Light generating microcapsules for photo-curing
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsEric J. Campbell, Sarah K. Czaplewski, Joseph Kuczynski, Timothy J. Tofil
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process of curing a photo-curable material includes dispersing a microcapsule in a material that includes a photo-initiator and a photo-curable material. The process also includes applying a stimulus to the microcapsule to trigger a chemiluminescent reaction within the microcapsule. The chemiluminescent reaction generating a photon having a wavelength within a particular emission range that is consistent with an absorption range of the photo-initiator. The photon exits the microcapsule to trigger the photo-initiator to initiate or catalyze curing of the photo-curable material.
Claims20
A process of curing a photo-curable material, the process comprising:
- dispersing a microcapsule in a material that includes a photo-initiator and a photo-curable material;
- and
- applying a stimulus to the microcapsule to trigger a chemiluminescent reaction within the microcapsule, the chemiluminescent reaction generating a photon having a wavelength within a particular emission range that is consistent with an absorption range of the photo-initiator,
- wherein the photon exits the microcapsule to trigger the photo-initiator to initiate or catalyze curing of the photo-curable material.
An in-situ photo-curing process comprising:
- forming an assembly that includes a material disposed between a first component and a second component, the material including a photo-initiator, a photo-curable material, and microcapsules dispersed therein;
- and
- applying a stimulus to the assembly, wherein the stimulus triggers chemiluminescent reactions within the microcapsules, the chemiluminescent reactions generating photons having wavelengths within a particular emission range that is consistent with an absorption range of the photo-initiator,
- wherein the photons exit the microcapsules for in-situ curing of the photo-curable material.
A material comprising:
- a photo-initiator;
- a photo-curable material;
- a microcapsule that includes:
- a first compartment that contains a first reactant;
- a second compartment that contains a second reactant;
- and
- an isolating structure separating the first compartment from the second compartment, the isolating structure adapted to rupture in response to application of a stimulus to cause the first reactant and the second reactant to undergo a chemiluminescent reaction,
- wherein the chemiluminescent reaction generates a photon having a wavelength within a particular emission range that is consistent with an absorption range of the photo-initiator, and
- wherein the photon exits the microcapsule to trigger the photo-initiator to initiate or catalyze curing of the photo-curable material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.