Fluorinated photoinitiators and their application in UV curing of fluorinated monomers

The method of curing a fluorinated acrylic monomer which comprises mixing said fluorinated acrylic monomer with a fluorine-containing photoinitiator of the formula ##STR28## wherein at least one of the R.sup.1 through R.sup.4 groups is a terminally fluorinated group of the formula

• --W--(X).sub.q --Y--R.sub.f
• wherein
• W and Y are independently selected groups of the formula
• --(CH.sub.2).sub.p --
• --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.p --
• --[CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 O].sub.p --
• wherein p is an integer of from 0 to 10, and --Ar--,
• wherein Ar is ##STR29## x is --O--, --OC(O)--, --C(O)O-- or --C(O)--;
• q is 0 or 1;
• and
• R.sub.f is selected from the group consisting of
• --(CF.sub.2).sub.n Z
• --CF(CF.sub.3)[OCF.sub.2 CF(CF.sub.3)].sub.n Z and
• --CF.sub.2 --(OCF.sub.2 CF.sub.2).sub.n --(OCF.sub.2).sub.m Z
• wherein
• m is an integer of from 0 to 40;
• and
• n is an integer of from 1 to 40;
• and
• Z is H or F;
• wherein the remaining R.sup.1 through R.sup.4 groups, if any, are independently selected from the group consisting of
• H, --OH, R, --OR, --NR.sub.2 and ##STR30## wherein R is alkyl, straight chain, branched or cyclic, having from 1 to 20 carbons;
• phenyl, biphenyl or naphthyl;
• with the proviso that no more than 2 of the R.sup.1 through R.sup.4 groups may be H;
• and subjecting the resultant mixture to actinic radiation.