WATER COMPATIBLE ENERGY CURABLE COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING MALEIMIDE DERIVATIVES

Abstract: Active water compatible energy curable compositions comprised of maleimide derivatives, water compatible resins and water which are capable of curing at a practical intensity and energy level and a method for curing same.

Description: WATER COMPATIBLE ENERGY CURABLE COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING MALEIMIDE DERIVATIVES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to active water compatible energy curable compositions containing a maleimide derivative, useful for preparing various coatings, printing inks, surface finishes, moldings, laminated plates, adhesives, and binders More specifically, the present invention relates to an active water compatible energy curable compositions which can be cured in the absence of a photoinitiator with a irradiation source of practical intensity and energy value. Description of Related Art An active energy curable composition polymerized under irradiation of active energy such as thermal energy, ultraviolet light, visible light, and the like, has an advantage of being rapidly cured. Active energy curable compositions are widely used as paints, inks, adhesives, coatings, and the like However, conventional ultraviolet active energy curable compositions cannot initiate polymerization alone upon irradiation with an energy source; it is therefore necessary to use a photoinitiator. When photoinitiators are used m large quantities, curing progresses rapidly which encourages the use of large quantities of photoinitiator. Photoinitiator compounds having an aromatic ring are used in general because they effectively absorb ultraviolet light. However, these compounds cause problems such as the yellowing of the cured materials upon addition of heat or light. Moreover, low molecular weight energy curable monomers and oligomers, commonly used as photoinitiators because of their solubility a property necessary to initiate photopolymeπzation effectively, unfortunately have high vapor pressures. Therefore, they tend to give off unpleasant odors at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 150°C. Because infrared light, for example, is generated from an ultraviolet energy source, active energy curable compositions are heated substantially upon contact with such light sources. The heating problem is magnified when the ultraviolet light lamps are arranged and used m a side by side fashion. The unpleasant odors given off from the photoinitiator result in an unhealthy working environment Unreacted or decomposed photoinitiators remain behind m conventional energy curable compositions even after exposure to irradiation by the active energy cure source. These unreacted or decomposed photoinitiators cause problems such as changing the color of the cured film to yellow, unpleasant odors, and the like, when the cured film is exposed to heat or light. For example, when a material at high temperature, such as a thermal head, contacts an active energy curable composition comprising photoinitiator, strong unpleasant odors are given off. Finally, when these cured compositions are contacted by water after irradiation, unreacted photoinitiator is exuded; therefore causing the active energy curable composition to be unsuitable for food packaging applications. In solving some of these problems, the prior art presents many options. For instance, JP-A-58-89609 discloses an energy curable resin comprising a polymer with polymerizable unsaturated acrylic group and an organic solvent-soluble styrene containing an acrylic thermoplastic resin that does not need a photoinitiator . WO 89/05827 teaches photopolymeπzable adhesive compositions comprising a copolymer of methacrylate monomer and/or methyl acrylate and a photopolymeπzable monomer. These photocurable compositions, however, cannot be sufficiently 2 cross-linked by practical irradiation energy sources. U.S. Patent 5,446,073 and Polymer Preprints, Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 348-49, 1996 disclose a photopolymeπzmg method m which maleimide type materials are mixed with vinyl ethers and acrylates to produce a tough f lm The polymerization mechanism involves a charge-transfer complex which is formed oy an electron acceptor and an electron donor. However, many of the maleimides are solid and are hardly dissolved m acrylates. Polymer Letters, Vol. 6, pp. 883-88, 1968 reports that maleimide derivatives can be polymerized m the absence of photoinitiators under irradiation by ultraviolet light Japanese Patent Applications JP-A-61-250064 , JP-A- 62 -64813 , and JP-A-62-79243 teach active energy curable compositions comprising maleimide derivatives such as alkylmaleirr des and arylmaleimides . However, these maleimide derivatives show low photoinitiator properties, therefore making it necessary to use substantial amounts of photoinitiator m the maleimide compositions . U.S. Patent 3,920,618 and Japanese Patent Applications JP-A-50-123138 and JP-A-51-47940 disclose photopolymeπzable polymers having an α-aryl substituted maleimide group at a side chain. It is well known that these pendant type maleimides can be crosslmkable by ultraviolet irradiation (i.e. 2+2 photocycloaddition reaction). U.S. Patent 4,079,041 and Europe Patent 21019 teach polymers having side chain type maleimide groups with alkyl substituents. However, these pendant type maleimides cannot be used to form linear polymers by photopolymeπzation. Therefore, they are most commonly used to prepare negative printing plates. In addition, the photocross- lmkmg dimerization reaction takes a rather long time (several tens seconds to several minutes) even with an excess amount of irradiation energy. Polymer Materials Science and Engineering, Vol. 72, pp. 470-72, 1995 and Proceedings of RadTech Europe 95, pp. 34-56, 3 1995 disclose photocurable compositions comprising maleimide derivatives as electron acceptors and vinyl ethers as electron donors. The photopolymenzable compositions 1,4- bis (vmyloxymethyl) cyclohexane and N-cyclohexylmaleimide or 4- hydroxybutyl vinyl ether and N- (hydroxyalkyl ) maleimiαe , illustrated m these documents are polymerized upon ultra violet irradiation in the absence of a photoinitiator. However, hardening of the coated films does not occur; i.e. the coated films maintain liquid states after ultraviolet irradiation. WO 98/07759 describes energy curable compositions wherein water soluble maleimides are copolymerized with acrylates in the absence of water to produce a cured film. The polymerizing methods described aoove share numerous problems, which can be summarized as the need for hign irradiation intensity to cure sufficiently; the maleimide derivatives being solid at ambient temperature which does not suggest whether they are or can be homo-polymerized upon irradiation in the absence of a photoinitiator; difficulty m obtaining cured coatings with practical properties and given the wide range of curable composition disclosed; the need for higher irradiation energy than practical for cross-linking (photodimeπzation) . However, none of these references describe active energy curable compositions containing water or energy curable compositions that are water compatible. It is an object of the present invention to provide active water compatible energy curable compositions which do not contain photoinitiator, cause unpleasant odors upon curing or cause yellowing, or exude materials from the cured film upon contact with water or solvent. Another object of the present invention is to provide an active water compatible energy curable composition which can be photopolymerized by an energy source of practical intensity and energy value and results m coatings that exhibit cure rates, gloss, hardness and solvent resistance values comparable to 4 those of conventional energy cure systems employing photoinitiators . SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an active water curable energy curable composition comprising a water compatible compound, water and a maleimide derivative represented by the Formula (1) O N' -R„-G,4-R 2 -G 2 —R i2 -Nf \ n m wherein n and m each independently represent an integer of 1 to 5, and the sum of m and n is 6 or smaller; R X1 and R 12 each independently represent a linking group selected from the group consisting of a straight or branched chain alkylene group, an alicyclic group, an arylalkylene group, and a cycloalkylalkyene group. The arylalkylene group and the cycloalkyl alkylene group may have an aryl or cycloalkyl group as a main chain or a branched chain, respectively; G λ and G 2 each independently represent an ester linkage represented by -COO- or -OCO- and; R 2 represents a linking chain having an average molecular weight of 100 to 100,000 selected from the group consisting of (poly) ether and (poly) ester linking chains, in which at least one group consists of a group or groups selected from a straight or branched chain alkylene group, an alkylene group having a hydroxyl group, an alicyclic group, an aryl group, and an arylalkylene group; and connected via at least one linkage selected from the group consisting of an ether and an ester linkage. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The active water curable energy curable compositions of the present invention contain a maleimide derivative of Formula 1 mentioned above. As for variables R u and R 12 of Formula 1, examples of R u and R 12 suitable for use in the present invention include straight alkylene groups such as methylene group, ethyiene group, trimethylene group, tetramethylene group, pentamethylene group, hexamethylene group, heptamethylene group, octamethylene group, nonamethylene group, decamethylene group, undecamethylene group, dodecamethylene group, and the like; alkylene groups having a branched alkyl group such as 1- methylethylene group, 1 -methyl -trimethylene group, 2 -methyl - trimethylene group, 1 -methyl -tetramethylene group, 2 -methyl - tetramethylene group, 1 -methyl -pentamethylene group, 2 -methyl - pentamethylene group, 3 -methyl -pentamethylene group, neopentyl group, and the like; alicyclic groups such as cyclopentylene group, cyclohexylene group, and the like; arylalkylene groups having an aryl group at a main chain or a side chain such as benzylene group, 2, 2 -diphenyl -trimethylene group, 1 -phenyl - ethyiene group, 1-phenyl -tetraethylene group, 2 -phenyl - tetraethylene group, and the like; cycloalkyl-alkylene group having an alicyclic group at a mam chain or a side chain such as cyclohexyl -methylene group, 1-cyclohexyl -ethyiene group, 1- cyclohexyl -tetraethylene group, 2 -cyclohexyl -tetraethylene group, and the like. However, there are no particular limitations placed on these groups. When the average molecular weight of R 2 as a (poly) ether or (poly) ester linking chain is less than 100, curing properties of the maleimide thereof are worse. Even if the compositions are cured, the [gel fraction] of the energy cured composition tends to be lower. The gel fraction is the percentage of material remaining after a cured film has been refluxed, for example, m methyl ethyl ketone for 3 hours at 80°C, then dried at 100°C for one 6 hour. A cured malemide derivative or composition which nas a 99.8% gel fraction indicates that only 0.2% of the matrix was solubilized by the above reflux conditions, (i.e. a high degree of conversion) . The percentage conversion is defined as the ratio of functional groups to a crosslinked matrix monitored by the disappearance of an IR absorption band during the course of irradiation. This real time IR measurment allows one to quantify percent conversion and provides insight into the reactivity the composition during irradiation. Brief of Description of the Drawings Figures 1 and 2 show a plot of the percent conversion of maleimide to polymerized maleimide material over time as measured by real time infra red analysis As mentioned above, as the molecular weight of R 2 decreases, the curing properties of the malemide became worse. Figure 1 shows a plot of real time IR data for a bismalemide derivative (structure shown) where R 2 is polytetramethylene glycol . As the molecular weight of the repeat unit (n) decreases (i.e. 4000 (curve 1); 3000 (curve 2); 100 (curve 3); 650 (curve 4) ; and 250 (curve 5) ) the conversion rate becomes lower. However, where the molecular weight of R 2 (curve 6) is less than 100, the real time IR data shows the rate of conversion to be sluggish. This supports employing maleimide derivatives wherein R 2 (i.e. the poly(ether), poly(ester) linking chain) is greater than 100, since a lower values yield poorer conversion rates. Figure 2 shows a plot of real time IR data for a bismalemide derivative (structure shown) where R 2 is polyethylene glycol. As the molecular weight of the repeat unit (n) decreases (i.e. 1000 (curve 1); 600 (curve 2); 400 (curve 3); 300 (curve 4)) the conversion rate becomes lower. However, 7 where the molecular weight of R 2 (curves 5 and 6) is less than 100, the real time IR data shows the rate of conversion to be sluggish. Therefore, the results from Figures 1 and 2 suggest that the average molecular weight of R 2 be more than 100. On the other hand, when the average molecular weight of R 2 is more than 100,000, such as m the case of a polyol or a polyester, the raw material for the linking chains is solid m nature and shows poor solubility m common solvents at ambient temperature. Once obtained, these maleimide derivatives are virtually insoluble m common solvents, therefore, making it difficult to obtain a film and cure t. Even if a cured coating film is obtained, the surfaces of the coating shows unevenness. Therefore, it is not suitable that the average molecular weight of R 2 be more than 100,000 R 2 may also be a linkage comprising an oligomer or a polymer containing the above described (poly) ether and (poly) ester groups as repeating units. Examples of R 2 suitable for use m the present invention include (poly) ether or a (poly) ester linking chains having an average molecular weight in a range of 100 to 100,000. Linking chains represented by R 2 include: a (poly) ether (poly) ol residue group; a (poly) ester (poly) ol residue group; a (poly) carboxylate { (poly) ether (poly)ol} ester having a polycarboxylic acid residue group at a terminal end; a (poly) carboxylate { (poly) ester (poly)ol} ester having a polycarboxylic acid residue group at a terminal end; and (poly) epoxide forming the linking chains. Linking chains represented by a (poly) ether (poly)ol residue group have an average molecular weight of 100 to 100,000, and comprising a part m which at least one group selected from the group consisting of a straight or branched chain C 2 -C 24 alkylene group; a C 3 -C 24 alicyclic group; and a C -C 24 aryl group, connected with an ether linking chain or a repeating unit thereof. Examples of (poly) ether (poly) ol constructing linking chain include polyalkylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polybutylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol, and the like; modified alkylene glycols m which ethyiene glycol, propanediol, propylene glycol, tetramethylene glycol, pentamethylene glycol, hexanediol , neopentyl glycol, glycerin, trimethyolpropane, pentaerythritol, diglyceπn, ditrimethylolpropane, dipentaerythritol , and the l ke, are modified by ethyiene oxides, propylene oxides, butylene oxides, and tetrahydrofuran. Among these (poly) ether (poly)ols, modified alkylene glycols are preferable. In addition, examples of (poly) ether (poly) ol constructing the above linking chain include hydrocarbon polyols such as a copolymer of ethyiene oxide and propylene oxide, a copolymer of propylene glycol and tetrahydrofuran, a copolymer of ethyiene glycol and tetrahydrofuran, polyisoprene glycol, hydrogenated polyisoprene glycol, polybutadiene glycol, hydrogenated polybutadiene glycol, and the like; polyhydnc alcohol compounds such as polytetramethylene hexaglyceπn ether (modified hexaglyceπn by tetrahydrofuran), and the like. However, there are no particular limitations placed on these (poly) ether (poly)ols. Linking chains represented by a (poly) ester (poly) ol residue group have an average molecular weight of 100 to 100,000, and comprising a part m which at least one group selected from the group consisting of a straight or branched chain C 2 -C 24 alkylene group; a C 3 -C 24 alicyclic group; and a C 6 -C 2i aryl group; connected with an ester linking chain or a repeating unit thereof. Examples of (poly) ester (poly)ol constructing the linking chain include (poly) alkylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polybutylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol, ethyiene glycol, propane diol, propylene glycol, tetramethylene glycol, pentamethylene glycol, hexane diol, neopentyl glycol, glycerin, tπmethylolpropane , pentaerythritol, diglycenn, ditrimethylolpropane, 9 dipentaerythπtol , and the like which are modified by ε- caprolactone, γ-butyrolactone , δ-valerolactone , and methylvalerolactone; aliphatic polyester polyols which are synthesized by esterification of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids such as adipic acid, dimeric acid, and the like with polyols such as neopentyl glycol, methylpentanediol , and the like; aromatic polyester polyols which are synthesized by esterification of aromatic dicarboxylic acids such as terephthalic acid, and the like with polyols such as neopentyl glycol, and the like; ester compounds obtained by esterification of polyhydπc alcohols such as polycarbonate polyol , acryl polyol , polytetramethylenehexaglyceryl ether (modified hexaglyceπn by tetrahydrofuran) , and the like with dicarboxylic acids such as fumaric acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, ltaconic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, maleic acid, and the like; compounds having polyol group such as monoglyceπde obtained by transesterification of polyhydnc alcohols such as glycerin with animal and plant fatty acid esters; and the like. However, there are no particular limitations placed on these (poly) ester (poly) ols . Linking chains represented by a (poly) carboxylate { (poly) ether (poly)ol} ester having a polycarboxylic acid residue group at a terminal end, obtained by esterification of (poly) ether (poly) ol with C 2 -C 6 carboxylic acid (the term of "C 2 - C 6 carboxylic" is abbreviated as a polycarboxylic acid hereinafter) , which have an average molecular weight of 100 to 100,000, and comprising a part m which at least one group selected from the group consisting of a straight or branched chain C 2 -C 24 alkylene group; a C 3 -C 24 alicyclic group; and a C 6 -C 24 aryl group; connected with an ether linking chain or a repeating unit comprising the parts. Examples of (poly) carboxylate { (poly) ether (poly)ol} ester having polycarboxylic acid at a terminal, which forms the linking chain include 10 (poly) carboxylate { (poly) ether (poly)ol} esters having polycarboxylic acid at a terminal end which are obtained by esterification of polycarboxylic acids such as succmic acid, adipic acid, phthalic acid, hexahydrophthalic acid, tetrahydrophthalic acid, fumaπc acid, isophthalic acid, ltacomc acid, sebacic acid, maleic acid, tπmellitic acid, pyromellitic acid, benzenepentacarboxylic acid, benzenehexacarboxylic acid, citric acid, tetrahydrofurantetracarboxylic acid, cyclohexanetricarboxylic acid, and the like with (poly) ether (poly) ols disclosed m the above, and the like. However, there are no particular limitations placed on these esters. Linking chains represented by a (poly) carboxylate { (poly) ester (poly)ol} ester having a polycarboxylic acid residue group at a terminal end obtained by esterification of (poly) ester (poly) ol and polycarboxylic acid which nave an average molecular weight of 100 to 100,000, and comprising a part m which at least one group selected from the group consisting of a straight or branched chain C 2 -C 24 alkylene group; a C 3 -C 24 alicyclic group; and a C 6 -C 24 aryl group; connected with an ether and an ester linking chains, or a repeating unit comprising the parts. Examples of (poly) carboxylate { (poly) ester (poly)ol) ester having polycarboxylic acid at a terminal, which forms the linking chain include (poly) carboxylate { (poly) ester (poly)ol} ester having polycarboxylic acid at a terminal end which is obtained by esterification of polycarboxylic acids such as succmic acid, adipic acid, phthalic acid, hexahydrophthalic acid, tetrahydrophthalic acid, fumaric acid, isophthalic acid, ltacomc acid, sebacic acid, maleic acid, tπmellitic acid, pyromellitic acid, benzenepentacarboxylic acid, benzenehexacarboxylic acid, citric acid, tetrahydrofurantetracarboxylic acid, cyclohexanetricarboxylic acid, and the like with (poly) ester (poly) ols disclosed the 11 above, and the like. However, there are no particular limitations placed on these esters. Linking chains obtained by ring-open reaction of polyepoxides having an average molecular weight of 100 to 100,000, and comprising a part in which at least one group selected from the group consisting of a straight or branched chain C 2 -C 24 alkylene group; a C 3 -C 24 alicyclic group; and a C 6 -C 24 aryl group; connected with an ether linking chain, or a repeating unit comprising the parts, and the like. However, there are no particular limitations placed on these linking chains. Examples of (poly) epoxide forming the linking chain include epichlorohydrin-modified bisphenol type epoxy resin synthesized by the reaction of (methyl) epichlorohydrin with bisphenol A, bisphenol F, modified ethyiene oxide thereof, modified propylene oxide thereof; epichlorohydrin-modified hydrogenated hydrogenated bisphenol type epoxy resin synthesized by the reaction of (methyl) epichlorohydrin with hydrogenated bisphenol A and hydrogenated bisphenol F, and by the reaction of ethyiene oxide-modified or propylene oxide-modified hydrogenated bisphenol A and bisphenol F; epoxy novolak resin; compounds obtained from the reaction of phenol, bisphenol, and the like with (methyl) epichlorohydrin; aromatic epoxy resin such as glycidyl ester of terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, pyromellitic acid, and the like; polyglycidyl ethers synthesized from glycols such as (poly) ethyiene glycol, (poly) propylene glycol, (poly)butylene glycol, (poly) tetramethylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, and from alkylene oxide-modified glycols thereof; polyglycidyl ethers synthesized from aliphatic polyhydric alcohols such as trimethylol propane, trimethylol ethane, glycerin, diglycerin, erythritol, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, 1,4-butane diol, 1,6-hexane diol, and the like, and from alkylene oxide-modified aliphatic polyhydric alcohols thereof; glycidyl esters synthesized from adipic acid, sebacic acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid, and the like; glycidyl ether 12 of polyester polyol synthesized from polyhydric alcohol with polycarboxylic acid; copolymers such as glycidyl (meth) acrylate and methylglycidyl (meth) acrylate ; aliphatic epoxy resin such as glycidyl ester of higher fatty acid, epoxidized linseed oil, epoxidized soybean oil, epoxidized castor oil, epoxidized polybutadiene; and the like. However, there are no particular limitations placed on these (poly) epoxides . Among the linking chains R 2 represents, preferred are (poly) ether and (poly) ester linking chains having an average molecular weight of 100 to 100,000 and comprising a repeating unit containing a C 2 -C 24 straight chain or branched alkylene, a C 2 -C 24 alkylene group having a hydroxyl group, and/or a C 6 -C 24 aryl group . The maleimide derivatives represented by Formula (1) used for an active energy curable composition of the present invention can be synthesized by well known techniques from the reaction of, for example, a maleimide compound having a carboxyl group with a compound reactable with the carboxyl groups or from the reaction of a maleimide compound having a hydroxyl group with a compound having a carboxyl group. A maleimide compound having a carboxyl group can be synthesized by well known techniques from the reaction of maleic anhydride with a primary ammo carboxylic acid, represented by the following reaction formula, (for example, see D.H. Rich, et al . , Journal of Medical Chemistry, Vol. 18, pp. 1004-10, 1975). O O + H 2 N-Rn-COOH N-Rn—COOH O O 13 Examples of a primary ammo carboxylic acid suitable for use such synthesis include asparagme, alanine, β-alanme, arginine, lsoleucme, glycine, glutamine, tryptophan, threonme, val e, phenylalanme, homophenylalan e, α-methyl- phenylalanme, lysme, leucine, cycloleucme, 3 -aminopropionic acid, α-ammobutyric acid, 4-ammobutyπc acid, ammovaleric acid, 6-ammocaproιc acid, 7-ammoheptanoιc acid, 2- aminocaprylic acid, 3-ammocaprylιc acid, 6-ammocaprylιc acid, 8-ammocaprylιc acid, 2-amιnononanoιc acid, 4-ammononanoιc acid, 9-ammononanoιc acid, 2-amιnocaprιc acid, 9-ammocaprιc acid, 10-amιnocaprιc acid, 2-ammoundecanoιc acid, 10- ammoundecanoic acid, 11-ammoundecanoιc acid, 2-ammolaurιc acid, 11-ammolaurιc acid, 12-ammolaurιc acid, 2- ammotπdecanoic acid, 13-ammotπdecanoιc acid, 2 -ammo myπstic acid, 14-ammo myristic acid, 2-ammopentadecanoιc acid, 15-ammopentadecanoιc acid, 2-ammopalmιtιc acid, 16- ammopalmitic acid, 2-ammoheptadecanoιc acid, 17- am oheptadecanoic acid, 2-ammostearιc acid, 18-ammostearιc acid, 2-ammoeιcosanoιc acid, 20-ammoeιcosanoιc acid, ammocyclohexanecarboxylic acid, ammomethylcyclohexane- carboxylic acid, 2-ammo-3-propιonιc acid, 3-ammo-3- phenylpropionic acid, and the like. However, there are no particular limitations placed on these primary ammo carboxylic acids as virtually any primary ammo carboxylic acid can be used. In addition, pyrrolidone, lactams such as δ-valerolactam, ε-caprolactam, and the like can also be used. Examples of compounds reactive with the carboxyl groups include polyols or polyepoxides having 2 to 6 functional groups and an average molecular weight of 100 to 100,000 comprising a part or a repeating unit m which at least one linking group selected from the group consisting of a straight chain alkylene group, a branched alkylene group, an alicyclic group, and an 14 aryl group is linked with an ether bond and/or an ester bond There are no particular limitations placed on the reaction between maleimide compounds having a carboxyl group and polyols one of the compound reactive with the carboxyl groups Moreover, maleimide derivatives represented by Formula (1) can be synthesized m a well-known manner disclosed in Organic Synthesis Collective Volume (C.E. Rehberg, et . al . , Vol. 3, pp. 46, 1955) . It is preferable, however, that the reaction be carried out under ambient or reduced pressure, and a temperature ranging from room temperature to 150 °C, while dehydrating and using a catalyst. Examples of the catalyst include acid catalysts such as sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, methanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, strong acidic cation-exchange resin, and the like. The amount of catalyst used should be within a range of 0.01 to 10 wt . % based on the total weight of raw materials. Moreover, an azeotropic organic solvent with water is also used as a solvent in the reaction. Examples of the azeotropic organic solvent with water include toluene, benzene, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, dusopropyl ether, dibutyl ether, and the like. There are no particular limitations placed on the reaction of the maleimide compounds having a carboxyl group with polyepoxides which are one of the reactive compound with the carboxyl groups. In addition, maleimide derivatives represented by Formula (1) can be synthesized m a well-known manner disclosed in Japanese Patent Application JP-A-4 -228529. It is preferable, however, that the reaction be carried out at a temperature a range of room temperature to 150 °C, using a catalyst . Examples of the catalyst include lmidazoles such as 2-methyιmιdazole and the like, quaternary ammonium salts such as tetramethyl ammonium chloride, trimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, tetramethyl ammonium bromide, and the like; amines such as trimethylamme, triethylamme, benzylmethylam