Printed circuit board - Patent Review 4863757

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past few years there has been a tremendous amount of activity in the area of replacing "subtractive" printed circuit boards with "additive" printed circuit boards. There are major environmental, economic, and marketing reasons for the interest expressed in this technology. Two of the more important reasons are the growth of the electronic industry and the environmental problems associated with traditional copper "substantive" circuit boards which consume resources, such as the copper foil itself, as well as the process itself which generates hazardous waste.

In an effort to overcome or minimize the disadvantages associated with the production of "subtractive" printed circuit boards, membrane switch circuit boards were developed in the late seventies and early eighties. These circuit boards were generally silver loaded resin inks printed on polyester films. However, they exhibited rather low voltage and current carrying capabilities and were employed principally in the field of simple switches and not as true printed circuit boards.

It is also important to distinguish additive technologies, such as CC-4 boards which rely on electroless copper plating to achieve an additive circuit board from the present invention. The former, which indeed is an additive process, nonetheless continues to produce undesirable effluents even though it offers some cost advantages over the more conventional subtractive techniques. On the other hand, the present invention not only avoids the production of undesirable effluents but also provides economic advantages over systems, heretofore, employed in the production of printed circuit boards.

Two of the more significant advantages secured by the present invention, not achievable heretofore, are (1) a low cost silver based ink providig low resistance values and being UV--curable and (2) a low cost silver based solderable ink which also provides low resistance and is UV--curable. In both instances, the present invention provides a circuit trace whose cross section involves a U.V. - curable material in combination with either silver coated glass or silver coated magnetite spheres.

An inherent problem associated with UV technology resides in the fact the the UV material itself is non-conductive and represents a significant percentage of the conductive ink composition. In many cases this can be as high as 30 percent UV--curable resin and 70 percent conductive material.

While the advantages of the present invention are applicable to planar boards or substrates, it will be appreciated that these same advantages can be secured with non-planar substrates such as, for instance computer keyboards and the like.

The present invention thus relates to two systems for securing the above noted advantages and for avoiding the disadvantages associated with known methods of producing printed circuit boards.

The first of these systems involves curing the U.V. curable resin component of the U.V. curable ink containing spherical conductive particles by subjecting the same to a U.V. source in a pulsing manner.

The second of these systems involves the use of a magnetic field and while under the influence of the magnetic field curing the U.V. curable resin containing spherical magnetite conductive particles by subjecting the same to a U.V. source whether or not in a pulsing manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly appreciated from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section through an ink film containing conductive spheres, which ink film is not treated in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section through an ink film also containing conductive spheres, which ink film has, in accordance with the present invention been subjected to a U.V. source in a pulsing manner or to a U.V. source under the influence of a magnetic field whether or not the U.V. source is applied in a pulsing manner:

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the packing of identical spheres whereby adjacent layers thereof are capable of slipping past one another;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the packing of identical spheres whereby adjacent layers thereof are not capable of slipping past one another;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the present invention wherein spheres vary in diameter by at least plus or minus 15 microns thereby permitting additional packing without undue reduction in fluidity yet providing high conductivity;

FIG. 6 is a schematic of one embodiment of the magnetic device of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a frontal schematic of another embodiment of a magnetic device of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is side view of the magnetic device of FIG. 7.

In FIG. 1 which illustrates a typical dispersion of spherical particles 12 in a resin 10 the problem of having large interstices between the particles filled with resin which is an insulator can be easily seen. On the other hand, in FIG. 2, which is representative of the present invention, the spherical particles 12 are closely packed with only a small amount of resin 10 filling the interstices therebetween.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST SYSTEM

The inventor has now discovered that when a U.V. source with an output in the region between 360 nm and 420 nm is employed in a pulsed mode, a shrinkage of the conductive ink circuitry film occurs whereby shrinkage is facilitated evenly throughout the conductive ink film thickness. This causes the conductive particles to move into closer contact with regard to one another, thus resulting in the conductive ink circuitry or trace being capable of carrying a greater operating current, as well as lowering the current resistance.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST SYSTEM

One embodiment of the present invention thus relates to a method for producing a circuit board having conductive circuit elements with a specific resistance of less than 0.05 ohm/cm.sup.2 patterned on a non-conductive substrate comprising (a) printing a U.V. curable ink onto the non-conductive substrate in a desired circuit pattern and (b) effecting a U.V. radiation cure of the U.V. curable ink by exposing said U.V. curable ink to a U.V. source having an output in the region between 360 nm and 420 nm. The exposure of the ink to the U.V. source is effected in a pulsing manner which comprises 5 to 8 one-half second exposure periods, each exposure period being immediately followed by a non-exposure period of about 2 to 3 seconds. When the ink is cured in accordance with the present invention, a shrinkage of the ink film thickness occurs and is facilitated evenly throughout the conductive ink film thickness. This causes the particles to move into closer contact with one another, thus resulting in the patterned conductive circuit elements being capable of carrying a greater operating current as well as exhibiting a lower resistance.

