Polymerization via photoinitiation

Polymerization via photoinitiation refers to a process in which a chemical reaction leading to polymer formation is triggered by light, typically ultraviolet (UV) or visible, through the use of a photoinitiator.[2][1][6][7] The photoinitiator absorbs light and generates reactive species (free radicals or cations) that start the polymerization of monomers (such as acrylates, methacrylates, epoxides). This approach is widely used in material sciences for rapid, controlled curing of coatings, adhesives, composite materials, and dental resins, but is not a biological or therapeutic target like a protein, enzyme, or receptor. Therefore, this entry is not appropriate as a molecular target in biomedical databases.[2][7][6][1][4]

Other names

Photoinitiated polymerizationPhotopolymerizationPhotoinduced polymerizationUV curing (in industrial chemistry)

Absorption of light by a photoinitiator generates radicals or ions which initiate polymerization of monomers