Primary Processes after 222nm Excitation of Acrylates

Excimer lamps as monochromatic UV sources with an intense short-wavelength emission open up new possibilities for a photoinitiator-free initiation of the acrylate polymerisation. The reactivity of. various neat acrylates after excitation with 222 nm light from a KrCl lamp was studied by real-time FTIR-ATR spectroscopy and in some pilot scale trials. This paper reports laser flash photolysis experiments (222 nm KrCI* laser) and results of a product study made by GC/MSD after steady-state photolysis (KrCl* excimer lamp, up to 18 ) on model acrylates. Quantum chemical calculations  assist the interpretation of the photolysis data.