The U.V. source employed in the present invention is electrodeless. Instead of using electrodes to feed energy into the discharge, the discharge tube absorbs microwave energy via waveguides into a microwave chamber in which the tube is housed. The lamp system employed in the present invention is modular and consists of two parts, an irradiator and a power supply. The irradiator contains a microwave chamber formed by an anodized aluminum reflector of semi-elliptical cross section with flat ends. The lamp itself is a closed, 10 inch-long tube of transparent vitreous silica varying in internal diameter from 8 mm near the ends to 6 mm at the center. The lamp is located so that its axis lies at the focus of the ellipse, and it acts as a dissipative load. Microwave energy is generated by two 1500 watt magnetrons and is fed through waveguides into the chamber via rectangular slots cut in the back of the reflector. The microwave frequency used is 2450 MHz. The magnetrons and waveguides are cooled by a filtered air flow, and this air is also passed through small circular holes cut in the back of the reflector, and over the lamp. In order to better disperse the output of the lamp and fully cure the conductive circuit elements, the surface of the reflector is provided with 1 inch facets much like the surface of a golf ball.

An important factor which dictated the selection of an electrodeless U.V. output source is the lack of lamp deterioration associated with electrodes. This deterioration has prevented U.V. resins from being used in a truly viable production of circuit boards of the type produced in accordance with the present invention. One reason for this is that in an electrode lamp the output wavelength will vary with time due to electrode deterioration, and there is a direct relationship between degree of cure of the curable U.V. resin and the current carrying capability of the conductive circuit elements produced therefrom. The inventor has found a particularly effective electrodeless lamp is one with iron iodide as a dopant which enhances the spectral output in the wavelength of 360 nm and 420 nm.

Suitable substrates on which the U.V. curable ink of the present invention can be printed, especially for use in membrane switches are generally organic polymer films having the properties of high flexibility, tensile strength, elasticity, dimensional stability and chemical inertness. Transparency is also a frequently desired property for such materials. Materials meeting these criteria include polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polycarbonates, polyesters and polyvinyl halides such as polyvinyl chloride and polyvinyl fluoride. The most highly preferred and most widely used substrate material for membrane switches is a polyester film, e.g. Mylar.RTM. polyester film.

The U.V. curable ink employed in the present invention comprises from about 33 to 38 weight percent of a thermosetting resin binder and 67 to 62 weight percent of spherical or spheroidal conductive particles having a particle size distribution ranging from 1 to 30 microns.

Representative thermosetting resins usefully employed in the present invention include (1) phenolic resins such as those produced by reacting phenols with aldehydes; (2) amino resins such as the condensation products of urea and of melamine with formaldehyde; (3) unsaturated polyester resins wherein the dibasic acid or the glycol, or both, contain double bonded carbon atoms. Unsaturated acids include maleic anhydride or fumaric acid while when the unsaturation is supplied by the glycol, a saturated acid or anhydride such as phthalic anhydride or adipic, azelaic or isophathalic acid can be employed. Ethylene and propylene glycols are often employed but 1,3- and 2,3-butylene, diethylene and dipropylene glycols are also often used. While styrene is commonly employed, other monomers used include vinyl toluene, methyl methacrylate, diallyl phthalate and triallyl cyanurate; (4) epoxy resins such as the condensation product of epichlorohydrin with bisphenol A, although other hydroxyl-containing compounds such as resorcinol, hydroquinione, glycols and glycerol can be employed; and (5) silicone polymers produced by intermolecular condensation of silanols. Other thermosetting resins such as alkyd resins including those based on phthalic anhydride and glycerol, or those based on other polyhydric alcohols such as glycols, pentaerythritol or sorbitol, and other acids such as maleic anhydride, isophathalic and terephthalic acid can also be used. Still other thermosetting resin binders include allyl resins, e.g. diallyl phthalate and allyl diglycol carbonate, as well as furane resins such as those based on furfuraldehyde in combination with phenol.

