Energy curable compositions: single component curing agents

Claim 2

A polymerizable composition comprising a polymeric precursor selected from one of the groups consisting of 1) at least one ethylenically-unsaturated monomer, 2) at least one ethylenically-unsaturated monomer and polyurethane precursors, and 3) at least one ethylenically-unsaturated monomer and at least one epoxy monomer, and a curing agent comprising an organometallic salt, said composition optionally further comprising an effective amount of at least one of a photosensitizer and a solvent.

Claim 3

The composition according to claim 9 wherein said polyurethane precursor is at least one polyisocyanate and at least one polyol or other isocyanate-reactive group bearing at least two isocyanate-reactive groups.

Claim 4

The composition according to claims 1 and 2 wherein said at least one ethylenically-unsaturated monomer is selected from the group consisting of acrylates, acrylamides, vinyl compounds, and bireactive monomers.

Claim 5

The composition according to claims 1 to 3 wherein said organometallic salt has the formula: [((L¹)(L²)M) b (L³)(L⁴)] +e X f I wherein M represents the same or different metals selected from the elements of Periodic Groups IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, and VIIIB; with the proviso that Formula I can represent an organometallic salt having a mono- or bimetallic cation; L¹ represents none, 1, 2, or 3 ligands contributing pi-electrons that can be the same or different ligand selected from substituted and unsubstituted acyclic and cyclic unsaturated compounds and groups and substituted and unsubstituted carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic compounds, each capable of contributing two to twelve pi-electrons to the valence shell of M; L² represent none or 1 to 6 ligands contributing an even number of sigma-electrons that can be the same or different selected from mono-, di-, and tri-dentate ligands, each contributing 2, 4, or 6 sigma-electrons to the valence shell of M; L³ represents none, 1 or 2 bridging ligands pi-electrons that can be the same or different ligand selected from substituted and unsubstituted acyclic and cyclic unsaturated compounds and groups and substituted and unsubstituted carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic compounds, each capable of acting as a bridging ligand contributing 2 to 24 pi-electrons to the valence shells of two metal atoms simultaneously; L⁴ represents none, 1, 2 or 3 bridging ligands contributing an even number of sigma-electrons that can be the same or different selected from mono, di, and tri-dentate ligands, each donating 2, 4, or 6 sigma-electrons to the valence shells of two M simultaneously; with the proviso that the total electronic charge contributed to M by the ligands L¹, L², L³ and L⁴ plus the product of ionic charge on M with b results in a residual net positive charge of e to the cation; b is an integer having a value of 1 or 2; e is an integer having a value of 1 or 2, the residual electrical charge of the cation; x is an anion selected from organic sulfonate anions and halogen-containing complex anions of a metal or metalliod; f is an integer of 1 or 2, the number of anions required to neutralize the charge e on the cation.

Claim 6

the composition according to Claim 9 which has been subjected to sufficient energy to effect polymerization and provide a cured composition.

Claim 7

The composition according to claims 1 to 5 wherein said organometallic salt is selected from the group consisting of (eta⁶-mesitylene)(eta⁵-cyclopentadienyl)­iron(1+) hexafluoroantimonate, (eta⁶-mesitylene)(eta⁵-­cyclopentadienyl)iron(1+) hexafluorophosphate, (eta⁶-naphthalene)(eta⁵-cyclopentadienyl)iron(1+) hexafluoroantimonate, (eta⁶-naphthalene)(eta⁵-­cyclopentadienyl)iron(1+) hexafluorophosphate, (eta⁵-cyclopentadienyl)dicarbonyltriphenylphosphineiron(1+) hexafluorophosphate, and (eta⁵-cyclopentadienyl)dicarbonyl­triphenylphosphineiron(1+) hexafluoroantimonate.

Claim 8

A shaped article or a layered structure comprising the composition according to claims 1 to 6.

Claim 10

The method according to claim 8 wherein said energy is at least one of electromagnetic radiation, accelerated particles, and thermal energy.