Photopolymerization of acrylate resin and ceramic suspensions with benzylidene ketones under blue/green LED

Abstract Finding novel photoinitiators with photobleaching properties suitable for long-wavelength LED light sources is important for their potential use in the photocuring ceramic suspensions containing acrylate resin. Two D-π-A-π-D conjugated benzylidene ketones with visible light absorption (TPAK and CZK) were synthesized and evaluated as photoinitiators in the photocuring of acrylate resin and ceramic suspension under blue (460 nm)/green (520 nm) LED sources. Results showed that the two photoinitiators have high photoinitiating activity and can effectively produce thick-layer curing in acrylate resin and ceramic suspension due to their quick photobleaching properties under 460 nm and 520 nm LED light sources. The curing depth of the ceramic suspensions was measured as a function of the concentration of TPAK and CZK and the energy level of the LED light source. Jacob's equation was used to determine the critical energy Ec and depth sensitivity Dp of every suspension with different concentrations of benzylidene ketones.