Preferably, the thermosetting resin binder employed in the present invention is a formulation of liquid acrylic modified monomers, oligomers and polymers activated by a combination of a ketone photoinitiator and an amine. The resin is synthesized with either a terminal or pendant acrylate group, with a urethane being the preferred oligomer. In order to achieve longer wavelength absorption in the range of 360 nm to 420 nm, a ketone-amine adjuvant is employed. Preferably this adjuvant is Michler's ketone since it contains both ketone and amine functionality in one molecule. However, a mixture of benzophenone and Michler's ketone has been found to be particularly effective (1) where the two components are admixed prior to incorporation into the curable ink vehicle, (2) where the spherical or spheroidal conductive particles are silver coated glass spheres and (3) where the latter are present in the U.V. curable ink in an amount greater than 60 weight percent based on the total weight of the curable ink.

The spherical or spheroidal conductive particles employed in the present invention are, preferably, silver coated glass spheres having the following characteristics: average particle diameter--15 microns; average particle size distribution--1 to 30 microns; silver coating--12 percent by weight based on the total weight of the spheres; particle density--2.7 g/cc; specific surface area--0.178 m.sup.2 /g; and minimum percent rounds by microscope--90.

Other particulated materials such as iron, zinc, nickel, copper and the like can also be employed, these particulated materials having a particle size distribution and an average particle size previously defined.

The output spectra of six electrodeless lamps were tested and analyzed for their effectiveness in curing a U.V. curable ink in accordance with the present invention. The results are given below.

__________________________________________________________________________ Lamp A Lamp D Lamp M Interval Power Power Power Power Power Power (NM) (watts) (accum) (watts) (accum) (watts) (accum) __________________________________________________________________________ 200-210 7.9 8 7.7 8 13.4 13 210-220 17.0 26 15.2 23 42.4 56 220-230 25.3 51 15.8 39 67.2 123 230-240 23.6 75 14.6 53 46.2 170 240-250 27.6 102 24.8 78 303 200 250-260 55.7 158 43.1 121 101.2 301 260-270 38.9 197 32.1 153 78.1 379 270-280 48.8 246 42.9 196 34.7 414 280-290 91.0 329 24.6 221 28.7 443 290-300 39.3 366 48.6 269 43.5 486 300-310 72.0 73 56.7 57 46.2 46 310-320 77.6 150 44.2 101 92.1 138 320-330 64.5 215 35.5 136 9.0 147 330-340 25.6 240 20.3 156 18.4 166 340-350 9.3 250 43.2 200 5.4 171 350-360 48.4 298 78.0 279 5.2 176 360-370 58.6 357 93.3 373 118.9 293 370-380 25.2 382 115.2 488 8.0 307 380-390 37.1 419 112.1 600 6.3 310 390-400 11.5 430 41.2 641 5.9 315 400-410 92.9 93 46.9 47 50.5 50 410-420 10.1 103 33.5 80 7.0 57 420-430 15.5 119 44.6 125 7.9 65 430-440 41.0 160 61.7 187 79.5 145 440-450 30.1 190 28.2 215 8.8 154 __________________________________________________________________________ Lamp M' Lamp V Lamp X Interval Power Power Power Power Power Power (NM) (watts) (accum) (watts) (accum) (watts) (accum) __________________________________________________________________________ 200-210 7.5 7 0.4 0 7.1 7 210-220 20.9 28 1.4 2 22.1 29 220-230 31.4 60 2.9 5 32.3 62 230-240 27.9 88 3.6 8 41.3 103 240-250 29.8 118 7.3 16 34.5 137 250-260 73.1 191 11.5 27 55.7 193 260-270 79.5 270 12.5 40 48.3 241 270-280 31.7 302 12.3 52 29.3 271 280-290 85.1 387 26.2 78 38.2 309 290-300 26.8 414 46.5 125 38.8 348 300-310 20.9 21 16.0 16 29.1 29 310-320 42.5 63 17.3 33 51.4 80 320-330 10.1 74 16.4 50 26.4 107 330-340 10.8 84 20.2 70 25.9 133 340-350 6.9 91 22.3 92 53.1 186 350-360 26.0 117 24.4 117 25.2 211 360-370 173.4 291 35.1 152 112.1 323 370-380 40.2 331 29.3 181 15.5 339 380-390 9.1 340 31.5 213 15.4 354 390-400 8.5 348 35.4 240 15.4 370 400-410 133.0 134 135.1 135 40.1 40 410-420 17.1 151 144.0 279 15.3 55 420-430 8.6 160 76.6 256 18.5 74 430-440 42.9 203 44.9 401 71.0 145 440-450 11.1 214 32.5 433 29.3 174 __________________________________________________________________________

Curing Mechanism of a U.V. curable acrylate resin utilized in the invention.

