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Summary:
Photopolymerization as a process is not new and has been investigated in a number of laboratories in this country and abroad. It is only within the last decade that it has assumed increased importance and has received attention for use in the photographic and reproduction fields. Basically, the process of polymerization may be initiated by ionic processes or by free radicals - atoms or molecules with one or more unpaired electrons - some of which can be generated in light-sensitive systems by the absorption of incident radiation. It is the free radical type of polymerization reaction, initiated by light, with which this paper will be concerned. Research on photopolymerization was started at the Ansco Research Laboratories about five years ago, and contributions made to this important field can, in simple language, be described as the discovery of a number of new catalyst systems, sensitive to visible light, and the formulation of dry, stable, presensitized, ready-to-use coatings on film, metal and paper base supports for a variety of applications.