Novel coatings and adhesives from palm-oil derivatives

Coatings or adhesives based on renewables are gradually gaining importance at the level of end-users and industry since petroleum stocks are more and more limited. This fact is supported by the uncontrollable fluctuation in petroleum prices and the dependency on the OPEC states. Palm oil, the most abundant vegetable oil, offers good possibilities for their utilisation in generating valuable coating resins. This paper summaries R&D activities regarding utilising palm oil as starting material for coatings and adhesives. Chemical modified palm oil may be exploited to generate polyesterpolyols. These polyesterpolyols comprise very low viscosity, hence allows the end-user to formulate environmental friendly high-solid coating or adhesive systems. Evidence is brought forward that these products exhibit an excellent weathering durability. Due to their pure aliphatic chemical structure and their high hydrophobic character these products resist against UV-light and moisture. Meanwhile, an up-scaled pilot plant for the polyol production has been built in Malaysia by Rovski Sdn Bhd recently. Thus, polyols with customer specific hydroxyl functionality can be generated. Moreover, examples of modern waterborne coatings utilising chemical modified palm oil components will be presented. The water borne coatings exhibit an excellent performance during the natural weathering. Moreover, the polyurethane coatings provide good chemical resistance, scratch resistance, wood grain enhancement ("Anfeuerung") and haptic. These polyurethane dispersions do not only comprise fatty palm oil components but also 1,3-propanediol that stems from biodiesel glycerol.