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Industrial Crops and Products, 1 (1993) 89-99 89

0 1993 Elsevier Science PublishersB.V. All rights reserved.0926~6690/93/$05.00

INDCRO PRO44

Utilization of vegetable oils in coatings


Horst Hintze-Brtining
BASF La&e und Farben AG, Miinster, Germany

(Accepted 8 June 19921

Abstract

Hintze-Brtining, H. 1993. Utilization of vegetable oils in coatings. Industr. Crops Products 1: 89-99.

Vegetable oils are common raw materials in the coating industry, especially for alkyd resins. These
are in common use, but in many industrial coating systems they became second choice because of
substitutes based on petrochemical raw materials and which provide an improved technological perform-
ance. In architectural coating systems alkyd resins still play an important role because of their benefits
such as the economical balance, an uncomplicated application and an outstanding appearance of the
films. Water-borne and high solids systems as well as alkyd/acrylic-hybrids will increase their market
share for ecological reasons. Apart from alkyd resins, oils are used as reactive diluents e.g. in printing
inks, and fatty acids are used as educts for a series of specialty products in the coating industry, e.g.,
electric insulation systems.

Vegetable oil; Fatty acid; Alkyd; Resin; High solid; Water reducible; Airdrying; Ageing; Coating

Introduction “oriental lacquer” - an aqueous high solids


coating which has been used in far eastern
Recently the use of renewable raw materials in cultures for more than 2000 years. The sap is
the chemical industry has attracted increasing converted into a lacquer by fermentation and
attention (Gedam and Sampathkumaran, conversion of an oil/water- into a waterloil-dis-
1986; Gilkes, 1968; Princen, 1977, 1979) as a persion which results in films which are highly
result of growing ecological problems, a short- resistant after application due to an ingenious
age of fossil reserves and economic difficulties physicochemical curing mechanism (Kumano-
in agriculture. In the coating industry there tani, 1988).
has been an inverse trend within the last four In Europe, the monk Theophilos reported in
decades. Historically, coatings have been 1000 the fabrication of “Leime Vemition” -
baaed on natural products such as shellac (me- obtained by polymerization of linseed oil in the
tabolism product of the shield-louse, Tuchar- presence of amber. Together with the use of
dia lacca) or the tree sap of Rhus vernicifera. minimum (= lead oxide) as pigment and drying
The latter has been the raw material for the accelerator @a. 1000) and turpentine as
diluent (ca. 1000, islamic invasions) this inven-
Correspondence:H. Hintze-Bribing, BASF Lacke und
tion was the basis for a European coating sys:
Farben AG, Glasurit-Strasse 1, W-4460 Miinster, Ger-
many tern based on vegetable oils. Originally used for
1000 tons / year 1000 tons / year
Total Proc &ion Systems
.-~--I eOo

I Powder Coatings

0 0
1976 1988 1989 1990

Source: Statistisches Bundesamt


Total amount: printing inks excluded
World total production (1976): 16.1 million tons

Fig. .. Production statistic for coatings sytems in Germany (former West Germany).

Resin (ALKYD)

Pigmen
dditlves (Thixotropic Agents)
(Thickeners)
(Emulsifiers)
Solvent (Anti Sagging Agents)
(Siccatives)
(Reactive Diluents)

Typical composition of a pigmented coating:


( ) = Components containing Oil / Fatty Acids

Fig. 2. Oiufatty acids as raw materials for coating components.

clerical book painting, it developed into a secu- and Holland. Synthetic resins have been
lar art by the influence of the “oriental lacquer development since 1885. In 1930 alkyd resins
art” (brought to Europe by Vasco da Gama, ca. were introduced into the coating industry. This
1599) and reached its climax in 1773 when type of resin is an oil- or fatty acid modified
Jean Felix Watin published his science of polycondensation product of polyols and poly-
“L’Art du peintre, doreur et vernisseur”. carboxylic acids. Due to their versatility, alkyd
The industrial application of coatings was resins may be regarded as a milestone in the
induced by the spreading of vehicle fabrication, industrial application of coatings. Between 1939
particularly coaches, around 1809 in England and 1950 nearly ah the important synthetic resins
x
HO
OH

HO OH
0
Pentaerythrltol Phthalic
Anhydride

OH
Pentaerythritol
fi OH
HO

Alkyd - Segment

Rl = Olelc Acid

Synthesisof alkydresinswithfattyacids(one stepreaction)or withtriglycerideas raw material(firststep:


Fia. 3.
tr&sestkrification;
secondstep:polycondensation).