______________________________________ Typical Formulation CP -100 Function ______________________________________ Monomer Acrylic monomers Film-forming materials Pre-polymer oligomers, polymers Photo-initiator mixed ketones light sensitive with amine chemical Surfactant non-ionic type wetting agent Additives Silica suspending agent gloss reduction ______________________________________

An unsaturated polyester mixed with its monomer can be cross linked by UV light if a suitable photoinitiator is incorporated. The durable bonds in the unsaturated esters provide potential bonding sites for polymerization by free radical processes. Acrylate esters polymerize at a rate which is at least an order of magnitude greater than is found with other unsaturated esters. The pre-polymers are normally very viscous, or even solid, and in order to reduce the viscosity, it has been found convenient to use a diluent. Monoacrylates and some oligomers, with low volatility have been employed.

Benzophenone and its diaryl ketone derivatives possess the unifying feature of producing initiator radicals by intermolecular H-abstraction from a H-donor after irradiation with a UV light source. The H-absorption step produces two radicals both of which are potential initiators of radical initiated polymerization. Tertiary amines with .alpha. -H-atoms react readily with the excited states of the ketones. H-transfer may be preceded by rapid formation of an excited state complex (exciplex) between the amine and excited ketone. Michler's ketone possesses both a diaryl ketone group and tertiary amine group. Combinations of Michler's ketone and benzophenone have been reported to exhibit a synergism when utilized in a U.V. curing of printing inks.

This synergism is believed to arise from higher absorptivity of Michler's ketone together with the greater reactivity of excited benzophenone.

In addition to the formation of an exciplex to enhance the photopolymerization rate, amines, such as small amounts of triethylamine, have other advantages in a benzophenone/acrylate system.

The .alpha.-amino (R.sub.2 C--NR.sub.2) radical, formed after the H-abstraction step, is generally much more effective than the relatively stable and bulky ketone radical. Besides, .alpha.-amino radicals are electron-rich due to the resonance effect of the adjacent heteroatom, and initiation is considered to be much more efficient with the electron-poor monomers, such as acrylates.

The addition of oxygen to growing polymers will form relatively less reactive peroxy radicals which will cause the radical-radical reactions, terminate the polymerization processes, and result in short chain lengths. This factor as well as oxygen quenching of triplet ketones is largely responsible for air inhibitors of surface-cure. However, these deleterious effects of oxygen are minimized by amine co-initiation since the .alpha.-amino radicals can consume oxygen by a chain process such as: ##STR1##

These features together make the combination of ketone/tertiary amine a particularly effective photoinitiator system for U.V. curing in air.

Mechanisms

The following mechanisms are involved in the preceding reactions ##STR2##

As noted above, when an acrylate system, such as CP-100 is employed, it is cured by photoinitiated free radical polymerization. The photoinitiator is usually an aromatic ketone with the concentration about 4-5%. The excited aromatic ketone after being irradiated with a U.V. source will get an H-atom from a monomer, solvent, or preferably a tertiary amine with an .alpha.-hydrogen. The H-transfer reactions between the aromatic ketones and the amines are usually very fast. The resulting .alpha.-amino radical can consume O.sub.2 molecules through a chain process and regenerate the .alpha.-amino radicals. This process can assist surface curing, where the curing film contacts the air. O.sub.2 molecules are very effective quenchers for the radicals.

A small amount of Michler's ketone is also mixed into the formulation (about 1/10 of the concentration of benzophenone). Michler's ketone has both the aromatic ketone group and tertiary amine group in one molecule, and has strong absorption of light around 350 nm. Accordingly, it can effectively absorb the U.V. light from Hg-lamp and pass the energy to benzophenone to form excited benzophenone.

