Low outgassing photo or electron beam curable rubbery polymer material, preparation thereof and device comprising same

A process for producing a cured composition of matter having low outgassing rate and low modulus between 25 and 10,000 psi (1.7×105 to 6.8×107 Pa), comprising the following steps of:

• (A) providing a rubber material (i) (a) having a backbone that is completely or substantially completely free of carbon-carbon double bond and triple bond and (b) comprising terminal and/or pendant groups tat are photo and/or electron beam polymerizable;
• (B) mixing the material (i) with a photoinitiator/photosensitizer (ii) having essentially no volatility at room temperature and also yielding photoproducts after exposure to actinic radiation that have minimal or no volatility at room temperature;
• (iii) an optional viscosity adjustment component that is either homopolymerizable or is capable of copolymerizing wit material (i);
• and (iv) an optional inert filler;
• (C) curing the mixture resulting from step (B) by visible light, UV light or electron beam to form a cured composition of matter having low outgassing rate and low modulus, wherein the cured composition has an outgassing rate tat is sufficient to pass the ASTM-E-595-93 (1999) test and a low outgassing rate when exposed to ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength less than or equal to about 248 nm.