma-butyro-lactone.

Claim 4

The composition of claim 1, in which the polymerizable material is a mixture of epoxides and a vinyl-containing compound.

Claim 5

The composition of claim 5, in which said vinyl-containing compound is styrene.

Claim 6

The composition of claim 5, in which said vinyl-containing compound is dodecyl vinyl ether.

Claim 7

The composition of claim 1, in which said catalyst precursor is present in an amount equal to between about 0.5 percent and about 5 percent of the weight of said polymerizable material present in the composition.

Claim 8

The composition of claim 1, in which said cyclic amide is selected from the group consisting of 1-alkyl-2-pyrrolidinone, 1-alkyl-2-piperidone, 1-alkyl-2(1H)-pyridone, and poly(1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone).

Claim 9

The composition of claim 1, in which said cyclic amide is a 1-substituted 2-pyrrolidinone.

Claim 10

The composition of claim 1, in which said cyclic amide is 1-alkyl-2-pyrrolidinone.

Claim 11

The composition of claim 1, in which said cyclic amide is 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone.

Claim 12

The composition of claim 1, in which said cyclic amide is poly(1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone).

Claim 13

The composition of claim 1, in which said gelation inhibitor is present in an amount by weight equal to between about 0.02 percent and about 1.5 percent of the weight of the composition.

Claim 14

The composition of claim 1, in which the total amount of any unpolymerizable volatile solvents present in said composition is less than about 4 percent by weight of the composition.

Claim 15

A stabilized polymerizable composition, comprising: a liquid monomeric or prepolymeric epoxide material or mixtures of epoxide materials with a monomer selected from the group consisting of gamma butyrolactone, styrene and dodecyl vinyl ether, said mixture being polymerizable to higher molecular weights through the action of a cationic catalyst; an aromatic diazonium salt of a complex halogenide which decomposes upon application of energy to provide a halide Lewis acid effective to initiate polymerization of said epoxide material, said salt being Present in an amount equal to between about 0.5 percent and about 5 percent of the weight of said epoxide material present in said composition; and a gelation inhibitor for counteracting prematurely formed Lewis acid, said inhibitor being a 1-substituted 2-pyrrolidinone present in an amount by weight equal to between about 0.02 percent and about 1.5 percent of the weight of said composition.

Claim 16

The composition of claim 16, in which the total amount of any unpolymerizable volatile solvent present in said composition is less than about 4 percent by weight of the liquid composition.

Claim 17

The composition of claim 16, in which the polymerizable material is a mixture of epoxides and gamma-butyrolactone.

Claim 18

The composition of claim 16, in which the polymerizable material is a mixture of epoxides and dodecyl vinyl ether.

Claim 19

The composition of claim 16, in which the polymerizable material is a mixture of epoxides and dodecyl vinyl ether.

Claim 20

The process of polymerizing a polymerizable material consisting essentially of monomeric or prepolymeric epoxides or mixtures thereof in admixture with a monomer selected from the group consisting of lactones and vinyl-containing compounds having the general formula:

Claim 21

The process of claim 21, in which the monomeric or prepolymeric epoxide is a mixture of epoxides.

Claim 22

The process of claim 21, in which the polymerizable material is a mixture of epoxides and a lactone.

Claim 23

The process of claim 21, in which the polymerizable material is a mixture of epoxides and a vinyl-containing compound.

Claim 24

The process of claim 21, in which said catalyst precursor is mixed with said polymerizable material in an amount equal to between about 0.5 percent and about 5 percent of the weight of the polymerizable material.

Claim 25

The process of claim 21, in which said cyclic amide mixed with the polymerizable material and the catalyst precursor is selected from the group consisting of 1-alkyl-2-pyrrolidinone, poly(1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone), 1-alkyl-2-piperidone, and 1-alkyl-2(1H)-pyridone.

Claim 26

The process of claim 26, in which said cyclic amide is a 1-substituted 2-pyrrolidinone.

Claim 27

The process of claim 21, in which the cyclic amide is mixed with the polymerizable material and the catalyst precursor is 1-alkyl-2-pyrrolidinone.

Claim 28

The process of claim 21, in which the cyclic amide is mixed with the polymerizable material and the catalyst precursor is 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone.

Claim 29

The process of claim 21, in which the cyclic amide mixed with the polymerizable material and the catalyst precursor is poly(1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone).

Claim 30

The process of claim 21, in which said gelation inhibitor is mixed with said polymerizable material and said catalyst precursor in an amount equal to between aboUt 0.02 percent and about 1.5 percent of the weight of the resulting mixture.

Claim 31

The process of claim 21, in which said mixture resulting from mixing the polymerizable material, the catalyst precursor, and the gelation inhibitor contains less than about 4 percent by weight of any unpolymerizable volatile solvents which may be present therein.