In the curing of a CP-100 system which is generally employed because the cure speed of t he double bond in the acrylate group, the free radical generated from the photoinitiator will react with the unsaturated double bond in the polymer c hain and then the other free radical is formed, which will react with the second unsaturated polymer chain to form the crosslinked thermosetting polymers.

Benzophenone exhibits absorption maxima in the ultraviolet spectra region at about 250 and 350 nm with .epsilon. values of approximately 15,000 and 100 respectively. The .epsilon. values represent a measure of the probability of light absorption at each wavelength. With benzophenone present in this first system, most of the 250 nm is absorbed at or near the surface, whereas the 350 nm light is available throughout the film for the through-cure. Michler's ketone, however, exhibits .epsilon. values of about 15,000 and 40,000 at 250 nm and 350 nm respectively. The combination of Michler's ketone and benzophenone shows some kind of synergism, probably because of the higher absorptivity of Michler's ketone and the greater reactivity of triplet benzophenone.

The free radicals generated from the photoinititiation step or the propagation process are very reactive. They will be quenched effectively by O.sub.2 molecules, recombine with other radicals nearby, or undergo O.sub.2 addition and terminate the propagation. In general, as soon as exposure to the U.V. source is terminated, the polymerization processes stop. There is an optimal concentration of photoinitiator which is governed by efficient U.V. light utilization and initiator radical formation as opposed to self-quenching and light U.V. screening by the photoinitiator.

Most acrylic functional resins are extremely viscous due to the urethane or epoxy backbones. Among these it has been found that epoxy resins have good adhesion, a high level of chemical resistance, non-yellowing colors and flexibility. Polyesters and polyethers have lower viscosities. The polymerizable resins can provide the final film hardness and chemical resistance. The reactive monomers, or the unreactive plasticizers, are often introduced to modify its flow properties and reduce the final film brittleness. Reactive monomers can be used not just as rheological (viscosity and tack) control agents but also as crosslinking agents.

A peculiar effect has been discovered which is significant in the actual packing of the spheres, whether the pulsing mode of this first system is employed or whether the magnetic field of the second system is used to effect ink film shrinkage.

The closest packing of identical spheres 12 with the resin 10 filling the interstices is a completely hexagonal array with all spheres in contact. This array however has no fluidity because adjacent layers cannot slide past one another. See FIG. 4. If, however, one considers a set of planar arrays of spheres 12, each of which has hexagonal packing, but now each sphere 12 rests in registery with the one below it rather than nesting in a space defined by three spheres 12 of the adjacent layer, it is now possible for slippage to take place. See FIG. 3. If all the spheres 12 are of equal diameter it is only possible for the spheres 12 to occupy a volume fraction of slightly more than 60 percent which yields insufficient electrical conductivity. However, if the spheres 12 vary in diameter by at least plus or minus 15 microns, increased packing without undue reduction of fluidity is achieved. See FIG. 5.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SECOND SYSTEM

The inventor has also discovered that when a U.V. curable ink comprising a suspension of silver-coated magnetite particles in a U.V. curable resin is employed and a circuit pattern printed with this U.V. curable ink composition is subjected to a magnetic field of an intensity sufficient to move the magnetite particles to a position at or near the upper surface of the resin, i.e., the surface remote from that juxtaposed to the circuit board substrate on which the circuit pattern is printed, without breaking the surface tension thereof or substantially increasing the thickness of the ink film, and effecting U.V. radiation cure of the U.V. curable ink, an ideal printed circuit board is achieved.

This second system, as does the previously described first system, causes the magnetite particles to move into closer contact with one another, thus resulting in the patterned conductive circuit elements or trace being capable of carrying a greater operating current as well as exhibiting a lower resistance and being solderable.

Polymer thick film and "additive" printed circuit board technology appear destined to grow at a rapid rate. The impetus for this growth is due to several reasons, amongst which are (a) the development of a directly solderable conductor which is one of the primary benefits achieved by the present invention, and especially the implementation of the inventor's second system, which elimiates the need of plating, and (b) the increasing use of surface-mount technology since the capability of fabricating structures using polymer thick technology and surface mount technology make a very attractive combination in terms of size and cost when compared to multilayer printed circuit boards with a multitude of plated through holes.

