Coating compositions containing the oxygen sensitive diacrylate monomers 3-acrylyloxy-2,2-dimethylpropyl 3-acrylyloxy-2,2-dimethylpropionate, 1,3-bis(acrylyloxy)-2,2-dimethylpropane or mixtures thereof and further containing hiding pigment are cured by ionizing irradiation in the presence of a curing atmosphere containing from about 300 to about 1000 parts oxygen per million parts curing atmosphere. The resulting cured coating compositions are useful as protective coatings for many substrates.

This invention is drawn to a water-dilutable film forming material prepared by the reaction of an unsaturated polyester, a vinyl monomer free from functional groups and a carboxy containing monomer. The unsaturated polyester is prepared from the reaction of partially hydrogenated phthalic acids, and acylic dibasic acids with excess polyol. The reaction product contains 30-80% by weight of a vinyl monomer residue, 3-20% by weight of carboxylic acid monomer residue, and 10-67% by weight of the unsaturated polyester.

Certain wax containing UV curable polyester resins are provided which can be used to improve the insulating characteristics of oriented steel strip useful in making power transformer core laminate. The resins can be continuously applied and cured in a substantially pollution free manner.

A photocurable composition comprising a major part of a polymerizable compound with at least two ethylenically unsaturated bonds in one molecule thereof, and minor parts of a photosensitizer and a nitrosodiarylamine compound is described. The nitrosodiarylamine compound serves to suppress thermal polymerization of the photocurable composition. The photocurable composition is especially suitable for use in making paints and printing plate materials.

A reactive metal oxide or metal hydroxide, such as ZnO, MgO, HgO or Ba(OH).sub.2 and acrylic or methacrylic acid are added to a liquid, hydrophobic, essentially solvent-free coating vehicle capable of being cured by high-energy radiation. The resulting coating composition, as compared to the vehicle alone, can be cured with lower radiation doses, is less susceptible to oxygen inhibition of curing with ionizing radiation and exhibits a thixotropic viscosity which prevents excessive penetration of the coating into porous substrates and contributes non-drip, low-flow characteristics to the composition.