Patent ID: 6365323
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: B41J,G03F

Abstract:
A crosslinked or chain extended polymer formed by crosslinking or chain extending a precursor polymer (a) of the formula wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, PE is a functional group which imparts photosensitivity to the precursor polymer, a, b, c, and d are each integers of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, provided that at least one of a, b, c, and d is equal to or greater than 1 in at least some of the monomer repeat units of the polymer, A is or mixtures thereof, B is wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20, wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, or mixtures thereof, and n is an integer representing the number of repeating monomer units and being at least 2, wherein said photosensitivity-imparting substituents â€œPEâ€  are epoxy groups, (b) of the formula wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, PE is a functional group which imparts photosensitivity to the precursor polymer, a, b, c, and d are each integers of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, provided that at least one of a, b, c, and d is equal to or greater than 1 in at least some of the monomer repeat units of the polymer, D isâ€”C(CH3)2â€”, E is wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, or mixtures thereof, and n is an integer representing the number of repeating monomer units and being at least 2, wherein said photosensitivity-imparting substituents â€œPEâ€  are epoxy groups; (c) of the formula wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, PA is a functional group which imparts photosensitivity to the precursor polymer, a, b, c, and d are each integers of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, that at least one of a, b, c, and d is equal to or greater than 1 in at least some of the monomer repeat units of the polymer, G is or mixtures thereof, J is wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20, wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, or mixtures thereof, and n is an integer representing the number of repeating monomer units and being at least 2, wherein said photosensitivity-imparting substituents â€œPAâ€  are allyl ether groups or mixtures of allyl ether groups and epoxy groups, or (d) of the formula wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, PAE is a functional group which imparts photosensitivity to the precursor polymer, a, b, c, and d are each integers of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, provided that at least one of a, b, c, and d is equal to or greater than 1 in at least some of the monomer repeat units of the precursor polymer, L is or mixtures thereof, M is wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20, wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, or mixtures thereof, and n is an integer representing the number of repeating monomer units and being at least 2, said crosslinking or chain extension having occurred through photosensitivity-imparting substituents contained on at least some of the monomer repeat units of the precursor polymer which have formed crosslinks or chain extensions in the precursor polymer upon exposure to actinic radiation, wherein the photosensitivity-imparting substituents PAE are allyl ether groups, epoxy groups, or mixtures thereof.