In a preferred embodiment of this second system the U.V. curable ink compositions utilize as the polymeric matrix or binder a cycloaliphatic epoxide that can be cured in seconds with photoinitiators to a hard durable condition. Modifiers can be included in the composition to improve flexibility and adhesion. It is important to note that again one significant feature of this second system is the ability to separate the polymeric binder from the conductive particles via magnetic levitation of the silver-coated magnetite particles. The cycloaliphatic expoxide can be cured in seconds with an appropriate photoinitiator and U.V. light source.

The photoinitiators dissociate under the influence of U.V. radiation to form cationic species that rapidly polymerizes the cycloaliphatic epoxides. Unlike U.V. resins that are based on free radical chain reactions, cationic homopolymerization has few, if any, terminating reactions. The propagation ends remains intact to form a "living" polymer; thus polymerization continues after U.V. exposure (even under surface mount technology conditions). Suitable photoinitiators for the U.V. curing of the cycloaliphatic epoxide are the various onimum salts that undergo photodecomposition to yield a cationic species for initiation and propagation of the polymerization. Photogenerated HPF.sub.6 is a strong protonic acid that can initiate the cationic polymerization.

Preferably, the cycloaliphatic epoxides employed in the present invention are those which are commercially available such as UVE-1014 sold by General Electric, FC-508 sold by 3M, and CP-101 manufactured by Key-Tech, with UVE-1014 being preferred. CP-101 is a multipurpose cycloaliphatic epoxide monomer having excellent response to cure with photoinitiators. As the major component, CP-101 provides good adhesion, and to avoid any brittleness that might be encountered with the use of CP-101, it has been found advantageous to employ a high molecular weight polyol plasticizer, such as Polymeg 2000. This particular plasticizer actually enters into the polymerization as shown by the following reaction scheme: ##STR3##

It is believed that the curing mechanism involving a U.V. curable epoxy resin having a typical formulation below, is as follows

______________________________________ Typical Formulation Function ______________________________________ Monomer Cycloaliphatic Film-forming materials Epoxide Modifier polyether React with basic polyol materials Make coating flexible Photoinitiator Cationic Type Light sensitive chemical Surfactant Fluorinated Wetting agent for Chemical non-porous substrates ______________________________________

In the photoinitiation stage, several inorganic and organometallic salts are active photoinitiators of the cationic polymerization. A triarylsulfonium compound almost approaches an ideal for photoinitiators. This class of compounds possesses the favorable properties of neither undergoing air inhibition, nor being temperature sensitive or affected by other radical inhibitors. The photo-reactivity is not quenched by triplet-state quenchers and is not accelerated by radical photoinitiators. The photochemical mechanism is similar to that of another class of compounds, i.e., diaryliodonium salts, but triarylsulfonium salts have greater thermal stability. These salts have the general structure

Ar.sub.3 S.sup.+ MX.sub.n -

where MXn- is a complex metal halide, BF.sub.4 -, PF.sub.6 -, AsF.sub.6 - or SbF.sub.6.sup.-. The reactivity of salts is found to increase with the size of the counter anion, namely, BF.sub.4 -<<PF.sub.6 -<AsF.sub.6 <SbF.sub.6 -.

Upon irradiation by the U.V. source having a wavelength below 350 nm, the sulfonium cation undergoes homolytic cleavage with the anion remaining unchanged. ##STR4## wherein Y-H represents a monomer or solvent.

The overall photolysis reaction is

Ar.sub.3 S.sup.+ MX.sub.n.sup.-+ Y-H.about.Ar.sub.2 S+Ar.+Y+HMX.sub.n

A strong Bronsted acid for cationic curing such as HBF.sub.4, HPF.sub.6, or HSbF.sub.6 is formed. The rate of photolysis of triphenylsulfonium salts is linear with respect to the light intensity.

Using triphenylsulfonium salt photoinitiators, it has been found possible to polymerize virtually any cationically polymerizable monomer. This includes olefins, dienes, epoxides, cyclic ethers, sulfides, acetals, and lactones. Epoxy compounds and resins are of particular interest as a class of polymerizable materials in U.V. curing. In general, these materials are readily available as commodity items, and the resulting cured polymers possess excellent dimensional and thermal stability as well as superior mechanical strength and chemical resistance.

Especially prefered epoxides for use in the present invention are the cycloaliphatic and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A(DBEGA) types. Cycloaliphatic expoxides give faster cure response and are lower in viscosity, although they may not be as economical as DGEBA epoxides. However, both types of epoxides provide toughness, hardness and chemical resistance.

