Energy augmentation structures, and their use in adhesive bonding

A method of adhesive bonding comprising:

• a) placing a curable adhesive composition, including at least one photoinitiator and at least one (i) energy emitter, (ii) energy augmentation structure, or (iii) energy collector, wherein:
• the at least one (i) energy emitter, when present, comprises at least one energy augmentation structure capable of capturing one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy, and augmenting the one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy in at least one property;
• and an energy converter capable of receiving energy from an energy source, converting the energy and emitting therefrom an emitted light of a higher or lower energy than the received energy, and the energy converter being disposed in a vicinity of the at least one energy augmentation structure such that the emitted light is emitted with an intensity larger than if the energy converter were remote from the at least one energy augmentation structure, or if the energy augmentation structure were not present;
• the at least one (ii) energy augmentation structure, when present, is capable of capturing one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy, and augmenting the one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy in at least one property;
• the at least one (iii) energy collector, when present, comprises at least one energy augmentation structure capable of capturing one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy, and augmenting the one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy in at least one property;
• and at least one energy converter capable of receiving an applied electromagnetic energy, converting the applied electromagnetic energy and emitting therefrom an emitted electromagnetic energy shifted in wavelength or energy from the applied electromagnetic energy and the energy converter being disposed in a vicinity of the at least one energy augmentation structure such that the emitted electromagnetic energy is emitted with at least one augmented property compared to if the energy converter were remote from the at least one energy augmentation structure;
• in contact with at least two components to be bonded to form an assembly, wherein the at least two components can be formed of the same material or different materials;
• and,
• b) irradiating said assembly with radiation at a first energy, capable of augmentation or conversion by the at least one energy emitter, at least one energy augmentation structure or at least one energy collector to a second energy capable of activating said at least one photoinitiator, thereby activating the at least one photoinitiator and curing the curable adhesive composition to bond the at least two components together.

An X-ray curable polymer system comprising:

• at least one polymerizable monomer;
• at least one photoinitiator responsive to a selected wavelength of light;
• and,
• at least one (i) energy emitter, (ii) energy augmentation structure, or (iii) energy collector, wherein:
• the at least one (i) energy emitter, when present, comprises at least one energy augmentation structure capable of capturing one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy, and augmenting the one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy in at least one property;
• and an energy converter capable of receiving energy from an energy source, converting the energy and emitting therefrom an emitted light of a higher or lower energy than the received energy, and the energy converter being disposed in a vicinity of the at least one energy augmentation structure such that the emitted light is emitted with an intensity larger than if the energy converter were remote from the at least one energy augmentation structure, or if the energy augmentation structure were not present;
• the at least one (ii) energy augmentation structure, when present, is capable of capturing one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy, and augmenting the one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy in at least one property;
• the at least one (iii) energy collector, when present, comprises at least one energy augmentation structure capable of capturing one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy, and augmenting the one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy in at least one property;
• and at least one energy converter capable of receiving an applied electromagnetic energy, converting the applied electromagnetic energy and emitting therefrom an emitted electromagnetic energy shifted in wavelength or energy from the applied electromagnetic energy and the energy converter being disposed in a vicinity of the at least one energy augmentation structure such that the emitted electromagnetic energy is emitted with at least one augmented property compared to if the energy converter were remote from the at least one energy augmentation structure.

An inkjet cartridge, comprising a printhead and a cartridge body, wherein the printhead and cartridge body are held together by a cured adhesive composition obtained by curing of a curable adhesive composition, wherein the curable adhesive composition comprises an organic vehicle comprising at least one polymerizable monomer;

• at least one photo-initiator responsive to a selected wavelength of light;
• and at least one (i) energy emitter, (ii) energy augmentation structure, or (iii) energy collector, wherein:
• the at least one (i) energy emitter, when present, comprises at least one energy augmentation structure capable of capturing one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy, and augmenting the one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy in at least one property;
• and an energy converter capable of receiving energy from an energy source, converting the energy and emitting therefrom an emitted light of a higher or lower energy than the received energy, and the energy converter being disposed in a vicinity of the at least one energy augmentation structure such that the emitted light is emitted with an intensity larger than if the energy converter were remote from the at least one energy augmentation structure, or if the energy augmentation structure were not present;
• the at least one (ii) energy augmentation structure, when present, is capable of capturing one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy, and augmenting the one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy in at least one property;
• the at least one (iii) energy collector, when present, comprises at least one energy augmentation structure capable of capturing one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy, and augmenting the one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy in at least one property;
• and at least one energy converter capable of receiving an applied electromagnetic energy, converting the applied electromagnetic energy and emitting therefrom an emitted electromagnetic energy shifted in wavelength or energy from the applied electromagnetic energy and the energy converter being disposed in a vicinity of the at least one energy augmentation structure such that the emitted electromagnetic energy is emitted with at least one augmented property compared to if the energy converter were remote from the at least one energy augmentation structure.

A curable adhesive composition comprising:

• an organic vehicle comprising a plurality of crosslinkable polymer chains;
• at least one photo-initiator responsive to a selected wavelength of light;
• and,
• at least one (i) energy emitter, (ii) energy augmentation structure, or (iii) energy collector, wherein:
• the at least one (i) energy emitter, when present, comprises at least one energy augmentation structure capable of capturing one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy, and augmenting the one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy in at least one property;
• and an energy converter capable of receiving energy from an energy source, converting the energy and emitting therefrom an emitted light of a higher or lower energy than the received energy, and the energy converter being disposed in a vicinity of the at least one energy augmentation structure such that the emitted light is emitted with an intensity larger than if the energy converter were remote from the at least one energy augmentation structure, or if the energy augmentation structure were not present;
• the at least one (ii) energy augmentation structure, when present, is capable of capturing one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy, and augmenting the one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy in at least one property;
• the at least one (iii) energy collector, when present, comprises at least one energy augmentation structure capable of capturing one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy, and augmenting the one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy in at least one property;
• and at least one energy converter capable of receiving an applied electromagnetic energy, converting the applied electromagnetic energy and emitting therefrom an emitted electromagnetic energy shifted in wavelength or energy from the applied electromagnetic energy and the energy converter being disposed in a vicinity of the at least one energy augmentation structure such that the emitted electromagnetic energy is emitted with at least one augmented property compared to if the energy converter were remote from the at least one energy augmentation structure.