Hydrogen stabilizers for vinyl ether-based coating systems

A method of reducing hydrogen generation from polymers produced by radiation of coating compounds comprising polymerizable oligomers and monomers having reactive functionalities selected from the group consisting of epoxy, acrylate, vinyl ether, maleate, or mixtures thereof, at least one of which contains a vinyl ether functionality, comprising adding to said coating compounds before radiation curing an effective amount of a mixture of

• (a) hindered phenols selected from the group consisting of octadecyl 3-(3',5'-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionate, tetrakis{methylene(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate)}methane, and benzene propanoic acid, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-, thio-2,1-ethane decyl ester;
• (b) organic sulfides or organic disulfides selected from the group consisting of dodecyl sulfide, octyl sulfide, octadecyl sulfide, sec-octyl sulfide, t-butyl sulfide, dilaurylthiodipropionate, dodecyl disulfide, octyl disulfide, octadecyl disulfide, sec-octyl disulfide, t-butyl disulfide, phenyl sulfide, benzyl sulfide, tolyl sulfide, 6-hydroxy naphthyl sulfide, phenyl disulfide, benzyl disulfide, tolyl disulfide, and 6-hydroxy naphthyl disulfide;
• and
• (c) transition metal salts or complexes of organic compounds selected from the group consisting of naphthenates, octoates, 2-ethyl hexanoates, cyclohexane butyrates, acetyl acetonates, and arene complexes, wherein said transition metals consist of one or more members of the group consisting of cobalt, manganese, nickel, copper, and zinc.