UV photo curing of N,N′-bismaleimido-4, 4′-diphenylmethane

The photo curing of a formulation consisting of N,N′-bismaleimido-4, 4′-diphenylmethane (BMI), which is most widely used in commercial thermal curing formulations, was performed. Parameters, such as initiator, co-initiator and temperature, which affect the curing rate and enthalpy, were studied using differential photocalorimeter. BMI undergoes copolymerization with 4-hydroxybutylvinylether (HBVE), when exposed to UV radiation, in presence of the photo initiator, Triphenylphosphine oxide (TPO). Diallylbisphenol A has been observed to be an efficient co-initiator, which improves the reaction rate coefficient and enthalpy of the photo curing process for the system BMI/HBVE/TPO.