Polymeric photoinitiators bearing side‐chain acyldiphenylphosphinoxide moieties for uv surface coatings

Abstract Polymeric photoinitiators bearing side‐chain acyldiphenylphosphinoxide moieties have been prepared by reacting poly(methacryloyl chloride) and methacryloyl chloride/methyl methacrylate copolymers with methoxydiphenylphosphine. The activity of the above polymeric systems has been checked in the UV curing of both clear and pigmented coating formulations and compared with that of the low molecular weight analog pivaloyldiphenyl‐phosphinoxide. The stability to light and to different hydrolitic conditions of the polymeric photoinitiators with respect to pivaloyldiphenylphosphinoxide has also been tested. The data concerning activity and stability are discussed in terms of structural features of the above systems. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.