Useful polyol plasticizers, which can contain either polyether or polyester backbones, are usually mixed into the formulation to make the coating more flexible. Polyester polyols give a faster cure response and are useful at higher levels to give excellent coating flexibility. Polyether polyols produce lower viscosity coatings and maintain greater hydrolytic resistance to cured films. This latter type of polyol is not a typical plasticizer since it actually enters into the polymerization.

As indicated above, unlike U.V. coatings based on free radical chain reactions, cationic polymerization has few terminating reactions. The propagating ends remain intact to form a "living" polymer; thus, polymerization continues after U.V. exposure, i.e., under dark conditions. Immediately after irradiation at room temperature, the resin, depending on light intensity, photoinitiator concentration, and temperature, may show some tack or may not be fully solvent resistant. In general, the full chemical and physical properties of the resin do not develop for about 24 hours. This "post cure" can be markedly accelerated by raising the temperature. Similar properties of the cured films have been reached by warming the films at 71.degree. C. for 2-4 hours.

In the curing of an epoxide system, the mechanism can involve the following specific type of reaction scheme:

(a) Photolysis reaction of photoinitiators ##STR5##

(c) Incorporation of polyols into the polymer ##STR6##

On exposure to actinic sources the photoinitiator of a U.V.--curing epoxide system will form a strong Bronsted acid or a Lewis acid, which will protonate the epoxide ring and make it readily accessible for a nucleophilic attack. The nucleophile in this system is a hydroxyl group from the polyol stabilizer or a monomer. This reaction will make an .alpha.-alkoxy and a free proton. The proton will protonate the other epoxide ring to propagate the polymerization, and the hydroxyl group (alcohol) will attack protonated rings to form crosslinked polymers. The photocationic systems have several advantages.

(1) they can be used to cure saturated monomers such as epoxy resins. The advantage of curing saturated epoxides over the unsaturated types is that the former have only a small volatility, good flow, no significant color, negligible toxicity and superb physical and chemical properties;

(2) cationic photopolymerization is insensitive to aerobic conditions, and inert blanketing required for some free radical polymerizations is not needed; and

(3) on removal of actinic radiation, these systems continue to polymerize thermally.

However, it has been found that post cure is usually required, and that basic materials will neutralize the acids and should not be mixed into the system.

In order to establish a useful magnetic source strength, the movement of one silver-coated magnetite sphere in resins of varying densities has been calculated (see Tables IA--IVA). The material employed was the result of printing sample circuit patterns or traces on a 0.005" polyester film anchored in a holding jig which was placed in proximity to the magnet plane. This holding jig or device was attached to a micrometer ball slide which allowed precise adjustability with respect to the position of the printed polyester sheet and the magnet. The data set forth in Table III establishes the operational parameters for correct base to pole distance, time interval in magnetic field, resin viscosity, magnetic source strength and volume percentage of magnetite spheres in the resin.

TABLE IA ______________________________________ Rise time ______________________________________ Sphere mks Symbol cgs-equivalent ______________________________________ Diameter m 2a 3.70E - 03 0.003 cm Volume m.sup.3 V 1.59E - 13 Density Kg/m.sup.3 ds 3.10E + 03 3.10 g/cc Mass Kg m 4.93E - 10 Weight N sw 4.83E - 09 ______________________________________ Resin mks Symbol cgs-equivalent ______________________________________ Viscosity Kg/sm eta 5.00E + 04 5000 c poise Thickness m R 1.78E - 05 0.0007 in Width m wd 1.27E - 03 0.05 in Density Kg/m.sup.3 dr 2.50E + 03 2.5 g/cc Eff. of N rw 9.55E - 11 sphere Buoyant M/S.sup.2 W 1.09E + 00 accel. ______________________________________ Substrate mks Symbol ______________________________________ Thickness m S 0.002 ______________________________________ Magnetic Field Parameters mks Symbol cgs-equivalent ______________________________________ Source Strength Vs/m.sup.2 Q 0.05 500 gauss Base-to-pole distance m D 0.003 0.3 cm Permeability of 1.69E + 00 spheres ______________________________________

