Abstract: There is provided a radiation-curable coating or packaging composition containing vinyl acrylate and one or more additional components, wherein the composition does not contain a photoinitiator, and the composition polymerizes upon irradiation. The irradiation forms a polymer that demonstrates thermal stability and abrasion resistance, and functions as a moisture barrier. The resulting polymer does not contain any photoinitiator and is therefore useful as a coating or packaging material for foods, or as a coating or packaging material for any application where the exclusion of photoinitiator, and especially residual photoinitiator, is preferred, such as an outdoor weatherable application. A feature of the invention is that the polymerization through exposure to radiation of a composition containing vinyl acrylate may also initiate the polymerization of one or more of the additional components within the composition that would not ordinarily polymerize in the absence of a photoinitiator.

Abstract: There is provided a radiation-curable coating or packaging composition containing vinyl acrylate and one or more additional components, wherein the composition does not contain a photoinitiator, and the composition polymerizes upon irradiation. The irradiation forms a polymer that demonstrates thermal stability and abrasion resistance, and functions as a moisture barrier. The resulting polymer does not contain any photoinitiator and is therefore useful as a coating or packaging material for foods, or as a coating or packaging material for any application where the exclusion of photoinitiator, and especially residual photoinitiator, is preferred, such as an outdoor weatherable application. A feature of the invention is that the polymerization through exposure to radiation of a composition containing vinyl acrylate may also initiate the polymerization of one or more of the additional components within the composition that would not ordinarily polymerize in the absence of a photoinitiator.