Photocrosslinkable polymers with reworkable properties

Abstract

Photocrosslinkable or UV curable reins are significant materials thanks to the applications for coatings, adhesives, photoresists, and printing plates. The crosslinked polymers are insoluble in solvents and are infusible. It is very difficult or impossible to remove the crosslinked materials from substrates. Recently, however, much attention has been paid to recovery or recycling of crosslinked polymers due to environmental regulations. From this point of view, photocrosslinkable polymers with reworkable properties have been studied. Reworkable photopolymers are also realized as highly functionalized photopolymers. In this article the recent research work on photocrosslinkable polymers with reworkable properties is reviewed, together with reworkable thermosets.