Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermally and cationically curable composition containing triarylcyclopropenylium salts and a solvent that is a Lewis base which contains acidic hydrogen and their use as thermal initiators in polymerization processes. The present invention includes the polymerization of epoxy resins, vinyl ethers and other cationically curable monomers.

Abstract: Selectively colorable polymerizable compositions and a method for forming selectively colored polymeric bodies using such compositions are disclosed. In accordance with the invention, a selectively colorable polymerizable composition comprising both a leucobase color former and a leuconitrile color former is irradiated with light of a particular wavelength and specific intensity for a specified duration. Exposure to actinic radiation cures the composition and activates the color formers. The irradiation dosage can be varied to selectively color the polymeric body whereby the resultant color of any particular area depends on the exposure dose received at that location. By varying the dose, a polymeric body can be prepared having distinctly colored elements at specific locations.