Applications of Vernonia oil in thermoset coatings II

Abstract

Vernonia oil, a naturally occurring epoxy functional triglyceride oil, was used as a solvent/reactive diluent in styrene–acrylate copolymerizations. The copolymerizations were initiated by free radicals and proceeded to high conversions in reasonable lengths of time. The copolymer solutions were light yellow–green in color and had moderate viscosities. Films were made by drawing the copolymer solutions over metal panels. The films were cured by adding a thermally labile cationic initiator known to catalyze oxirane–oxirane polymerization. The films obtained had good solvent resistances as evidenced by the number of methyl ethyl ketone double rubs required to mar and break-through the films. The cross-linking reaction was evaluated using mechanical property, DSC and extraction data.