e, 15 tπbutylamme, and the like; phosphmes such as tπphenylphosphme, tricyclohexylphosphme, and the like; laurates such as dibutyltm laurate, and the like; basic alkali metal salts such as potassium acetate, potassium tertiary phosphate, sodium acrylate, sodium methacrylate, and the like; alkali alcoholates such as sodium methylate, potassium ethylate, and the like; anion-exchange resins; and the like. The amount of catalyst should be within a range of 10 to 10,000 ppm based on the total weight of raw materials. Moreover, an organic solvent which does not comprise a reactive hydrogen may also be used as a solvent m the reaction. Examples of an organic solvent which does not comprise a reactive hydrogen include aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, ethylbenzene, tetralm, cumene, xylene, and the like; ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl lsobutyl ketone, cyclohexanone, and the like; esters such as formate, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, and the like; and the like. Examples of polyols used as a compound reactive with the carboxyl groups include, for example, polyalkylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polybutylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol, and the like; modified alkylene glycols modified of alkylene glycols such as ethyiene glycol, propanediol, propylene glycol, butanediol, butylene glycol, hexanediol , neopentyl glycol, glycerin, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, diglycer , ditrimethylolpropane, dipentaerythπtol , and the like by ethyleneoxide, propyleneoxide, butyleneoxide, tetrahydrofuran, ε-caprolactone, γ-butylolactone, δ-valerolactone, and methylvalerolactone ; aliphatic polyols such as a copolymer of ethyiene oxide with propylene oxide, a copolymer of propylene glycol with tetrahydrofuran, a copolymer of ethyiene glycol with tetrahydrofuran, polyisoprene glycol, hydrogenated polyisoprene glycol, polybutadiene glycol, hydrogenated polybutadiene glycol, 16 and the like; aliphatic polyester polyols which are the esterification reaction products of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids such as adipic acid and dimeric acid with polyols such as neopentyl glycol and methylpentanediol , and the like; aromatic polyester polyols which are the esterification reaction products of aromatic dicarboxylic acids such as terephthalate with polyols such as neopentyl glycols; polycarbonate polyols; acrylpolyols ; polyhydric alcohols such as polytetramethylenehexaglycerm ether (tetrahydrofuran-modified hexaglycerm) ; compounds containing monohydroxyl group or polyhydroxy groups, and having an ether group at terminal ends of the polyhydric alcohols described above; compounds containing polyhydroxyl group obtained by the esterification reaction of the above polyhydric alcohols with dicarboxylic acids such as fumaπc acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, ltacomc acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, maleic acid, and the like; compounds containing polyhydroxyl groups obtained by the transesterification reaction of compounds containing polyhydroxyl groups such as glycerin with ester of fatty acids of animals and plants. Any polyols may be used if they contain 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups m the molecule. Examples of polyepoxides used as the compound reactive with the carboxyl groups include, for example, bisphenol type epoxy res s modified by epichlorohydrin, which are synthesized by (methyl) epichlorohydrin with bisphenol A, and bisphenol F, and their modified compounds by ethyleneoxide, propyreneoxide, and the like; hydrogenated bisphenol type epoxy resms and epoxy Novolak ® resms (Novolak is a Registered Trademark of Shell Company, Houston, TX) modified by epichlorhydrm which are synthesized by (methyl) epichlorohydrin with hydrogenated bisphenol A, hydrogenated bisphenol F, and their modified compounds by ethyleneoxide, propyleneoxides , and the like; reaction products of (methyl) epichlorohydrin with phenol and biphenol ; aromatic epoxy res s such as glycidyl esters of 17 terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and pyrrolitac acid; polyglycidyl ethers of glycols such as (poly) ethyiene glycol, (poly) propylene glycol, (poly) butylene glycol, (poly) tetramethylene glycol, and their alkyleneoxide-modifled- products; glycidyl ethers modified of aliphatic polyhydric alcohols such as trimethylolpropane , trimethylolethane , glycerin, diglycerm, erythritol, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, 1, 4-butanedιol , 1, 6-hexanedιol , and their alkyleneoxide-modified compounds; glycidyl esters of carboxylic acids such as adipic acid, sebacic acid, maleic acid, and ltacomc acid; glycidyl ethers of polyester polyols prepared by polyhydric alcohols and polycarboxylic acids; copolymers of glycidyl (meth) acrylate and methylglycidyl (meth) acrylate; aliphatic epoxy resms such as glycidyl esters of higher fatty acids, epoxidized linseed oil, epoxidized soybean oil, epoxidized castor oil, and epoxidized polybutadiene . The maleimide derivatives represented by Formula (1) used for an active energy curable composition of the present invention can also be synthesized by the reaction of a maleimide compound having a hydroxyl group with a compound having a carboxyl group . Moreover, a maleimide compound having a hydroxyl group can be synthesized by maleimide and formaldehyde, represented by the reaction: O o Λ N..H. + HCHO Λ N -CH 2 OH 0 o 18 or by a well-known technique using maleic anhydride and a primary am o alcohol represented by the reaction: O O Λ O + H 2 N-R,,-OH N-R n -OH 7 O O (for a detailed synthesis example, see U.S. Patent No. 2526517 and Japanese Patent Application JP-A-2-268155) . Examples of a primary ammo alcohol include 2- aminoethanol, l-ammo-2-propanol , 3-ammo-l-propanol , 2 -ammo- 2 - methyl - 1-propanol , 2-amιno-3-phenyl-l-propanol , 4-amιno-l- butanol, 2-ammo-l-butanol , 2 -ammo-3 -methyl - 1 -butanol , 2-ammo- 4-methylthio-l-butanol , 2-amino-l-pentanol , 5-ammo-l-pentanol , (1-ammocyclopentane) methanol , 6-ammo-l-hexanol , 2 -am o- 1- hexanol , 7-ammo-l-heptanol , 2- (2 -ammoethoxy) ethanol , N-(2- aminoethyl) ethanol amme, 4-ammo-l-pιperazme ethanol, 2 -ammo- 1-phenylethanol , 2 -ammo-3 -phenyl- 1 -propanol , 1 -am omethyi - -_ cyclohexanol , ammotrimethylcyclohexanol , and the like. However, there are no particular limitations placed on these primary amino alcohols. Any primary amino alcohol can be used. Examples of compounds reactive with the hydroxyl groups include polycarboxylic acid having ether bonds and/or ester bonds in one molecule, and an average molecular weight of 100 to 100,000, and comprising a part or a repeating unit m which at least one linking group selected from the group consisting of a straight chain alkylene group, a branched alkylene group, an alicyclic group, and an aryl group; linked with an ether bond and/or an ester bond. There are no particular limitations placed on the reaction between the maleimide compounds having a hydroxyl group and the 19 compounds having a carboxyl group. In addition, maleimide derivatives represented by Formula (1) can be synthesized m a well-known manner disclosed Organi c Synthesi s Collecti ve Volume (C.E. Rehberg, et al . , Vol. 3, pp. 46, 1955) . It is preferable, however, that the reaction be carried out under ambient or reduced pressure, at a temperature ranging from room temperature to 150 °C, while dehydrating and using a catalyst. Examples of the catalyst include acid catalysts such as sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, methanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, strong acidic cation-exchange resin, and the like. The amount of catalyst should be wichm a range of 0.01 to 10 wt. % based on the total weight of raw materials . In this case, as the solvent for the reaction, it is possible to use organic solvents which are azeotropic with water. Examples of such organic solvents are toluene, benzene, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, dusopropyl ether, and dibutyl ether, and the like. In any cases of the above reactions, it is preferable to use a radical polymerization inhibitor m order to suppress the radical polymerization of maleimide groups. The radical polymerization inhibitors include, for example, phenol derivatives such as hydroquinone , tert-butylhydroqu one, methoqumone, 2, 4 -dimethyl- 6- tert -butylphenol , catecol, tert- butylcatecol , and the like; amines such as phenothiazme, p- phenylenediamme, diphenylamme and the like; copper complexes such as copper-dimethyldithiocarbamate, copper- diethyldithiocarbamate, copper-dibutyldithiocarbamate, and the like. These inhibitors may be used alone or in combinations of two or more. It is preferable to select an amount of the inhibitors within a range of 10 to 10,000 ppm against total weight of raw materials. Examples of polycarboxylic acids as the compounds, having ether bonds and ester bonds, include, for example, but are not 20 limited to, polycarboxylic acids obtained by esterification of dicarboxylic acids such as fu aric acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, ltacomc acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, maleic acid, succmic acid, hexahydrophthalic acid, tetrahydrophthalic acid, pyromellitic acid, and dicarboxylic acid described above with polyols described above, and represented by formula: HOOC—X'-COO—Y'-fOOC—X'—COOH wherein X' represents residual dicarboxyl groups, Y' represents residual polyol groups, and n is an integer from 1 to 5. The maleimide derivatives represented by Formula (1) and used for the active energy curable composition of the present invention are obtained by aforementioned preparatory methods, but are not limited to, the methods described herein. It is possible to add a compound which is copolymerizable with the maleimide groups to be used together the active energy curable composition containing maleimide derivatives accordmg to the present invention. Practical examples of the compounds which are copolymerizable with the maleαmide groups are, for example, compounds having various unsaturated double bonds. Such compounds may include, for example, maleimide derivatives which are not represented by the above Formula (1), (meth) acryloyl derivatives, (meth) acrylamide derivatives, vinyl ester derivatives, vinyl carboxylate derivatives, styrene derivatives, and unsaturated polyesters. Examples of maleimide derivatives which are not represented by Formula (1) include, for example, but are not limited to: monofunctional aliphatic maleimides such as N- 21 methylmaleimide, N-ethylmaleimide, N-propylmaleimide, N-n- butylmaleimide, N-tert-butylmaleimide, N-pentylmaleimide, N- hexylmaleimide, N-laurylmaleimide, 2-maleιmιdeethyl-ethyl- carbonate, 2 -maleimideethyl-isopropyl -carbonate , and N-ethyl- (2- maleimideethyl) carbamate; monofunctional alicyclic maleimides such as N-cyclohexylmaleimide; aromatic monofunctional maleimides such as N-phenylmaleimide, N-2- methylphenylmaleimide, N-2-ethylphenylmaleιmιde, N-(2, 6- diethylphenyl) maleimide, N-2-chlorophenylmaleιmιde, and N- (4- hydroxyphenyl ) maleimide ; aliphatic bismaleimides such as N, N'- methylenebismaleimide, N-N 1 -ethylenebismaleimide, N, N'- trimethylenebismaleimide, N- ' -hexamethylenebismaleimide, N, N'- dodecamethylenebismaleimide, polypropylene glycol -bis (3- maleimidepropyl) ether, tetraethylene gycol-bιs(3- maleimidepropyl) ether, and bis (2 -maleimideethyl) carbonate ; alicyclic bimaleimides such as 1 , 4-dιmaleιmιde-cyclohexane and isophoronebisurethanebis (N-ethylmaleimide) ; aromatic bismaleimides such as N,N'-(4, 4 ' -diphenyl-methane) bismalemide, N,N' - (4 , 4 ' -diphenyloxy) bismaleimide , N,N' -p- phenylenebismaleimide, N, N' -m-phenylenebismaleimide, N, N'-2, 4-tolylenebιsmaleιmιde, N, N' -2 , 6-tolylenebιs-maleιmιde, N, N 1 - [4, 4 '-bis (3, 5 -dimethylphenyl) methane] bismaleimide, N,N'- [4,4' -bis (3 , 5-dιethylphenyl ) methane] bismaleimide ; (poly) urethane (poly) maleimide derivatives obtained by urethanation reactions of hydroxymaleimides with various (poly) isocyanates, such as a maleimide derivative obtained by a urethanation reaction of hydroxyethylmaleimide with trnsocyanate produced by a reaction between 3 mole of lsophoronednsocyanate and 1 mole of propyleneoxide-modifled- glycerin; a maleimide derivative obtained by a urethanation reaction of hydroxymethylmaleimide with dusocyanate produced by a reaction between 2 mole of 2, 4-tolylendιιsocyanate and 1 mole 22 of polytetramethyleneglycol ; and compounds having acryloyloxy groups or methacryloyloxy groups can be classified into, but are not limited to, groups of (poly) ester (meth) acrylate ; urethane (meth) acrylate ; epoxy (meth) acrylate; (poly) ether (meth) acrylate; alkyl (meth) acrylate or alkylene (meth) acrylate; (meth) acrylate having an aromatic ring and; (meth) acrylate having an alicyclic group. Names the above classifications are used as the general terms for respective compounds which can be used together m the active energy curable composition of the present invention. The (poly) ester (meth) acrylate generally designates (meth) acrylates having at least one ester bond m the mam chain; urethane (meth) acrylate generally designates (meth) acrylates having at least one urethane bond the mam chain; the epoxyacrylate generally designates (meth) acrylates obtained by a reaction between (meth) acrylic acid and epoxide with one and more than one functional group; the (poly) ether (meth) acrylate generally designate (meth) acrylates having at least one ether bond m the mam chain; the alkyl (meth) acrylate or alkylene (meth) acrylate generally designates (meth) acrylates comprising the mam chain formed by a linear alkyl, a branched alkyl, a linear alkylene, or a branched alkylene, and side chains or terminal ends having halogen atoms and/or hydroxyl groups; (meth) acrylate having an aromatic ring generally designates (meth) acrylates having an aromatic ring at the mam chain or the side chain; (meth) acrylate having an alicyclic group generally designates (meth) acrylates having, the