Cationic curing is a type of curing process used in the production of coatings, inks, and adhesives. This process involves the use of a catalyst, typically a strong acid, to initiate a polymerization reaction that hardens or “cures” a material.
The basics of cationic curing can be explained through the following steps:
- Initiation: The process begins with the absorption of light by a photoinitiator molecule. This light energy causes the photoinitiator to ionize and release a proton.
- Propagation: The proton then reacts with a monomer molecule, causing it to become a cation. This cation can then react with other monomers to form a polymer chain.
- Termination: The reaction continues until all the monomers have been consumed or the reaction is otherwise terminated.
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