IGM Resins Photoinitiators, Monomers and Oligomers for UV Curing

Selection and quotation of IGM Resins (Netherlands) raw materials for UV, LED and EB curing: Omnirad, Esacure, Omnipol and Omnicat photoinitiators, Photomer monomers and oligomers.

Omnirad 819, TPO and TPO-L Phosphine Oxides

Type I photoinitiators for mercury lamps and 365 and 395 nm UV LEDs. Omnirad 819 is designed for white pigmented formulations, glass-fiber-reinforced polyester/styrene systems and thick layers. Omnirad TPO is a low yellowing grade, and TPO-L is liquid at room temperature.

Omnirad 819: absorption 237, 275, 380 nm
Omnirad TPO: absorption 275 and 379 nm
TPO: melting point 91–94 °C
Omnirad 819: melting point 127–133 °C

Omnirad 184, 1173 and Esacure ONE Alpha-Hydroxy Ketones

Type I photoinitiators for clear coatings. Omnirad 184 is hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone, Omnirad 1173 is liquid at room temperature. Esacure ONE is a difunctional oligomeric alpha-hydroxy ketone for low VOC and low extraction systems, and KIP 150 is chosen for low odour and low yellowing.

Omnirad 184: melting point 44–50 °C
Omnirad 2959: melting point 86–90 °C
Esacure ONE: melting point 98–110 °C
Esacure ONE: absorption 260 nm

Benzophenones, Thioxanthones and Amine Synergists

Type II photoinitiators work together with co-initiators, amine synergists that improve cure speed. Omnirad ITX and DETX thioxanthones absorb at about 385 nm and are listed by the manufacturer for 395 nm LEDs. Omnirad BP benzophenone comes as flakes, while Esacure TZT is a liquid eutectic mixture.

Omnirad ITX: absorption 255 and 384 nm
Omnirad DETX: absorption 261 and 385 nm
Omnirad BP: melting point 45–49 °C
Omnirad EDB: melting point 62–68 °C

Omnipol Polymeric Grades and Photomer SC91 Resin

Polymeric and multifunctional photoinitiators for food packaging, where low migration is required. Omnipol 910 is a polymeric Type I aminoalkylphenone for pigmented printing inks, and Omnipol TX is a polymeric thioxanthone. Photomer SC91 combines acrylate and photoinitiator in one material.

Omnipol 910: molecular weight 1130
Omnipol TX: molecular weight 798
SC91: viscosity 50,000 mPa·s at 25 °C
SC91: functionality 2.5

Omnicat Cationic Photoinitiators and Omnilane Epoxides

Omnicat 250 is an iodonium salt solution in propylene carbonate for cationic polymerization of epoxy and oxetane inks, white base coatings and adhesives, including thick and highly pigmented layers. After cure, Omnilane OC 1005 cycloaliphatic epoxide serves at 200–250 °C for long periods.

Omnicat 250: 75% salt in solvent
Omnicat 440: melting point 175–180 °C
OC 1005: viscosity 400 mPa·s
OC 3005: viscosity 575 mPa·s

Photomer Acrylate Monomers

Mono-, di- and multifunctional acrylates act as reactive diluents in UV curable formulations. Photomer 4006 (TMPTA) reduces viscosity of formulations based on epoxy, urethane and polyester oligomers, Photomer 4017 (HDDA) adds adhesion and chemical resistance, Photomer 4399 (DPHA) hardness.

Photomer 4006: viscosity 100 mPa·s
Photomer 4017: viscosity 8 mPa·s
Photomer 4226: viscosity 10 mPa·s
Photomer 4399: functionality 6

Photomer Epoxy and Polyester Acrylates

Photomer 3016 is a difunctional bisphenol A epoxy acrylate with fast cure speed and low odour, giving gloss, chemical resistance and coating hardness; versions diluted with DPGDA, HDDA, TPGDA and TMPTA exist. Low viscosity polyester acrylates Photomer 5429 and 5439 add adhesion, including to metal.

Photomer 3016: 5,500 mPa·s at 60 °C
3016-20H: 8,000 mPa·s at 25 °C
Photomer 5429: viscosity 400 mPa·s
Photomer 5439: viscosity 275 mPa·s

Aliphatic and Aromatic Urethane Acrylates

Aliphatic Photomer urethane acrylates are non-yellowing and suit outdoor coatings: Photomer 6010 needs no melting before use and gives scratch and abrasion resistance. Photomer 6643 is designed for high elongation and flexibility, aromatic hexaacrylate Photomer 6720 for fast cure and hardness.

Photomer 6010: 5,800 mPa·s at 60 °C
Photomer 6019: 3,250 mPa·s at 60 °C
Photomer 6643: elongation 104%
Photomer 6720: functionality 6

Matching the Photoinitiator to the Light Source

Photoinitiator choice depends on the resin system, UV source and substrate, balancing cure speed against film properties. For 365 and 395 nm UV LEDs the manufacturer lists Omnirad 819, TPO and TPO-L phosphine oxides and ITX and DETX thioxanthones absorbing at 370–385 nm.

For mercury lamps in clear coatings, alpha-hydroxy ketones Omnirad 184, 1173 and Esacure ONE with absorption maxima of 243–331 nm are used. In the LED table low yellowing is given for 819, TPO and TPO-L, while ITX and DETX show high yellowing.

Application laboratories record cure kinetics under mercury and LED lamps.

Low Migration in Packaging

For food packaging inks the manufacturer offers Omnipol polymeric photoinitiators and multifunctional Esacure grades: higher molecular weight limits migration of photolysis products.

Omnipol 910 (1130 g/mol) is a Type I grade for pigmented inks, Omnipol TX (798 g/mol) and Omnipol BP (906 g/mol) are Type II. Photomer SC91 combines acrylate and photoinitiator, cures without or with a minimal amount of added photoinitiator and is recommended for low migration applications.

Oligomer Viscosity and Functionality

Oligomer viscosity in the guide is given at 25 or 60 °C: Photomer 3016 has 5,500 mPa·s at 60 °C, its 20% HDDA version (3016-20H) 8,000 mPa·s at 25 °C. Monomers serve as diluents: HDDA (8 mPa·s), DPGDA (10 mPa·s), TPGDA (14 mPa·s), TMPTA (100 mPa·s).

Higher functionality raises reactivity and crosslink density: DPHA Photomer 4399 (functionality 6) gives hardness and scratch resistance. Monofunctional CTFA adds adhesion and chemical resistance.

Bio-based PureOmer grades state renewable content per ASTM D6866-21: 78% for PureOmer 4012 isobornyl acrylate.

Cationic Curing and Additives

Omnilane resins are designed for cationic technology: Omnicat 250 cures epoxy and oxetane systems, including thick and highly pigmented layers.

Omnilane OC 1005 (400 mPa·s) and OC 3005 (575 mPa·s at 25 °C) cycloaliphatic epoxides give fast cure and adhesion, and cured OC 1005 withstands 200–250 °C. Omnivadd additives mostly do not take part in polymerization and remain in the cured network: UV absorbers, inhibitors, antioxidants and stabilizers, plus dispersants, defoamers and flow and leveling additives.

IGM Resins and model names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to identify the equipment for which we source parts. SpareX is not an official dealer, distributor or representative of IGM Resins and is not affiliated with the trademark owner. Origin, documents and warranty are stated for each item in the quotation.