TABLE IIA ______________________________________ Magnetization of Ferrite Sphere B. Gauss M emu ! Avg. B Vs/m.sup.2 ______________________________________ 0 0 100 4.9 1.616 0.0100 200 12.3 1.773 0.0200 350 20.4 1.732 0.0350 500 28.4 1.714 0.0500 650 35.7 1.690 0.0650 800 42.0 1.672 0.0800 950 49.2 1.651 0.0950 1044 55.0 1.662 1.689 0.1044 2045 76.3 1.469 0.2045 3062 81.2 1.333 0.3062 4067 82.7 1.256 0.4067 8079 84.3 1.131 0.0879 11943 84.5 1.089 1.1943 ______________________________________

TABLE IIIA ______________________________________ Calculation of Rise (Fall) Time for Magnetic-Field-Free Conditions ______________________________________ Terminal Velocity in resin 2.77E - 10 m/s m/s t-zero 2.83E - 11 s Settling time 6.41E + 04 s ______________________________________

TABLE IVA CALCULATION OF THE RISE-TIME WITH AN APPLIED MAGNETIC FIELD Delta-t. s Constant 3.75E-08 time 0.0005 s Acceleration components total in x velocity B(x) grad B in m/s 2 DELTA-V delta-x delta-x units of delta-t m m/s Vs/sq.m Vs/cu.m viscous magnetic gravity m/s m m 0 2.000E - 03 0.00E + 00 2.60E - 01 4.00E + 00 0.00E + 00 3.90E - 08 4.83E - 09 2.19E - 11 1.10E - 14 1.10E - 14 1 2.000E - 03 2.19E - 11 2.60E - 01 4.00E + 00 -3.82E - 10 1.04E + 00 4.83E - 09 5.20E - 04 1.30E - 07 1.30E - 07 2 2.000E - 03 5.20E - 04 2.60E - 01 4.00E + 00 -9.07E - 03 1.04E + 00 4.83E - 09 5.16E.04 3.89E - 07 5.19E - 07 3 2.001E - 03 1.04E - 03 2.60E - 01 4.00E + 00 -1.81E - 02 1.04E + 00 4.83E - 09 5.12E - 04 6.46E - 07 1.16E - 06 4 2.001E - 03 1.55E - 03 2.60E - 01 4.01E + 00 -2.70E - 02 1.04E + 00 4.83E - 09 5.08E - 04 9.01E - 07 2.07E - 06 5 2.002E - 03 2.06E - 03 2.61E - 01 4.01E + 00 -3.58E - 02 1.05E + 00 4.83E - 09 5.05E - 04 1.15E - 06 3.22E - 06 6 2.003E - 03 2.56E - 03 2.61E - 01 4.02E + 00 -4.46E - 02 1.05E + 00 4.83E - 09 5.02E - 04 1.41E - 06 4.62E - 06 7 2.005E - 03 3.06E - 03 2.61E - 01 4.02E + 00 -5.34E - 02 1.05E + 00 4.83E - 09 4.99E - 09 1.66E - 06 6.28E - 06 8 2.006E - 03 3.56E - 03 2.62E - 01 4.03E + 00 -6.21E - 02 1.06E + 00 4.83E - 09 4.97E - 04 1.90E - 06 8.18E - 06 9 2.008E - 03 4.06E - 03 2.62E - 01 4.04E + 00 -7.07E - 02 1.07E + 00 4.83E - 09 4.95E - 04 2.15E - 06 1.03E - 05 10 2.010E - 03 4.55E - 03 2.63E - 01 4.05E + 00 -7.94E - 02 1.07E + 00 4.83E - 09 4.93E - 04 2.40E - 06 1.27E - 05 11 2.013E - 03 5.05E - 03 2.64E - 01 4.07E + 00 -8.80E - 02 1.08E + 00 4.83E - 09 4.92E - 04 2.65E - 06 1.54E - 05 12 2.015E - 03 5.54E - 03 2.65E - 01 4.08E + 00 -9.66E - 02 1.09E + 00 4.83E - 09 4.91E - 04 2.89E - 06 1.83E - 05 13 2.018E - 03 NA 2.65E - 01 4.10E + 00 NA NA 4.83E - 09 NA NA NA 14 NA NA NA NA NA NA 4.83E - 09 NA NA NA 15 NA NA NA NA NA NA 4.83E - 09 NA NA NA 16 NA NA NA NA NA NA 4.83E - 09 NA NA NA 17 NA NA NA NA NA NA 4.83E - 09 NA NA NA 18 NA NA NA NA NA NA 4.83E - 09 NA NA NA 19 NA NA NA NA NA NA 4.83E - 09 NA NA NA 20 NA NA NA NA NA NA 4.83E - 09