such as ureas, acrylics, urethanes, melamines, higher temperatures, and whether it is applied
polyvinylics, unsaturated polyesters and epo- by brushing, rolling, spraying or with bars.
xies were developed. The market share for
alkyd-based coatings in the 1990s has there- Alkyd Resins
fore diminished to ca. 20% (Fig. 1).
The composition of a typical (pigmented) Alkyd resins can be regarded as oil- or fatty
coating is shown in Figure 2. The main portion acid modified condensation polymers as well as
is given by the resin, which is the film-forming oils which are modified by means of polyols and
agent, followed by the pigment and the solvent. polycarboxylic acids. The latter view is more
The latter may consist of a drying oil (e.g. linseed striking because it reflects the historical evolu-
or soybean oil) as reactive diluent, e.g. printing tion of alkyds which became efficient by the
inks, In addition, oils and/or fatty acids are often improved industrial synthesis of phthalic an-
basic raw materials for emulsifiers and addi- hydride (naphthalene oxidation with vana-
tives such as thixotropic agents, thickeners, dium oxide catalysts, BASF 1916) and polyols
siccatives and others. The most important like pentaerythritole (acetaldehyde and forma-
parts of a coating are the resin and its solvent. ldehyde and their precursors ethanol and
They determine whether the coating is water- methanol. Currently ca. 260 006 t/year penta-
borne, whether it is air-drying at ambient or erythritole worldwide, ca. 90% of US produc-
n
H H Co<*Y+ar H 0’
+ o-5” - H o-d . n
+ .o’
heat
Diallylic Moiety Oxygen Hydroperoxlde Alkoxlradlcal Hvdroxlradlcal
of Fatty Acid

Conjugated Double Bounds


from lsomerlzed Fatty Acids

Fatty Acid Moletles Crossllnked H o


by an Allyllc Ether Group & . /

V\ H3c--o

“19’“’ Hydroxifunctlonal
Alkyd LJ
A A
n,c,o_J$po,C",
+ K"-ALKYD Acid Catalyst
?? 14,qo_JN~Oo,c”. + won 1

Heat Methanol
0) Lo 0) Lo
&f &I, &i, An,

Hexamethoxhnelsmlne Condensation Product

Fig. 4. Crosslinking of alkyd molecules by autoxidation (curing at ambient temperature) and by transetherification
with melamine resins (curing at elevated temperatures).

tion, is used as alkyd raw material (Indus- most important composition area for coating
trielle Organische Chemie, 1988). The chemis- applications. Curing of the applied coating oc-
try of alkyd synthesis and an idealized struc- curs by crosslinking of alkyd-chains by air-dry-
ture of an alkyd chain segment is shown in ing (autoxidation of fatty acid moieties (Han-
Figure 3. Oils are modified with polyols by cock and Leeves, 1989a-c; Marshall et al.,
transesterification followed by polycondensa- 1987; Vaes, 1988)) and/or by reactions of re-
tion with phthalic anhydride. With fatty acids sidual OH-groups with crosslinkers, e.g.
polyesterification yields the alkyd in a one-step melamines (Fig. 4). The latter mechanism is
synthesis. In practice, both routes may be com- restricted to forced drying conditions (80-
bined which extends the facilities to select from 200°C) and can be combined with the autoxida-
a broad fatty .acid portfolio under economical tion by an appropriate choice of fatty acids. The
and technological aspects. The choice of fatty most important fatty acids and their sources
acids and thereby the degree: of:olefinic unsat- are listed in Table 1. For high air-drying rates
uration (expressed as Jodine value) as well as linoleic acid in combination with conjugated
the amount of fatty acid, used in the alkyd linoleic unsaturation is preferred. Linolenic
synthesis (expressed as oil length = % triglyc- acid and eleostearic acid, which are known to
eride) mainly determine the physical and exhibit excellent autoxidation rates, suffer
chemical features of the alkyd. This is il- from other disadvantages which will be dis-
lustrated in Figure 5, which also shows the cussed later.
93

Jodine Value [mg J2 I g]


dryiWbY *w ~____________ -.-
autoxidation i,
A

common range

physical
drying
% oil incorporated in a
polyester backbone

Fig. 5. Common range of alkyd features determining the physical (weight % triglyceride) and chemical (Jodine value)
properties of the coating.

