BONDING OF SUBSTRATES INDUCED BY IONIZING RADIATION

1 . A reactive polymer composition comprising:

a (co)polymer that forms one or more reactive moieties, either directly or indirectly, upon application of an ionizing radiation; and

a multifunctional curing coagent.

2 . The reactive polymer composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one energy modulating agent which converts the ionizing radiation into a reactive moiety inducing energy, that results in formation of the one or more reactive moities in the (co)polymer.

3 . The reactive polymer composition of claim 1 , further comprising a reactive moiety initiator which is activated by the ionizing radiation to form the one or more reactive moities in the (co)polymer.

4 . The reactive polymer composition of claim 2 , further comprising a reactive moiety initiator which is activated by the reactive moiety inducing energy to form the one or more reactive moieties in the (co)polymer.

5 . The reactive polymer composition of claim 1 , further comprising a crosslinking agent which reacts with the one or more reactive moieties formed therein to crosslink chains of the (co)polymer.

6 . The reactive polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the (co)polymer is an aliphatic (co)polymer.

7 . The reactive polymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the one or more reactive moieties is at least one member selected from the group consisting of free-radicals, cations, anions, carbenes, and nitrenes.

8 . The reactive polymer composition of claim 7 , wherein the one or more reactive moieties are one or more free-radicals.

9 . A system for bonding, comprising:

a first substrate having at least one surface containing a first reactive polymer composition;

a second substrate, optionally having at least one surface containing a second reactive polymer composition;

wherein the first reactive polymer composition and the second reactive polymer composition may be the same or different, and each comprises a (co)polymer that forms one or more reactive moities, either directly or indirectly, upon application of an ionizing radiation and a multifunctional curing coagent; and

a source of ionizing radiation.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more reactive moieties is at least one member selected from the group consisting of free-radicals, cations, anions, carbenes, and nitrenes.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more reactive moieties are one or more free-radicals.

12 . A method for bonding, comprising:

providing a first substrate and a second substrate to be bonded together, wherein the first and second substrates may be the same or different;

providing a first reactive polymer composition comprising a (co)polymer that forms one or more reactive moities, either directly or indirectly, upon application of an ionizing radiation and a multifunctional curing coagent, wherein the first reactive polymer composition is in contact with at least one of the first and second substrates;

placing the first and second substrates in close proximity to one another; and

applying the ionizing radiation, thus forming the one or more reactive moities in the first reactive polymer composition which react to form a bond between the first and second substrates.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more reactive moieties is at least one member selected from the group consisting of free-radicals, cations, anions, carbenes, and nitrenes.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more reactive moieties are one or more free-radicals.

15 . A method for bonding, comprising:

providing a first substrate and a second substrate to be bonded together, wherein the first and second substrates may be the same or different;

providing a first reactive polymer composition comprising a (co)polymer that forms one or more reactive moities, either directly or indirectly, upon application of an ionizing radiation and a multifunctional curing coagent, wherein the first reactive polymer composition is in the form of a conformable film or coating;

placing the first and second substrates in close proximity to one another and having the first reactive polymer composition therebetween; and

applying the ionizing radiation, thus forming the one or more reactive moities in the first reactive polymer composition which react to form a bond between the first and second substrates.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more reactive moieties is at least one member selected from the group consisting of free-radicals, cations, anions, carbenes, and nitrenes.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more reactive moieties are one or more free-radicals.