| abstract |
Providing a mixture comprising a free radical (co) polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated material in a mold, heating the mold in a mold for a time sufficient to initiate (co) polymerization of at least a portion of the free radical (co) polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated material Exposing the mixture to a source of ionizing radiation and exposing the mixture to a source of ionizing radiation for a period of time sufficient to yield an at least partially (co) polymerized (co) polymer, the free radical (Co) polymerizing the ethylenically unsaturated material in the mold. The method of (co) polymerizing an ethylenically unsaturated material. The ethylenically unsaturated material is selected from vinyl-functional monomers, vinyl-functional oligomers, vinyl-functional macromonomers, and combinations thereof. The mixture preferably does not have a heat-induced or UV-induced free radical polymerization initiator. The source of ionizing radiation may be a gamma ray source, an x-ray source, an electron beam source having an emission energy of greater than 300 keV, and combinations thereof. |