TABLE 1

Common fatty acids used in coating materials

Fatty acid Main source (oil) Structural features Susceptibility to Main field of application

Saturated (C12-Cl@ Palm/coconut stoving lacquers


elastomers
Oleic acid Soybean/tall stoving lacquers
sunflower/satIlower
9,12-Linoleic acid Soybean&all one activated allylic autoxidation airdrying lacquers
sunflower/safflower group
Linolenic acid Linseed two activated allylic autoxidation airdrying lacquers
groups printing inks
9,11-Linoleic acid 9,lZLinoleic acid two conjugated polymerization airdrying lacquers
dehydrated castor oil C=C-bonds stoving lacquers
Eleostearic acid Tung three conjugated polymerization airdrying lacquers
C-C-bonds
Ricinoleic acid Castor hydroxifunctional dehydration stoving lacquers
pigment grinding
Arachidonic acid Fish highly unsaturated autoxidation airdrying lacquers
Clupanodonic acid C2OlC22

The universal use of alkyds is also proven by al., 1987; Schneider et al., 1970; Seymour et al.,
a broad compatibility with other resins and by 1990). However there are some drawbacks of
the possibilities to modify the OH- and the alkyd-based coatings which are related to in-
olefinic functionality, e.g. styrenated or herent qualities of the fatty acid unsaturation.
urethane-alkyds (Earhart, 1969, Moustafa et The autoxidation is a rather slow curing mech-
Fl Glass Transition Temperature

Autoxidation

25 -

I Mechanical Impact
1
I .
0 I
0 5 Lifetime wears]
Acrylic Dispersion
__.__..__.._Alkyd Coating

Fig. 6. Comparison of the ageing of cured films based on alkyd resins (post-curing) and on acrylic dispersions (erosion).

anism compared with other crosslinking reac- and Fiiner, 1962; Link, 1986; Parmentier, 1988).
tions, e.g. the 2 K urethane formation. In- Environmental demands further oppress the
dustrial coating systems which have to be use of conventional alkyds (which are normally
cured at ambient temperatures must fit the diluted by 3040% mineral spirits or alkylaro-
production cycles to ensure profitability (e.g. matic solvents) in non-industrial applications.
window frame production, car refinishing).
Fast drying systems (2 K isocyanate/polyol-re-
action; acrylic dispersions: fast physical dry- Architectural Coatings
ing) have increasingly displaced alkyds. Coat-
ing systems which are cured by stoving, e.g. Despite the aforementioned drawbacks, some
vehicle OEM coatings, have been the subject of alkyd-based coatings play an important role in
increasing demands concerning the durability architectural applications. These are water-
of the cured films: weatherability, UV-re- borne and higher solids coatings (Ackerman,
sistance. The lifetime of an alkyd-based film is 1991; Chandra, 1990; Larson and Emmons,
restricted by the residual olefinic unsaturation 1983; Kangas and Jones, 1987; Chen and
which leads to further crosslinking. This re- Jones, 1988).
sults in an increasing brittleness of the film
(increasing glass transition temperature)
which promotes crack formation and delami- High Solids Coatings
nation of the film. In Figure 6 this is shown
compared with a film based on an acrylic dis- High solids coatings are defined as lacquers or
persion (Holsworth et al.; Newton, 1986; varnishes with an amount of less than 15% by
Schmid, 1987, 1988, 1990). In non-industrial weight of volatile compounds (normally sol-
applications (painters, do-it-yourself) other au- vents) (Mulvey and Dannemann, 1989; Ro-
toxidation byproducts adversely affect the ac- lando, 1989;, High Solids Alkyds, 1987). Con-
ceptance of alkyd coatings. These are alde- ventional solvent-borne coatings normally
hydes which are formed by oxidation of the contain 30-60 wt % of volatile materials. The
olefinic bounds and which are responsible for technological challenge is to combine this
the strong smell of cured films and for the higher solids content with a viscosity which
yellowing of white films in the dark (Henglein allows brushability, a drying rate that is not
95

100 Application Viscosity

0 20 40 60 60 100

Non Volatiles [%]


Fig. 7. Viscosity of an alkyd solution as a function of the molecular weight of the alkyd and of the solutions concentration.

, 6 Intensity (=Abundance)
I
14

12

10

6 -n Conventional
4
2

0
2 3 4 5 6 7

log Molecular Weight


Fig. 8. Molecular weight distribution curves for a conventional alkyd and a higher solids alkyds.

significantly slower than in conventional coat- of higher molecular weights. Figure 9 also
ings and an appearance of the cured film which shows two factors which rule the number of
fits the conventional standard. The application structural units (correlating with the molecu-
viscosity of ca. 160 mPa s depends on the solids lar weight) in a polycondensation polymer: the
content and of the molecular weight of the degree of educt conversion and the diol/diacid
alkyd (Fig. 7). Therefore, higher solids coatings ratio (Flory, 1936, 1941; Jonason, 1960; Pat-
can only be realized with alkyds of lower ton, 1966). Reduction of the educt conversion
molecular weights. This can be visualized by a would be detrimental to the coating perform-
comparison of the molecular weight distribu- ance. In consequence all known higher solids
tion of a higher solids versus a conventional alkyds are designed as molecules with a high
alkyd (Fig. 8). The higher solids alkyd has a functionality in fatty acids to achieve a high
narrower distribution curve without the area crosslink density per alkyd molecule. This is
96

Molecular Weight of Expressed by the Number of Structural Units


Number of Structural Units Number of Structural Units
25 25

20;. _.