mam chain or the side chain, alicyclic groups which may include oxygen atoms or nitrogen atoms as the structural unit . Examples of the (poly) ester (meth) acrylates which can be used together m the active energy curable composition of the present invention include, for example, but are not limited to, monofunctional (poly) ester (meth) acrylates such as alicyclic- modified neopentylglycol (meth) arylate, caprolactone-modif ed 2- 23 hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, ethyleneoxide- and/or propyleneoxide- modified phthalate (meth) acrylate, ethyleneoxide- modified succmate (meth) acrylate, caprolactone-modified tetrahydrofurfuryl (meth) acrylate; pivalate- esterneopentylglycoldi (meth) acrylate, caprolactone-modified hydroxypivalateesterneopentylglucoldi (meth) acrylate, epichlorohydrme-modified phthalatedi (meth) acrylate ; mono-, di- or tπ- (meth) acrylates of triol obtained by addition of more than 1 mole of cyclic lactones such as ε-caprolactone, γ- butylolactone, δ-valerolactone or methylvalerolactone to 1 mole of tπmethylolpropane or glycerin; mono-, di-, tπ, or tetra- (meth) acrylates of triol obtained by addition of more than 1 mole of cyclic lactones such as ε-caprolactone, -butylo accone, δ-valerolactone or methylvalerolactone to 1 mole of pentaerythritol or ditrimethylolpropane; mono- or poly- (meth) acrylates of polyhydric alcohols such as triol, tetraol, pentaol, or hexaol , obtained by addition of more than 1 mole of cyclic lactones such as ε-caprolactone, γ-butylolactone, δ- valerolactone or methylvalerolactone to 1 mole of dipentaerythritol; (meth) acrylates of polyester polyols composed of diol components such as (poly) ethyiene glycol, (poly) propylene glycol, (poly) tertamethylene glycol, (poly) butylene glycol, (poly) pentanediol , (poly) methyl - pentanediol, and (poly) hexanediol , and polybasic acids such as maleic acid, fumaric acid, succmic acid, adipic acid, phthalic acid, hexahydrophthalic acid, tetrahydrophthalic acid, itaconic acid, citracomc acid, hettic acid, chlorendic acid, dimenc acid, alkenylsuccmic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, 2, 2, 4- tπmethyladipic acid, 1, 4-cyclo-hexanedιcarboxylιc acid, terephthalic acid, 2-sodιum-sulfoterephthalιc acid, 2 -potassium sulfoterephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 5-sodιum sulfoisophthalic acid, 5-potassιum sulfoisophthalic acid, orthophthalic acid, 4-sulfophthalic acid, 1, 10- 24 decamethylenedicarboxylic acid, muconic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, gultaπc acid, trimellitic acid, pyromellitic acid; and polyfunctional (poly) ester (meth) acrylates composed of the above diol components, polybasic acids, and cyclic lactone- modified polyesterdiols such as ε-caprolactone, γ-butylolactone, δ-valerolactone or methylvalerolactone. The urethane (meth) acrylate which can be used together in the active energy curable composition of the present invention is a general term representing (meth) acrylates obtained by a reaction between hydroxy compounds having at least one acryloyloxy group and isocyanate compounds . The urethane (meth) acrylate may also be selected from water dilutable aliphatic acrylate or aromatic urethanes. Examples of hydroxy compounds having at least one acryloyloxy group include, for example, 2- hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, 2 -hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, 2- hydroxybutyl (meth) acrylate, 3-hydroxybutyl (meth) acrylate, 4- hydroxybutyl (meth) acrylace, cyclohexanedimethanolmono (meth) acrylate, polyethylene glycol (meth) acrylate, polypropylene glycol (meth) acrylate, tπmethylolpropanedi (meth) acrylate , trimethylolethanedi (meth) acrylate, pentaerythritoltri (meth) acrylate or an adduct of (meth) acrylate with glycidyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylate compounds having hydroxyl groups such as 2 -hydroxy- 3 -phenolpropyl (meth) acrylate, and ring-opening reaction products of the above acrylate compounds having hydroxyl groups with ε-caprolactone. Examples of isocyanate compounds include, for example, aromatic dusocyanates such as p-phenylenednsocyanate, m- phenylenednsocyanate, p-xylenednsocyanate, m- xylenednsocyanate, 2, 4-tolylened ιsocyanate, 2, 6- tolylenednsocyanate, 4, 4 ' -diphenylmethanediisocyanate, 3, 3'- dιmethyldιphenyl-4 , 4 ' -dusocyanate, 3, 3 ' -dιethyldιphenyl-4 , 25 4 ' -dusocyanate, and naphthalenediisocyanate; aliphatic or alicyclic dusocyanates such as lsophoronediisocyanate, hexamethylenediisocyanate, 4, 4'- dicyclohexylmethanednsocyanate , hydrogenated xylenednsocyanate, norbornenednsocyanate, and lysmediisocyanate; polyisocyanates such as buret products of more than one type of isocyanates and lsocyanate-tnmers of the above isocyanates; and polyisocyanates obtained by the esterification reaction of the above isocyanate with various polyols . Examples of polyols used to produce polyisocyanates include, for example, (poly) alkylene glycols such as (poly) ethyiene glycol, (poly) propylene glycol, (poly) butylene glycol, and (poly) tetramethylene glycol; alkyleneglycols modified by ethyleneoxide, propyleneoxide, butyleneoxide, tetrahydrofuran, ε-caprolactone, γ-butylolactone, δ- valerolactone or methylvalerolactone, such as ethyiene glycol, propanediol, propylene glycol, tetramethylene glycol, pentamethylene glycol, hexanediol , neopentyl glycol, glycerin, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, diglycerm, ditrimethylolpropane, and dipentaerythritol; aliphatic polyols such as copolymers of ethyleneoxide and propyleneoxide, copolymers of propylene glycol and tetrahydrofuran, copolymers of ethyiene glycol and tetrahydrofuran, polyisoprene glycol, hydrogenated polyisoprene glycol, polybutadiene glycol, and hydrogenated polybutadiene glycol; aliphatic polyester polyols obtained by esterification reactions between aliphatic dicarboxylic acids such as adipic acid and dimeric acid with polyols such as neopentyl glycols and methylpentanediol ; aromatic polyester polyols obtained by esterification reactions between aromatic dicarboxylic acids such as terephthalic acid with polyols such as neopentyl glycol, polycarbonatepolyols , acrylpolyols ; polyhydric alcohols such as polytetramethylenehexaglyceryl ether (hexaglycerm modified by 26 tetrahydrofuran) ; mono- or polyhydric compounds having of the above compounds having ether group at a terminal; polyhydric compounds obtained by esterification of the compounds having polyhydroxyl groups with dicarboxylic acids such as fumaπc acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, itaconic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, and maleic acid; compounds containing polyhydroxyl groups such as monoglyceride obtained by transesterification reactions of compounds having polyhydroxyl groups such as glycerin with esters of fatty acids of animals or plants . Epoxy (meth) acrylates capable of being used together in the active energy curable composition of the present invention is a general term for (meth) acrylate obtained by a reaction of epoxides having more than one functional group and (meth) acrylic acids. Epoxides as the raw material of epoxy (meth) acrylate includes, for example, but are not limited to, epichlorhydrm- modifled-hydrogenated bisphenol -type epoxy resin, synthesized by (methyl) epichlorohydrin and compounds such as hydrogenated bisphenol A, hydrogenated bisphenol S, hydrogenated bisphenol F, and their modified compounds with ethyiene oxide or propylene oxide; alicyclic epoxy resms such as 3 , 4- epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3 , 4-epoxycyclo hexane carooxy- late, bis- (3, 4-epoxycyclohexyl) adipate; alicyclic epoxides such as epoxy resin containing heterocycles such as tnglycidylisocyanurate; epichlorohydrme-modified bisphenyol-type epoxy res s synthesized by a reaction of (methyl) epi- chlorohydrm and a compound such as bisphenol A, bisphenol S, bisphenol F, and their modified compounds with ethyiene oxide or propyleneoxide, phenol Novolak type epoxy resms; cresol Novolak type epoxy resms; epoxy resms of dicyclopentadiene-modified phenol resin obtained by the reaction of dicyclopentadiene and various types of phenol resms; an aromatic epoxydized compounds of 2, 2', 6,6'- tetramethylbis- phenol; aromatic epoxides such as phenylglycidyl ether; (poly) glycidyl ethers of glycol compounds such as 27 (poly) ethyiene glycol, (poly) propylene glycol, (poly) butylene glycol, (poly) tetramethylene glycol, neopentyl glycol; (poly) glycidyl ether of glycols modified with alkylene oxide; (poly) glycidyl ethers of aliphatic polyhydric alcohols such as trimethylolpropane, tπmethylolethane, glycerin, diglycerm, erythritol, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, 1, 4-butanedιol , 1, 6- hexanediol; alkylene type epoxides of (poly) glycidyl ether modified of aliphatic polyhync alcohols by alkylene; glycidylesters of carboxylic acids such as adipic acid, sebacic acid, maleic acid, and itaconic acid; glycidyl ethers of polyesterpolyols of polyhydric alcohols with polycarboxylic acids; a copolymer of gylcidyl (meth) acrylate or methylglycidyl (meth) acrylate; glycidylester of higher fatty acids; aliphatic epoxy resms such as an epoxydized linseed oil, an epoxydized castor oil, and an epoxydized polybutadiene. (Poly) ether (meth) acrylates capable of being used together in the active energy curable composition of the present invention include, for example, but are not limited to, aliphatic epoxy acrylates, monofunctional (poly) ether (meth) acrylates such as butoxyethyl (meth) acrylate, butoxytriethylene glycol (meth) acrylate, epichlorohydrm-modified butyl (meth) acrylate, dicyclopentenyloxylethyl (meth) acrylate, 2- ethoxyethyl (meth) acrylate, ethylcarbitol (meth) acrylate, 2- methoxy (poly) ethyiene glycol (meth) acrylate, methoxy (poly) propylene glycol (meth) acrylate, nonylphenoxypolyethylene glycol (meth) acrylate, nonylphenoxypolypropylene glycol (meth) acrylate, phenoxyhydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, phenoxy (poly) ethyiene glycol (meth) acrylate , polyethylene glycol mono (meth) acrylate, polypropylene glycol mono (meth) acrylate, and polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol mono (meth) acrylate; alkylene glycol di (meth) acrylates such as polyethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, polypropylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, polybutylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, polytetramethylene glycol di (meth) acrylate; 28 polyfunctional (meth) acrylates induced by (meth) acrylic acid with aliphatic polyols such as a copolymer of ethyiene oxide and propylene oxide, a copolymer of propylene glycol and tetrahydrofuran, a copolymer of ethyiene glycol and tetrahydrofuran, polyisoprene glycol, hydrogenated polyisoprene glycol, polybutadieneglycol , hydrogenated polybutadiene glycol; polyfunctional (meth) acrylates induced by acrylic acid with polyhydric alcohols such as polytetramethylenehexaglyceryl ether (tetrahydrofuran-modified hexaglycerm) ; di (meth) acrylates of diol obtained by addition of equimolar or more than 1 mole of cyclic ethers such as ethyiene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide and/or tetrahydrofuran to 1 mole of neopentyl oxide; di (meth) acrylates of alkylene oxides-modi ied bisphenols such as bisphenol A, bisphenol F and bisphenol S ; di (meth) acrylate of alkylene oxide-modified hydrogenated bisphenols such as hydrogenated bisphenol A, hydrogenated bisphenol F, hydrogenated bisphenol S; di (meth) acrylates of alkylene oxide-modified trisphenols; di (meth) acrylates of alkylene oxide-modifed hydrogenated trisphenols; di (meth) acrylates of alkylene oxide- modified p, p ' -bisphenols; di (meth) acrylates of alkylene oxide- modified hydrogenated bisphenols; di (meth) acylates of alkylene oxide-modified p, p ' -dihydroxybenzophenones ; mono-, di-, and tri- (meth) acrylates of triols obtained by addition of equimolar or more than 1 mole of ethyiene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, and/or cyclic ethers such as tetrahydrofuran to 1 mole of tπmethylolpropane or glycerin; mono-, di-, tri- or tetra- (meth) acrylates obtained by addition of equimolar or more than 1 mole of ethyiene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, and/or cyclic ethers such as tetrahydrofuran to 1 mole of pentaerythritol, ditrimethylolpropane or highly alkoxylated tπmethylolpropane triacrylate; monofunctional (poly) ether (meth) acrylates or polyfunctional (poly) ether (meth) acrylates of polyhydric alcohols such as triol, tetraol , pentaol , or hexaol of mono- or poly- (meth) acrylates 29 obtained by addition of equimolar or more than 1 mole of ethyiene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, and/or cyclic ethers such as tetrahydrofuran to 1 mole of dipentaerythritol Alkyl (meth) acrylates or alkylene (meth) acrylates which can be used together m the active energy curable composition of the present invention include, for example, but are not limited to, monofunctional (meth) acrylates such as methyl (meth) acrylate, ethyl (meth) acrylate, propyl (meth) acrylate, isopropyl (meth) acrylate, butyl (meth) acrylate, isobutyl (meth) acrylate, pentyl (meth) acrylate, isopentyl (meth) acrylate, neopentyl (meth) acrylate, hexyl (meth) acrylate, heptyl (meth) acrylate, 2 -ethylhexyl (meth) acrylate , octyl (meth) acrylate, isooctyl (meth) acrylate, nonyl (meth) acrylate, decyl (meth) acrylate, dodecyl (meth) acrylate, tridecyl (meth) acrylate, pentadecyl (meth) acrylate, miπstyl (meth) acrylate, palmityl (meth) acrylate, stearyl (meth) acrylate, neryl (meth) acrylate, geranyl (meth) crylate, farnecyl (meth) acrylate, hexadecyl (meth) acrylate, octadecyl (meth) acrylate, docosyl (meth) acrylate, and trans-2-hexene (meth) acrylate ; di (meth) acrylates of aliphatic diols such as ethyiene glycol di (meth) acrylate, propylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, 1, 2- butylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, 1, 3 -butylene glycol di (meth) acrylate, 1, 4-butanedιol di (meth) acrylate , 1, 6- hexanediol di (meth) acrylate, neopentyl glycol di (meth) acrylate, 2-methyl-l, 8-octanedιol di (meth) acrylate, 1, 9-nonanedιol di (meth) acrylate, and 1, 10-decanedιol di (meth) acrylate; mono (meth) acrylates or poly (meth) acrylates of polyhydric alcohols such as tπmethylolpropane, (hereinafter, the term "poly" is used as the general term of the poly-functionals including di , tri, tetra, and poly compounds such as mono (meth) acrylate, di (meth) acrylate, and tri (meth) acrylate of tπmethylolpropane) , and mono (meth) acrylates or poly (meth) acrylates of polyhydric alcohols such as triol, tetraol, and hexaol , for example, glycerin, pentaerythritol, ditri- 30 methylolpropane, and dipentaerythritol; (meth) acrylates having hyroxyl groups such as 2 -hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, 2- hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, 4 -hydroxybutyl (meth) acrylate, 3- chloro-2 -hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate ; (meth) acrylates having bromine atoms such as 2, 3 -dibromopropyl (meth) acrylate , tribromophenyl (meth) acrylate, ethyiene oxide-modofied tπbromophenyl (meth) acrylate, ethyiene oxide-modified tetrabromobisphenol A di (meth) acrylate ,- (meth) acrylates having fluorine atoms such as trifluoroethyl (meth) acrylate, pentafluoropropyl (meth) acrylate, tetrafluoropropyl (meth) acrylate, octafluoropentyl (meth) acrylate , dodecafluoroheptyl (meth) acrylate , hexadecafluorononyl (meth) acrylate , hexafluorobutyl (meth) acrylate, 3 -perfluorobutyl -2 -hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, 3-perfluorohexyl-2- hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, 3 -perfluorooctyl-2- hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, 3- (perfluoro-5-methylhexyl) -2- hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, 3- (perfluoro-7-methyloctyl) -2- hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, and 3- (perfluoro-8-methyldecyl) -2 - hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate . (Meth) acrylates having aromatic groups which can be used together m the active energy curable composition of the present invention include, for example, but are not limited to, monofunctional (meth) acrylates such as phenyl (meth) acrylate, benzylacrylate; and di (meth) acrylates such as bisphenol A diacrylate, bisphenol F diacrylate, bisphenol S diacrylate . (Meth) acrylates having alicyclic groups which can be used together in the active energy curable composition of the present invention include, for example, but are not limited to, monofunctional (meth) acrylates having alicyclic structures such as cyclohexyl (meth) acrylate, cyclopentyl (meth) acrylate, cycloheptyl (meth) acrylate, bicycloheptyl (meth) acrylate, isobornyl (meth) acrylate , bicyclopentyldi (meth) acrylate , tricyclodecyl (meth) acrylate, bicyclopentenyl (meth) acrylate, norbornyl (meth) acrylate, bicyclooctyl (meth) acrylate, 31 tricycloheptyl (meth) acrylate, and cholesteroid skeleton- substituted (meth) acrylate; di (meth) acrylates of hydrogenated bisphenols such as hydrogenated bisphenol A, hydrogenated bisphenol F, hydrogenated bisphenol S, di (meth) acrylates of hydrogenated trisphenols such as hydrogenated trisphenols, and di (meth) acrylates of hydrogenated p, p ' -bisphenols ; polyfunctional (meth) acrylates having cyclic structures such as dicyclopentane type di (meth) acrylate such as "Kayarad R684" (available from Nihon Kayaku Co., Japan), tricyclodecane dimethyloldi (meth) acrylate , bisphenolfluorene dihydroxy (meth) acrylate; and alicyclic acrylates having oxygen atoms and/or nitrogen atoms such as tetrahydrofurfuryl (meth) acrylate, and morpholmoethyl (meth) acrylate As compounds having acryloyl groups or methacryloyl groups which can be used together m the active energy curable composition of the present invention, it is possible to use, beside the above recited compounds, for example, poly (meth) acryl (meth) acrylates such as a reaction product of (meth) acrylic acid polymer and glycidyl (meth) acrylate, and a reaction product of glycidyl (meth) acrylate polymer and (meth) acrylic acid; (meth) acrylate having ammo groups such as dimethylammoethyl (meth) acrylate , isocyanul (meth) acrylates such as tris ( (meth) acryloxyethyl) isocyanurate; phosphagene (meth) acrylate such as hexakis [ (meth) acryloyloxyethyl) cyclotπphosphagen] ; (meth) acrylate having the skelton of polyslloxane; polybutadiene (meth) acrylate; and me1amine (meth) acrylate . Among these compounds having acryloyl or methacryloyl groups, it is preferable to use the compounds having 1 to 6 acryloyl or methacryloyl groups. (Meth) acrylamide derivatives which can be used together the active energy curable composition of the present invention include, for example, monofunctional (meth) acrylamides such as N-isopropyl (meth) acrylamide and 32 polyfunctional (meth) acrylamides such as methylenebis (meth) acrylamide . Compounds having vinyl ether groups which can be used together the active energy curable composition of the present invention can be classified into, but are not limited to, the following groups, m which: an alkyl vinyl ether having a terminal group substituted with at least one selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, and an ammo group; a cycloalkyl vinyl ether having a terminal group substituted with at least one selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, and an ammo group; at least one vinyl ether selected from the group consisting of a monovmyl ether, a divmyl ether, and a polyvmyl ether m which a vinyl ether group is connected with alkylene group; and in which a vinyl ether group is connected with at least one group with and without substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, and aromatic group, via at least one linkage selected from the group consisting of an ether linkage, an urethane linkage, and an ester linkage. Alkylvmyl ethers which can be used together m the active energy curable composition includes, for example, but are not limited to, methyl vinyl ether, hydroxymethyl vinyl ether, chloromethyl vinyl ether, ethyl vinyl ether, 2- hydroxyethylvmylether, 2-chloroethylvmylether, diethyl ammoethyl vinyl ether, propyl vinyl ether, 3 -hydroxypropyl vinyl ether, 2 -hydroxypropyl vinyl ether, 3 -chloropropyl vinyl ether, 3 -ammopropyl vinyl ether, isopropyl vinyl ether, butyl vinyl ether, 4-hydroxybutyl vinyl ether, isobutyl vinyl ether, 4-ammobutyl vinyl ether, pentyl vinyl ether, isopentyl vinyl ether, hexyl vinyl ether, 1, 6-hexanedιol monovmyl ether, heptyl vinyl ether, 2-ethylhexyl vinyl ether, octyl vinyl ether, isooctyl vinyl ether, nonyl vinyl ether, isononyl vinyl ether, decyl vinyl ether, isodecyl vinyl ether, dodecyl vinyl ether, 33 isododecyl vmyl ether, tridecyl vmyl ether, isotridecyl vmyl ether, pentadecyl v yl ether, isopentadecyl vmyl ether, hexadecyl vmyl ether, octadecyl vmyl ether, methylene glycol divmyl ether, ethyiene glycol divmyl ether, propylene glycol divmyl ether, 1, 4-butanedιol divmyl ether, 1, 6-hexanedιol divmyl ether, cyclohexanediol divmyl ether, trimethylolpropane tπvmyl ether, pentaerythritol tetravmyl ether and hexanedioic acid, bιs{4-ethenyloxy) butyl] ester. Cycloalkyl vmyl ethers which can be used together m the active energy curable composition of the present invention includes, for example, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl vmyl ether, 2 -hydroxycyclopropyl vmyl ether, 2-chloro- cyclopropyl vmyl ether, cyclopropylmethyl vmyl ether, cyclobutyl vmyl ether, 3 -hydroxyeyelobutyl vmyl ether, 3- chlorocyclobutyl vmyl ether, cyclobutylmethyl vmyl ether, cyclopentyl vmyl ether, 3-hydroxycyclopentyl vmyl ether, 3- chlorocyclopentyl vmyl ether, cyclopentylmethyl vmyl ether, cyclohexyl vmyl ether, 4 -hydroxycyclohexyl v yl ether, cyclohexylmethyl vmyl ether, 4-ammocyclohexyl vmyl ether, cyclohexanediol monovmyl ether, cyclohexanedimethanol monovmyl ether, and cyclohexanedimethanol divmyl ether. Among compounds which may be used together m the active energy curable composition of the present invention including monovmyl ethers, divmyl ethers, and polyvmyl ethers, m which the vmyl ether linkage connects with an alkylene group, and at least one group selected from a group consisting of a C 2 -C 24 alkyl group, a C 2 -C 24 alicyclic group and a C 2 -C 24 aromatic group which may have a substituents connects with a linkage selected from a linkage consisting of an ether linkage, an urethane linkage, and an ester linkage, examples of the compounds containing an ether linkage, for example, but are not limited to, ethyiene glycol methyl vmyl ether, diethylene glycol monovmyl ether, diethylene glycol methylv yl ether, diethylene glycol divmyl ether, triethylene glycol monovmyl ether, 34 triethylene glycol methylvmyl ether, triethylene glycol divmyl ether, polyethylene glycol monovmyl ether, polyethylene glycol methylvmyl ether, polyethylene glycol divmyl ether, propylene glycol methylvmyl ether, dipropylene glycol monovmyl ether, dipropylene glycol methylvmyl ether, dipropylene glycol divmyl ether, tripropylene glycol monovmyl ether, tripropylene glycol methylvmyl ether, tripropylene glycol divmyl ether, polypropylene glycol monovmyl ether, polypropylene glycol methylvmyl ether, polypropylene glycol divmyl ether, tetramethylene glycol methylvmyl ether, di (tetramethylene glycol) monovmyl ether, di (tetramethylene glycol) methyl vmyl ether, di (tetramethylene glycol) divmyl ether, tri (tetramethylene glycol) monovmyl ether, tri (tetramethylene glycol) methylvmyl ether, tri (tetramethylene glycol) divmyl ether, poly (tetramethylene glycol) monovmyl ether, poly (tetramethylene glycol) methylvmyl ether, poly (tetramethylene glycol) divmyl ether, 1, 6-hexanedιolmethyl vmyl ether, di (hexamethylene glycol) monovmyl ether, di (hexamethylene glycol) methylvmyl ether, di (hexamethylene glycol) divmyl ether, tri (hexamethylene glycol) monovmyl ether, tri (hexamethylene glycol) methylvmyl ether, tri (hexamethylene glycol) divmyl ether, poly (hexamethylene glycol) monovmyl ether, poly (hexamethylene glycol) methylvmyl ether, poly (hexamethylene glycol) divmyl ether. Among compounds classified m the above having vmyl ether linkages, the compounds having urethane linkages may be obtained by the urethanatmg reaction between a monovmyl ether of (poly) alkylene glycol having at least one hydroxyl group in one molecule and a compound having at least one isocyanate group m one molecule. Among these compounds, the monovmyl ether of (poly) alkylene glycol include at least one hydroxyl group m a molecule, for example, 2 -hydroxyethyl vmyl ether, diethylene glycol monovmyl ether, polyethylene glycol monovmyl ether, 3- hydroxypropyl vmyl ether, 2-hydroxy-2-methylethyl vmyl ether, 35 dipropylene glycol monovmyl ether, polypropylene glycol monovmyl ether, 4-hydroxybutyl v yl ether, and 1, 6-hexanedιol monovmyl ether. On the other hand, compounds having at least one isocyanate group one molecule include, for example, aromatic dusocyanates such as m-isopropenyl-α, α- dimethylbenzylisocyanate, p-phenylenednsocyanate , m- phenylenednsocyanate, p-xylenednsocyanate , m- xylenednsocyanate, 2, 4-tolylenedιιsocyanate, 2, 6- tolylenednsocyanate, 4, 4 ' -diphenylmethanediisocyanate, 3, 3'- dιethyldιphenyl-4, 4 ' -diisocyanate, 3, 3 ' -dιmethyldιphenyl-4 , 4 ' -diisocyanate, naphthalenednsocyanate; and aliphatic and alicyclic isocyanates such as propylisocyanate, isophoronediisocyanate, hexamethylenediisocyanate , 4, 4'- dicyclohexylmethanednsocyanate, hydrogenated xylenedi- isocyanate, norbornenediisocyanate , lysmdiisocyanate . It is also possible to use isocyanate compounds such as dimers or trimers comprising more than one of these isocyanate monomers, and to use adduct compounds obtained by urethanatmg reactions between isocyanate compounds containing more than 2 isocyanate groups m one molecule and various alcohols. Various alcohols can be used for obtaining adduct products, if the alcohol contains at least one hydroxyl group. Although there is no limitation, it is preferable to use an alcohol with an average molecular weight of less than 100,000. Examples of such alcohols include, for example, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, ethyiene glycol, 1, 3 -propylene glycol, 1, 2 -propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, 1, 3-butanedιol , 1, 4-butanedιol , 1, 6-hexanedιol , 1, 9-nonanedιol , 1, 10- decanediol , 2, 2', 4-tπmethyl-l , 3 -pentanediol , 3-methyl-l, 5- pentanediol, dichloroneopentyl glycol, dibromoneopentyl glycol, neopentylglycol hydroxypivalate, cyclohexanedimethylol , 1, 4- cyclohexanediol , spiro glycol, tricyclodecanedimethylol , 36 hydrogenated bisphenol A, ethyiene oxide-modified bisphenol A, propylene oxide-modified bisphenol A, dimethylol propionic acid, dimethylol butanoic acid, trimethylol ethane, trimethylolpropane, glycerin, 3 -methyl -pentane- 1 , 3, 5-trιol, tris (2 -hydroxyethyl ) isocyanurate . Polyester-polyols, polyether- polyols, polycarbonate-polyols may be used for obtaining adduct products. These alcohols can be used alone or in combinations of two or more . Polyester-polyols obtained by reactions of the above polyol components and carboxylic acids may be used m preparing the adduct products. In regard to carboxylic acids, any conventional carboxylic acids or anhydrides thereof may be used. Examples of these carboxylic acids include, for example, maleic acid, fumaπc acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, tetrahydrophthalic acid, hettic acid, chrolendick acid, dimeric acid, adipic acid, succmic acid, alkenylsuccmic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, 2, 2, 4-trιmethyladιpιc acid, 1, 4- cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, terephthalic acid, 2- sodiumsulfoterephthalic acid, 2-potassιumsulfoterephthalιc acid, isophthalic acid; 5-sodιumsulfoιsophthalιc acid, 5- potassiumsulfoisophthalic acid; di-lower-alkylesters of 5- sodium-sulfoisophthalic acid such as dimethyl- or diethylesters of 5-sodιum-sulfoisophthalic acid; orthophthalic acid, 4- sulfophthalic acid, 1, 10-decamethylenecarboxylιc acid, muconic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, glutaric acid, trimellitic acid, hexahydrophthalic