Stabilized cationically-curable compositions

Claim 1

An energy polymerizable composition comprising a) at least one cationically curable monomer selected from the group consisting of epoxy monomers and vinyl ether-containing monomers, b) a two-component initiator comprising (1) at least one salt of an organometallic complex cation wherein said cation contains at least one carbon atom bonded to a transition metal atom, and (2) at least one stabilizing additive, or an active portion thereof, selected from the group consisting of classes 1 to 5: wherein Class 1 comprises compounds represented by formula III R.sup.1 --Z.sup.1 --R.sup.1 (III) where Z 1 is a diradical moiety selected from the group consisting of ##STR29## and each R 1 independently is a group selected from C 1 to C 10 alkyl groups and groups having 1 to 4 fused or unfused aromatic rings, and the R 1 s together can form a heterocyclic ring having 5 to 7 ring atoms; Class 2 comprises macrocyclic compounds represented by formula IV ##STR30## wherein Z 2 is a diradical --O--, --S--, or --NH--; wherein each R 2 independently can be hydrogen or it can be R 1 as previously defined, or two R 2 s together can form at least one ring which is saturated or unsaturated and the ring can be substituted or unsubstituted with alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl groups containing from 1 to 30 carbon atoms; the carbon atoms can be interrupted with up to 10 individual, non-catenated heteroatoms selected from O, S, and N; x is 1 or 2, and bis an integer from 3 to 10; Class 3 is represented by compounds having formulae V and VI, ##STR31## wherein each R 2 independently is as previously defined; and a class of tripyridyltriazines ##STR32## wherein each R 2 independently is as previously defined; Class 4 is described by compounds of formula VII: ##STR33## where Z 3 is nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic or antimony; where each R 1 independently is as defined above, and R 3 can be R 1 or a difunctional group selected from alkylene and phenylene groups, wherein c is either 1 or 2; Class 5 describes Schiff bases and can be represented by compounds of formula VIII: ##STR34## wherein R 2 and R 3 independently are as previously defined, and wherein d is 1 or 2.