Inventors:
Susan C. Sheariss - Swedesboro NJ
Henry M. Justi - Bryn Mawr PA
George F. Cowperthwaite - Coatsville PA
Assignee:
Esschem, Inc. - Linwood PA
International Classification:
A61K 7043
Abstract:
In the disclosed method for the reshaping (adornment, repair, covering, prosthetic extension, etc. ) of essentially rigid, keratinaceous surfaces such as nail plates with a free radical-polymerizable acrylic ester, the free radical initiator comprises a compound of the formula III ##STR1## wherein R. sup. 1 through R. sup. 4 are hydrogen, an aliphatic group, an aromatic group, a cycloaliphatic group, or, less preferably, a sulfhydryl group, an alkali or alkaline earth metal salt of a sulfhydryl group, a halogen, or amino group; or R. sup. 3 or R. sup. 4 can be an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal cation when the 5-carbon is negatively charged. The compound of formula III, in chemically-curable systems is utilized in combination with a metal salt cocatalyst and, optionally, an organic buffering compound and a crosslinker. In light-curable systems, the compound of formula III has some photosensitizing properties but is preferably used in combination with a second photosensitizer which is effective when irradiated with light having a wavelength of at least about 400 nm. These curable compositions are preferably free of organic peroxides, aromatic amines, and inorganic fillers and pigments.