acid, tetrabromophthalic acid, methylcyclohexenetricarboxylic acid or pyromellitic acid, anhydrides thereof and ester compounds of these acids with alcohols such as methanol and ethanol. It is also possible to use lactone-polyols obtained by the rmg-openmg reaction between ε-caprolactam and the above described polyols. In regard to polyether polyols, conventional polyether polyols can be used m obtaining adduct products. Examples of such polyether-polyols are, for example, but are not limited to, 37 ether glycols such as polytetramethylene glycol, propylene oxide-modified polytetramethylene glycol, ethyiene oxide- modified polytetramethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and polyether polyols obtained by ring- opening reactions of cyclic ethers by use of more than three functional polyols as an initiator. Polycarbonate polyols used m adduct products are obtained by the transesterification reactions of carbonates and various polyols. Examples of carbonates are, for example, but are not limited to, diphenylcarbonate, bischlorophenylcarbonate, dmaphtylcarbonate, phenyl-tolyl-carbonate , phenyl -chlorophenyl - carbonate, and 2-tolyl-4-tolyl-carbonate; diaryl- or dialkyl- carbonates such as dimethylcarbonate and diethylcarbonate . Examples of polyols which can be used m the above reaction include the alcohols, polyols, polyester polyols, and polyether polyols described above. Compounds having ester linkages classified m vmyl ether groups can be obtained by the esterification reaction of monovmyl ether of alkylene glycol having at least one hydroxyl group m a molecule with a compound having at least one carboxyl group in a molecule. Examples of monovmyl ether of alkylene glycol having at least one hydroxyl group m a molecule are the same compounds as recited as components of the above compounds having urethane bonds . It is possible to use well-known carboxylic acids and anhydride thereof for the compounds having at least one carboxyl group m a molecule. Examples of the compound having at least one carboxyl group m a molecule include, for example, but are not limited to, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, valeic acid, benzoic acid, maleic acid, fumaπc acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, tetrahydrophthalic acid, hettic acid, chlorendic acid, dimenc acid, adipic acid, succmic acid, alkenylsuccmic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, 2, 2', 4- 38 trimethyladipic acid, 1, 4-cyclohexanedιcarboxyl acid, terephthalic acid, 2-sodιumsulfoterephthalic acid, 2- potassiumsulfoterephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 5-sodιum- sulfoisophthalic acid, 5-potassιumsulfoisophthalic acid; di- lower-alkylesters of 5-sodιum-sulfoιsophthalιc acid such as dimethyl- or diethyl-esters of 5-sodιum-sulfoisophthalic acid, orthophthalic acid, 4-sulfophthalιc acid, 1, 10- decamethylenedicarboxylic acid, muconic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, glutaric acid, trimellitic acid, hexahydrophthalic acid, tetrabromophthalic acid, methylcyclohexenetπcarboxylic acid or pyromellitic acid, and anhydrides of these compounds In addition, carboxyl acids obtained by reactions between compounds having more than two carboxylic groups and various alcohols, which are used as a component among compounds having urethane linkages, and which is used m obtaining adduct products of isocyanate. Vmyl carboxylate derivatives which can be used together in the active energy curable compositions include, for example, vmyl acetate and vmyl cmnamate. Styrene derivatives include, for example, styrene and divmylstyrene . Unsaturated polyesters which can be used together m the active energy curable composition include, for example, maleates such as dimethylmaleate and diethylmaleate , fumarates such as dimethylfumarate and diethylfumarate; and esterification products of unsaturated polycarboxylic acids such as maleic acid and fumaric acid and polyhydric alcohols. Unlimited combinations of one or more of any compounds can be used, without being limited to the compounds described hereinbefore and those represented by general Formula (1) as curable compounds which can be used together m the active energy curable composition of the present invention However, the compounds must be copolymerizable with the maleimide derivatives described herein. The phrase "water compatible" is used herein to describe 39 compounds that are partially or substantially water dilutable, water soluble and/or capable of forming a water emulsion or dispersion with the energy curable compositions herein. However, in the case where the energy curable compositions are used to formulate coatings, it is preferred that the particular water compatible compound be compatible with both the water and maleimide deriviatives m order to avoid any phase separation or precipitation of one of more of the components While not wishing to be bound by theory, the water compatible resin compounds used for coating applications work best if the possess functional groups which are compatible with water on one hand and functional groups which are compatible with the maleimide derivatives on the other. Although there is no particular limitation in the ratio of maleimide derivatives represented by Formula (1) to those maleimide derivatives when both maleimide derivatives are used together m the active energy curable composition containing maleimide derivatives, it is preferable to select the ratio of maleimide derivative other than these represented by Formula (1) equal or less than 95% by weight and more preferably equal or less than 90% by weight. Although there is no limitation m the ratio of a compound having acryloyloxy or methacryloyloxy groups to the maleimide derivatives represented by Formula (1) , when used m the active energy curable composition of the present invention containing maleimide derivatives, it is preferable to use the compound having acryloyloxy or methacryloyloxy groups such that 100 parts by weight of the compounds having acryloyloxy or methacryloyloxy groups constitutes a ratio of equal or more than 5 parts by weight of maleimide derivatives represented by Formula (1) , and, more preferably, the ratio of equal or more than 20 parts by weight from the point of view of the curing speed. When a compound having vmyl ether groups is used together m the active energy curable composition containing maleimide 40 derivatives of the present invention, there is no limitation on the ratio to be incorporated m the composition. However, it is preferable to use the compound having vmyl ether groups such that 100 parts by weight of the compound having vmyl ether groups constitutes a ratio of equal or more than 5 parts by weight of maleimide derivatives represented by Formula (1) , and the use of equimolar amount of a vmyl ether group to a maleimide group is more preferable from points of view of the curing speed and a cured film property. The active energy curable compositions of the present invention have an intrinsic spectral sensitivity ranging from 200 to 400 nm, and it is possible to polymerize same under a irradiation of ultraviolet or visible light within a range of 180 to 500 nm, even without use of a photoinitiator. It was observed that lights having wavelengths at 254 nm, 308 nm, 313 nm, and 365 nm are effective m curing of the active energy curable composition of the present invention. It is also possible to cure or polymerize the present active energy curable composition by light other than the ultraviolet light and by heat. In addition, it is possible to cure the present active energy curable composition m air and/or an inert gas. Various energy cure sources such as thermal, ultraviolet light, infrared and visible light may be used, for example, a low-pressure- mercury lamp, a high-pressure-mercury- lamp, an ultrahigh- pressure-mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, a chemical lamp, a black-light lamp, a mercury-xenon lamp, an excimer lamp, a short-arc lamp, a helium-cadmium laser, an argon laser, an excimer laser, and sunlight. Although the active energy curable compositions of the present invention can be cured under irradiation of ultraviolet light or visible light, the absence of a photoinitiator, conventional photoinitiators may nonetheless be used for polymerization. The photoinitiators may be classified into two groups; one is an tramolecular-bond-cleavage type and the 41 other is an mtramolecular-hydrogen-abstraction type. Examples of the mtramolecular-bond-cleavage type photoinitiators include, for example, acetophenones such as diethoxyacetophenone , 2 -hydroxy-2 -methyl - 1 -phenylpropane- 1-one , benzyldimethylketal , 1- (4-ιsopropylphenyl) -2-hydroxy-2- methylpropan-1-one, 4- (2 -hydroxylethoxy) phenyl- (2 -hydroxy-2- methylpropyl) ketone, 4- (2-hydroxyethoxy) pnenyl- (2 -hydroxy-2 - propyl) ketone, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl-phenylketone, 2-methyl-2- morpholmo (4-thιomethylphenyl) propan-1-one, and 2-benzyl-2- dιmethylammo-1- (4- morpholmophenyl) -butanone; benzoins such as benzoin, benzommethyl ether, benzomisopropyl ether; acylphosphme oxides such as 2 , 4, 6-tπmethylbenzo- mdiphenylphosphme oxides; benzyl and methylphenyl-glyoxyester . Examples of mtramolecular-hydrogen-abstraction type photoinitiators include, for example, benzophenones such as benzophenone, methyl-4 -phenylbenzophenone o-benzoylbenzoate, 4, 4 ' -dichlorobenzophenone, hydroxybenzophenone , 4-benzoyl-4 ' - methyl -diphenylsulfide, acrylic-benzophenone, 3, 3', 4, 4'- tetra (t-butylperoxycarbonyl) benzophenone, 3, 3 ' -dimethyl-4- methoxybenzophenone ; thioxanthones such as 2-ιsopropyl- thioxanthone, 2, 4-dιmethylthιoxanthone, 2, 4 -diethyl - thioxanthone, 2, 4-dιchlorothιoxanthone; ammobenzophenones such as Michler's ketone, 4, 4 ' -diethylammobenzophenone; 10 -butyl -2- chloroacπdone, 2-ethylanthraqumone, 9, 10-phenanthrenequmone , and camphorqumone . It is preferable to add the photoinitiator to the active energy curable composition withm a range of 0.01 to 10.00% by weight . Although the active energy curable compositions of the present invention can be cured by irradiation of ultaviolet, it is also possible to use a sensitizer for efficient curing. Examples of such sensitizers are, for example, amines such as triethanolamme, methyldiethanolamme, triisopropano-lamme, methyl 4-dιmethylammobenzoate, ethyl 4 -dimethyl -ammobenzoate, 42 isoamyl 4-dιmethylammobenzoate, (2 -dimethyl -ammo) ethyl benzoate, (n-butoxy) ethyl 4-dιmethylammobenzoate, and 2- ethylhexyl 4-dιmethylammobenzoate . It is preferable to add the sensitizer to the active energy curable composition withm a range of 0.01 to 10.00% by weight. It is possible to further use together, if necessary, additives such as non-reactive-compounds , inorganic fillers, organic fillers, coupling reagents, adhesive reagents, antifoammg reagents, leveling reagents, plasticizers , antioxidants, ultraviolet -absorbers, flame retardants, pigments, dyes, and paints . Examples of the non-reactive compounds which are usable together the active energy curable composition include, for example, but are not limited to, liquid or solid oligomers or resms with a low reactivity or non- reactivities such as, alkyl (meth) acrylate copolymer, epoxy resms, liquid polybutadiene, liquid polybutadiene derivatives, liquid chloroprene, liquid polypentadiene, dichloropentadiene derivative, saturated polyester oligomer, polyether oligomer, acrylic oligomer, liquid polyamide, polyisocyanate oligomer, xylene resin, acrylic resin, ketone resin, petroleum resm, rosin resin, fluormate-type oligomer, silicone-type oligomer, polysulfide oligomers. Inorganic and organic fillers are generally used for improving mechanical properties such as strength, cushioning and slipping properties. Any conventional fillers may be used if the fillers are compatible with the water containing composition and do not harm the characteristics of the resm including curing. Inorganic fillers which may be used include, for example, but are not limited to, silicon dioxide, silicon oxide, calcium carbonate, calcium silicate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide, talc, kaolme clay, calcined clay, zmc oxide, zmc sulfate, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum oxide, glass, mica, barium sulfate, alumina white, zeolite, silica spherules, and glass spherules. It is 43 possible to add halogen groups, epoxy groups, hydroxyl groups, and thiol groups to these fillers by addition or by the reaction with various coupling reagents such as a silane coupling reagent, a titanate-type coupling reagent, an aluminum-type coupling reagent, a zirconate-type coupling reagent, and the like. Conventional organic fillers which may be used include, for example, but are not limited to, a benzoguanamme resm, a silicone resm, a low-density polyethylene, a high-density polyethylene, a polyolefm resm, ethylene-acrylate copolymer, polystyrene, cross-l kmg polystyrene, polydivmylbenzene, styrene-divmylbenzene copolymer, acrylic copolymer, cross- lmkmg acrylic resm, polymethylmethacrylate resm, vmylidene- chloride resm, fluororesm, nylon 12, nylon 11, nylon 6/66, phenolic resm, epoxy resm, urethane resm, and polyimide resm. It is possible to add halogen groups, epoxy groups, hydroxyl groups, and thiol groups to these organic fillers. Examples of coupling reagents which can be used together in the active energy curable composition of the present invention include, for example, but are not limited to, silane coupling reagents such as γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, and γ-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane; titanate coupling reagents such as tetra (2, 2-dιaryloxymethyl-l-butyl) bis (ditridecyl) phosphitetitanate, and bis (dioctylpyrophophate) ethylenetitanate; aluminum coupling reagents such as acetoalkoxyalummumdiiospropylate; zirconium coupling agents such as acethylacetone-zirconium complex and the like. Regarding additives such as adhesive reagents, antifoaming reagents, leveling reagents, flow reagents, plasticizers, antioxidants, ultraviolet-absorbers, flame retardants, pigments, dyes, and paints, any corresponding conventional additives may be used together, without any limitation, m the active energy curable composition of the 44 present invention, if the additives are compatible with the water containing composition and do not harm the characteristics of the resm including the curing property. In order to obtain the active energy curable composition of the present invention, the aforementioned components may be mixed, the mixing order or mixing method are not limited. It is substantially not necessary to use a solvent m the active energy curable composition of the present invention However, for diluting the active energy curable composition of the present invention, it may possible to use conventional and generally known solvents including ketones such as methylethylketone and methylIsobutylketone ; acetates such as ethyl acetate and butyl acetate; aromatic nydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylene; and alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, butanol ; and water. The active energy curable composition of the present invention is advantageously applicable for surface finishing, binders, plastic materials, molding materials, laminate plates, adhesives, bonding materials, and ink; coating materials for metals such as aluminum, iron, and copper; coating materials for plastics such as vmyl chloride, acryls, polycarbonate, polyethyleneterephthalate , and a acrylonitπlbutadienestyrene copolymer, polyethylene, and polypropylene; coating materials for ceramics such as glass; coating materials for other materials such as wood, paper, printing papers, and fibers. The active energy curable composition of the present invention forms a cured film without a photoinitiator under irradiation of light. Since this active energy curable composition of the present invention does not generate odor during curing, and the cured film of this composition does not incur yellowing and odor, and an amount of elution from this cured film is quite low, the present composition can be advantageously applied to a field of inks such as lithographic ink, flexo-mk, gravure ink, and screen ink, and to fields of 45 gloss varnish, paper coating, wood painting, beverage can coating, printing, soft package coating, adhesives for printed papers and laminates, lavel coating, printing ink or adhesives, thermosensible paper, printing ink or coating for thermosensible paper, food package coating, printing ink, adhesives, and binders, which are directly contacted with a consumer. The following examples illustrates specific aspects of the present invention and are nor intended to limit the scope thereof m any respect and should not be so construed. In the examples, all parts are by weight unless otherwise indicated. The relationship of parts by weight to parts by volume is as that of kilograms to liters. In the examples, the energy curable compositions were coated on opacity charts (uncoated Leneta N2A, available from Leneta Corporation, Mawah, NJ) using a #3 Mayer rod having a thickness of 7.5 microns. The ultraviolet radiation energy cure source was provided using a conveyor type unit with a medium pressure mercury lamp of variable light intensities (e.g. 120, 200, 300 watts per inch (wpi) available from Fusion Aetek, Rockville, MD) at conveyor speeds varying from 100 to 200 feet per minute (fpm) . At 200 wpi and 100 fpm the ultraviolet exposure dose was 228 mJ/cm 2 , measured using a radiometer (UV Power Puck ® , Power Puck is Registered Trademark of EIT Incorporated, VA) . This dose is normally sufficient to produce a commercially viable film. The surface hardness of the coating was empirically measured by scratching the surface with a human nail . The reflective gloss of the cured film was measured at 60° using a glossmeter (Micro-Gloss 60, available from BYK- Gardner Incorporated, MD) . The solvent resistance of the cured film was measured by the surface with a cotton tipped applicator soaked m methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) , isopropyl alcohol or water until the substrate was exposed. The number of rubs, i.e. one stroke back and forth across a surface, were recorded. A coating exhibiting 10 rub MEK resistance, for example, was 46 considered to be commercially feasible. Example 1 Synthesis Example Glycine (37.5 g) and acetic acid (400 ml) were admixed then a solution of maleic anhydride (49.0 g) and acetic acid (300 ml) was added dropwise over 2 hours under stirring. The reaction was continued for 1 hour and the precipitate that formed was filtered off and recrystallized from a 70% aqueous methanol solution. To this product (102 g) , triethylamine (40.4 g) , and toluene (500 ml) were added and the mixture was reacted for 1 hour while stirring under reflux to remove the evolved water. The residue, obtained by removing toluene from the reaction mixture, was acidified to a pH of 2 with 0.1 N HCI, extracted 3 times with ethyl acetate (100 ml) and dried with magnesium sulfate. The ethyl acetate was then evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was recrystallized from water, whereby pale yellow crystals of maleimidoacetic acid (11 g) were obtained. *H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d6): 7.0 ppm ( s , 2H , -C=C- ) ; 4.1 ppm (s,2H, -CH2-) ; IR: 3170 cm "1 (-COOH); 1750 cm- 1 ;1719 cm -1 (C=0) ; 831 cm "1 ; 696cm -1 (-C=C-); Elemental analysis (CHN) : Calcd. C:46.5%; H:3.87%; N:9.03%; Found C:46.2%; H : 4.05% ; and N : 8.70% . Maleimidoacetic acid (6.8 g) , polytetramethylene glycol (10 g, MW of 250, tradename PolyTHF 250, available from BASF Corporatioin, Japan), p-toluenesulfonic acid (1.2 g) , 2, 6- tert-butyl-p-cresol (0.06 g) , and toluene (15 ml) were added together and reacted at 80 °C for 4 hours under reduced pressure (240 torr) . The mixture was stirred and the water formed during the reaction was removed. The reaction mixture was then dissolved in toluene (200 ml) and washed 3 times with a 47 saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate aqueous solution (100 ml) and a saturated sodium chloride aqueous solution (100 ml) . The toluene was then removed under reduced pressure and a maleimide derivative (16 g) having the structure below was obtained. COO Example 2 Synthesis Example Glycine (37.5 g) and acetic acid (400 ml) were admixed then a solution of maleic anhydride (49.0 g) and acetic acid (300 ml) was added dropwise over 2 hours under stirring. The reaction was continued for 1 hour and the precipitate that formed was filtered off and recrystallized from a 70% aqueous methanol solution. To this product (102 g) , triethylamine (40.4 g) , and toluene (500 ml) were added and the mixture was reacted for 1 hour while stirring under reflux to remove the evolved water. The residue, obtained by removing toluene from the reaction mixture, was acidified to a pH of 2 with 0.1 N HCI, extracted 3 times with ethyl acetate (100 ml) and dried with magnesium sulfate. The ethyl acetate was then evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was recrystallized from water, whereby pale yellow crystals of maleimidoacetic acid (11 g) were obtained. l E NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d6) : 7.0 ppm (s, 2H, -C=C-) ; 4.1 ppm (s,2H, -CH2-) IR: 3170 cm -1 (-COOH); 1750 cm -1 ,-1719 cm "1 (C=0) ; 831 cm -1 ,-696cm- 1 (-C=C-); Elemental analysis (CHN) : Calcd. C:46.5%; H:3.87%; N:9.03%; Found C : 46.2 % ; H:4.05%; and N:8.70%. 48 Maleimidoacetic acid (6.8 g) , pentaerythritol modified by 4 moles of ethalene oxide (4.1 g, tradename PNT-40 Mn:490, Mw:530, available from Nippon Emulsifying Agent Co., Ltd., Japan), p-toluenesulfonic acid (1.2 g) , 2, 6-tert-butyl-p- cresol (0.06 g) , and toluene (15 ml) were added together and reacted at 80 °C for 4 hours under reduced pressure (240 torr) . The mixture was stirred and the water formed during the reaction was removed. The reaction mixture was then dissolved m toluene (200 ml) and washed 3 times with a saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate aqueous solution (100 ml) and a saturated sodium chloride aqueous solution (100 ml) . The toluene was then removed under reduced pressure and a maleimide derivative '18 g) having the structure below was obtained. '? .COOCH 2 CH 2 0— C-CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 OCQ / " s _J/ CH, 0 0 OCH 2 CH 2 0C0 /' ^ N |7 Example 3 An aliphatic epoxy acrylate resm (55 wt . % , Laromer 8765, available from BASF, Mt . Olive, NJ) was combined with water (9 wt.%) . Next, a maleimide as prepared m Example 1 (36 wt. %, MIA250, available from DaiNippon Ink and Chemical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was added. A polyether siioxane additive (0.5 wt . %, Glide 440, available from Tego Chemie, VA) was then added to produce sufficient flow properties The curing, solvent 49 resistance, gloss and surface hardness properties of the coating as described above were then evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1. Example 4 (Comparative) The maleimide prepared in Example 1 (36 wt . %, MIA250, available from DaiNippon Ink and Chemical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was to water (15 wt.%) . A polyether siioxane additive (0.5 wt. %, Glide 440, available from Tego Chemie, VA) was then added to produce sufficient flow properties. The energy curing properties of the coating could not be evaluated because the water and maleimide were found to be incompatible and no film was produced. Example 5 An aliphatic epoxy acrylate resm (58 wt.%, Laromer 8765, avialable from BASF, Mt . Olive, NJ) was combined with water (13.6 wt.%). Next, a photoinitiator, 4-(2- hydroxylethoxy) phenyl- (2 -hydroxy-2-methylpropyl) ketone was added (3 wt . %, Irgacure 2959, available from Ciba-Geigy, NY). A polysiloxane additive (0.4 wt . %, DC57, available from Dow Chemical, Midland, MI) was then added to produce sufficient flow properties. Finally, the maleimide prepared in Example 1 (25 wt . % , MIA250, available from DaiNippon Ink and Chemical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was then added. The curing, solvent resistance, gloss and surface hardness properties of the coating described above were then evaluated. The results are shown m Table 1. Example 6 An aliphatic epoxy acrylate resm (50 wt.%, Laromer 8765, 50 available from BASF, Mt . Olive, NJ) was combined with water (17 wt.%) . The maleimide prepared Example 1 (17 wt . %, MIA250, available from DaiNippon Ink and Chemical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was then added along with isopropyl alcohol (15.5 wt. %) . A polyether siioxane additive (0.5 wt . %, Glide 440, available from Tego Chemie, VA) was then added to produce sufficient flow properties. The composition was irradiated at three different doses. The curing, solvent resistance, gloss and surface hardness properties of the coating for each dose as described above were then evaluated. The results are shown m Table 1. Example 7 A water dilutable aliphatic urethane acrylic resm (25 wt.%, Ebecryl 2001, avialable from UCB Radcure, GA) was combined with water (49.5 wt.%) . The maleimide prepared m Example 1 (25 wt . %, MIA250, available from DaiNippon Ink and Chemical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was added along with a polyether siioxane additive (0.5 wt . %, Glide 440 available from Tego Chemie, VA) to produce sufficient flow properties. The composition was irradiated at two different doses. The curing, solvent resistance, gloss and surface hardness properties of the coating described above were then evaluated. The results are shown m Table 1. Example 8 A highly alkoxylated trimethylolpropane tπacrylate resm (61 wt.%, SR 9035, available from Sartomer, PA) was combined with water (24 wt.%) . The maleimide prepared in Example 1 (14.5 wt. %, MIA250, available from DaiNippon Ink and Chemical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was added. A polyether siioxane additive (0.5 wt. %, Glide 440, available from Tego Chemie, VA) was then added to produce sufficient flow properties. The 51 composition was irradiated at two different doses. The curing, solvent resistance, gloss and surface hardness properties of the coating described above were then evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1. Example 9 An aliphatic epoxy acrylate resm (57 wt.%, Laromer 8765, avialable from BASF, Mt . Olive, NJ) was combined with water (10.5 wt.%). A vmyl ether, hexanedioic acid, bιs[4- ethenyloxy) butyl] ester (10.5 wt.%, VEX 4060, available from Allied Signal, NJ) was then added. A maleimide as prepared m Example 1 (21.5 wt . %, MIA250, available from DaiNippon Ink and Chemical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was then added along with a polysiloxane additive (0.5 wt . %, DC57, available from Dow Chemical, Midland, MI) to produce sufficient flow properties. The composition was irradiated at two different doses. The curing, solvent resistance, gloss and surface hardness properties of the coating described above were then evaluated. The results are shown m Table 1. Example 10 (Comparative) A vmyl ether, hexanedioic acid, bis [4 -ethenyloxy) butyl] ester (67 wt.%, VEX 4060, available from Allied Signal, NJ) was added to water (22 wt.%) . The maleimide prepared m Example 1 (21.5 wt . %, MIA250, available from DaiNippon Ink and Chemical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was added along with a polyether siioxane additive (0.5 wt. %, DC57, available from Dow Chemical, Midland, MI) to produce sufficient flow properties. The energy curing properties of the coating could not be evaluated because the water and malemide were found to be 52 incompatible and no film was formed. Example II An aliphatic epoxy acrylate resm (72 wt.%, Laromer 8765, available from BASF, Mt . Olive, NJ) was combined with water (16 wt.%). The maleimide prepared m Example 2 (11.2 wt . %, MIA- PE4EO, available from DaiNippon Ink and Chemical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was then added. A polyether siioxane additive (0.8 wt. %, Glide 440, available from Tego Chemie, VA) was then added to produce sufficient flow properties. The curing, solvent resistance, gloss and surface hardness properties of the coating described above were then evaluated. The results are shown m Table 1. Example 12 (Comparative) A maleimide prepared in Example 2 (84.5 wt. %, MIA-PE4EO, available from DaiNippon Ink and Chemical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was added to water (15 wt.%) . A polyether siioxane additive (0.5 wt. %, Glide 440, available from Tego Chemie, VA) was then added to produce sufficient flow properties The energy curing properties of the coating could not be evaluated because the water and maleimide were found to be incompatible and no film was produced. 53 Table 1 Example Cure Surface 60° Solvent Solvent rate Hardness Gloss Rubs Rubs (mJ/cm 2 (%) (MEK) (water) ) 3 228 Excellent 85-90 65 >200 5 228 Excellent 92 40-44 >200 6 125 Very good 85-88 8 50 6 209 Very good 88-90 12-15 70 6 254 Excellent 88-90 38 >200 7 228 Good 80-82 45 N. A. 7 607 Very Good 80-82 75 N. A. 8 204 Fair 65-70 3 8 8 305 Good 65-70 5 19 9 228 Very Good 86-87 9 31 9 456 Excellent 87-88 31 66 11 228 Fair 86 26 80 The data m Table 1 shows several characteristics of the water compatible energy curable compositions of the present invention. The dose required to cure the composition was similar to that used to cure conventional energy curable materials. The surface hardness and gloss of the cured films were comparable to commercial coatings using photoinitiators. The solvent rubs of the cured compositions were typical of the results that would be achieved with a similar composition containing commercial photoinitiators and resms. This is by exemplified by Example 3 wherein the cure rate does of 228 mJ/cm 2 represents a conveyor speed of 100 fpm and 200 wpi lamp intensity, represent a commercially practical amount of energy delivered to cure the composition. Examples 3 and 7 depict gloss values greater than 80 which are indicative of a high commercial 54 grade gloss. Example 3 depicts solvent rubs of 65 with MEK and greater than 200 with water. These values are typically higher than those shown for conventional commercial coatings cured under similar conditions. Example 6 shows that by doubling the curing dose, from 125 to 254 mJ/cm 2 , for the energy curable compositions of the present invention, one can improve its film properties, such as surface hardness, gloss and crosslink density as measured by solvent resistance and illustrated by an increase m MEK solvent rubs from 8 to 38. Example 9 shows a similar increase m solvent rubs, from 9 to 31 MEK rubs and 31 to 66 water rubs. Although a higher cure rate dose was required, it was still within the range for commercial curing. The present invention has been described m detail, including the preferred embodiments thereof. However, it will be appreciated that those skilled m the art may make numerous variations or modifications of the embodiments that fall within the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth the following claims. 55

Claims: What is claimed is: 1. An active water compatible energy curable composition comprising a water compatible compound; a maleimide derivative; and water. 2. The energy curable composition of Claim 1 wherein said water compatible compound is selected from the group consisting of acrylate resins ; methacylate resins; acrylic dispersions; urethane resms; vmyl alcohols such as ethyiene vmyl alcohol and ethyiene vmyl alcohol; v yl alcohol copolymers such as ethyiene vmyl alcohol copolymer; polysaccharides ; polysucrose; and glucose. 3. The energy curable composition of Claim 1 further comprising a compound copolymerizable with the said maleimide derivative and water compatible compound. 4. The energy curable composition of Claim 3 wherein said copolymerizable compound comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a compound having at least one group selected from an acryloyloxy group and methacryloyloxy group, and a compound having vmyl ether group. 5. The energy curable composition of Claim 4 wherein said compound having at least one group selected from an acryloyloxy group and methacryloyloxy group comprises at least one compound selected from (poly) ester (meth) acrylate, urethane (meth) acrylate, epoxy (meth) acrylate, (poly) ether (meth) acrylate, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an alkyl (meth) acrylate, an alkylene (meth) acrylate, a (meth) acrylate having aromatic group, and a (meth) acrylate having alicyclic group. 6. The energy curable composition of Claim 5 wherein said compound having vmyl ether group comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an alkyl vinyl ether having a terminal group substituted with at least one selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen 56 atom, a hyαroxyl group, and an am o group, a cycloalkyl vmyl ether having a terminal group substituted with at least one selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, and an ammo group, and at least one v yl ether selected from the group consisting of a monovmyl ether, a divmyl ether, and a polyvmyl ether in which a vmyl ether group is connected with alkylene group; and in which a vinyl ether group is connected with at least one group with and without substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, and aromatic group, via at least one linkage selected from the group consisting of an etner linkage, an urethane linkage, and an ester linkage 7. An active water compatible energy curable composition comprising a water compatible compound; water; and a maleimide derivative of the formula: O n m wherein n and m each independently represent an integer of 1 to 5, and the total of m and n is 6 or smaller; R n and R 12 each independently represent a linking group selected from the group consisting of an alkylene group, an alicyclic group, an arylalkylene group, and a cycloalkylalkyene group; G : and G 2 each represent an ester linkage selected from the group consisting of -COO- and -OCO- ; and R 2 represents a linking chain having an average molecular weight of 100 to 100,000 selected from the group consisting of a (poly) ether or (poly) ester linking chain, in which at least one organic group consists of a group or groups 57 selected from a straight or branched chain alkylene group, an alkylene group having a hydroxyl group, an alicyclic group, an aryl group, an arylalkylene group, and a cycloalkylalkyene group connected via at least one linkage selected from the group consisting of an ether or ester linkage. 8. The energy curable composition of Claim 7 wherein R 2 is a (poly) ether linking chain having an average molecular weight of 100 to 100,000, and comprised of repeating units containing at least one group selected from a C 2 -C 24 straight or branched chain alkylene group, a C 2 -C 24 alkylene group having a hydroxyl group, and a C 6 -C 24 aryl group. 9. The energy curable composition of Claim 8 wherein R 2 is comprised of repeating units containing at least one group selected from a C 2 -C 24 straight or branched chain alkylene group or a C 2 -C 24 alkylene group having a hydroxyl group. 10. The energy curable composition of Claim 7 wherein R 2 is a (poly) ester linking chain having an average molecular weight of 100 to 100,000, and comprised of repeating units containing at least one group selected from a C 2 -C 24 straight or branched chain alkylene group, a C 2 -C 24 alkylene group having a hydroxyl group, and C 3 -C 24 aryl group. 11. The energy curable composition of Claim 9 wherein R 2 is comprised of repeating units containing at least one group selected from a C 2 -C 24 straight or branched chain alkylene group or a C 2 -C 24 alkylene group having a hydroxyl group. 12. The energy curable composition of Claim 7 wherein said water compatible compound is selected from the group consisting of acrylate resms; methacylate resms; acrylic dispersions; urethane resms; vmyl alcohols such as ethyiene vmyl alcohol and ethyiene vmyl alcohol; vmyl alcohol copolymers such as ethyiene v yl alcohol copolymer; polysaccharides; polysucrose; and glucose. 13. The energy curable composition of Claim 7 wherein said water compatible compound is a resm selected from the 58 group consisting of acrylate and urethane resms. 14. The energy curable composition of Claim 13 wherein said acrylate resm is aliphatic epoxy acrylate. 15. The energy curable composition of Claim 13 wherein said resm uerthane resm is aliphatic urethane acrylate. 16. The energy curable composition of Claim 7 further comprising a compound copolymerizable with the said maleimide derivative and water compatible compound. 17. The energy curable composition of Claim 16 wherein said copolymerizable compound comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a compound having at least one group selected from an acryloyloxy group and methacryloyloxy group, and a compound having vmyl ether group 18. The energy curable composition of Claim 17 wherein said compound having at least one group selected from an acryloyloxy group and methacryloyloxy group comprises at least one compound selected from (poly) ester (meth) acrylate, urethane (meth) acrylate, epoxy (meth) acrylate, (poly) ether (meth) acrylate, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an alkyl (meth) acrylate, an alkylene (meth) acrylate, a (meth) acrylate having aromatic group, and a (meth) acrylate having alicyclic group 19. The energy curable composition of Claim 17 wherein said compound having vmyl ether group comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an alkyl vmyl ether having a terminal group substituted with at least one selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, and an ammo group, a cycloalkyl vmy-. ether having a terminal group substituted with at least one selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, and an ammo group, and at least one v yl ether selected from the group consisting of a monovmyl ether, a divmyl ether, and a polyvmyl ether m which a vmyl ether group is connected with alkylene group, and m which a 59 vmyl ether group is connected with at least one group w th and without substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, and aromatic group, via at least one linkage selected from the group consisting of an ether linkage, an urethane linkage, and an ester linkage. 20. A printing ink or coating comprising the active water compatible energy curable composition of Claim 1 21. A printing ink or coating comprising the active water compatible energy curable composition of Claim 7. 22. A method for curing an active water compatible energy curable composition which comprises: irradiating an active energy curable composition consisting of a water compatible compound, water and a maleimide derivative. 23. The method accordmg to Claim 22 wherein said maleimide derivative is of the formula: O I ] N—Ri O m wherein n and m each independently represent an integer of 1 to 5, and the total of m and n is 6 or smaller; R and R 12 each independently represent a linking group selected from the group consisting of an alkylene group, an alicyclic group, an arylalkylene group, and a cycloalkylalkyene group ; G x and G 2 each represent an ester linkage selected from the group consisting of -COO- and -OCO- ; and R 2 represents a linking chain having an average molecular weight of 100 to 100,000 selected from the group consisting of a (poly) ether or (poly) ester linking chain, in which at least one organic group selected from straight or 60 branched chain alkylene group, straight or brancned chair alkylene group having a hydroxyl group, alicyclic group, ary. group, arylalkylene group, and a cycloalkylalkyene group connected via at least one linkage selected from the group consisting of an ether or ester linkage. 24. The method accordmg to Claim 23 wherein sa d water compatible compound is selected from the group consisting of acrylate resms; methacylate resms; acrylic dispersions; urethane res s; vmyl alcohols such as ethyiene v yl alcohol and ethyiene vmyl alcohol; vinyl alcohol copolymers such as ethyiene vinyl alcohol copolymer; polysaccharides; polysucrose; and glucose . 25. The method accordmg to Claim 22 wherein the need to dry the energy curable composition prior to irradiation is eliminated. 26. The method accordmg to Claim 22 wherein the need to dry the energy curable composition after irradiation is eliminated. 27. The method accordmg to Claim 23 wherein R 2 of the maleimide derivative is a (poly) ether or (poly) ester linking chain, having a molecular weight of greater than 200. 28. The method accordmg to Claim 24 further comprising adding a compound copolymerizable with the said maleimide derivative and water compatible compound. 29. An active energy curable composition comprising a maleimide derivative of the formula: O N—Rn-G m wherein n and m each independently represent an integer of 61 1 to 5 , and the total of m and n is 6 or smaller; R n and R 12 each independently represent a linking group selected from the group consisting of an alkylene group, an alicyclic group, an arylalkylene group, and a cycloalkylalkyene group ; G x and G 2 each represent an ester linkage selected from the group consisting of -COO- and -OCO- ; and R 2 is selected from the group consisting of a (poly) ether or (poly) ester linking chain, in which at least one organic group selected from straight or branched chain alkylene group, straight or branched chain alkylene group having a hydroxyl group, alicyclic group, aryl group, arylalkylene group, and a cycloalkylalkyene group connected via at least one linkage selected from the group consisting of an ether or ester linkage, having a molecular weight of greater than 200. 62

Inventors: BIRO DAVID ANTHONY, LAKSIN MIKHAIL, SAKURAI YOSHINOBU, TAKAHASHI KATSUJI, YONEHARA HISATOMO, BIRO, DAVID, ANTHONY, LAKSIN, MIKHAIL, SAKURAI, YOSHINOBU, TAKAHASHI, KATSUJI, YONEHARA, HISATOMO
Applicants: BIRO DAVID ANTHONY, DAINIPPON INK & CHEMICALS, LAKSIN MIKHAIL, SAKURAI YOSHINOBU, SUN CHEMICAL CORP, TAKAHASHI KATSUJI, YONEHARA HISATOMO, BIRO, DAVID, ANTHONY, LAKSIN, MIKHAIL, SAKURAI, YOSHINOBU, SUN CHEMICAL CORPORATION, TAKAHASHI, KATSUJI, YONEHARA, HISATOMO
Application year: 1998
Main classification: C08F2
IPC codes: C08F2, C08F22, C08F290, C08F291, C08G65, C08G73, C08L33, C08L67, C08L71, C09D11, C09D167