,5___.
Dlol/Dlacld = 1
,*___

5_.__. _. _.

*I-/ ) ,I,,\1
0 02 0,4 0,6 0,8 1 1 1,l 1,21,91,41,51,61,71,81,9 2
(1 - AN/[COOH]) Dlol / Dlacld

AN = acldnumber of reaction mixture


[COOH] = Initial concentration of dlacld

Fig. 9. Number of structuralunits of an alkyd as a function of the polyol/diacidratio and of the degree of educt conversion.

+ Oiigomers With Higher Molecular Weight

Raw Trimeiiithic Acid High Functionaiity (F=ll)


ProvidesHigh CrceslinkDensii
Di-POntaOryUlritoiO
Low Yoiecuiar Weight
Pentaqthritoie ProvidesLowViiityandLowVCCContent

Fatty Acid (Rl)

Fig. 10. Possible (idealized) structure of a higher solids alkyd.

realized by high polyol/polyacid ratios and priate fatty acid composition is decisive for the
educts with high functionalities, e.g. dipen- performance of the higher solids coating, espe-
taerythritole (Fig. 10). The choice of the appro- cially the drying rate.
97

Maleated Linseed 011 for Watsrsoluble Resins P‘olyethyleneglycol Chalns for Alkyd - Emulsions

fi fCH&,-CO-GLYCEROL ,eo

dW +
-

Llnsaed 011Fatty Acid Makk Anhydrldo

200°C I ‘Ene’-Reactlon PolyoxyethykneglycoI - modlfled


Phendresol (hydrqbhllk mokty)
I
0 O 0

v_

CH&TO-GLYCEROL

Addltlon product with Alkyd


contalnlng Ekostewk Acid
\

+ NH, -
W8tW
+ NH;
Oh

ALKYD

Fig. 11. Sunthetic approaches to water-reducible reins: (a) gl*afting of maleic anhydride on fatty acid unsaturation; (b)
._
formation of a chromane ring by addition of a resole to a fatty acid.

Water-reducible Alkyds proaches are reported in the literature (includ-


ing patents) where these groups are attached
Aqueous architectural paints are dominated by to fatty .acid moieties by C-C connections.
acrylic dispersions, but numerous approaches Figures 11 and 12 show three examples (Engel-
for water-reducible alkyd coatings have been hardt, 1979). The maleated oils are also known
described (Hohlein, 1987; Ziickert, 1986). Hy- as binders for groundations which are applied
brids of acrylic dispersions and water-soluble by anodic electrodeposition on metallic sub-
alkyds are also known to be advantageous for strates used for industrial goods. On the other
wood sealings as they combine the alkyds’ ex- hand it is an easy and common route to incor-
cellent penetration behaviour with the fast porate the potential ionic group into the alkyds
physical drying of the acrylic dispersion (Gooch polyester backbone by esterifying trimellitic
and Hofland, 1991). anhydride (Patent DE 26 37 167) as shown in
Depending on the typo of solubilization and Figure 12.
the molecular weight of the alkyd, either homo-
geneous solutions (low molecular weight, ionic Specialties
groups) or- heterogeneous emulsions (high
molecular weight, hydrophilic groups as emul- In several industrial systems fatty acids play
sifiers and/or ionic groups) are obtained. an unusual role, e.g. electric insulation fluids
In order to increase the saponification sta- based on a tetrastearate ester of pentaerythri-
bility of the hydrophilic group many ap tole. The highly purified ester exhibits an out-
98

Methacrylic Acid Contalnlng Copolymer Trimellitic Acid Containing Alkyd

q + +J + nu-”
‘R ‘n
YethactylicEster MathacrylIcAcid Unseed FattyAcid

=
OF0
l-(1 l-

1. Alkyd Synthesis of Copolymer with


Polyols, Dicarboxylic Acid, Fatty Acids

2. Ammonium Formation of the Methacryllc Acid Moiety

Fig. 12. Synthetic approaches to water-soluble alkyds: (a) arafting of methacrylic acid on fatty acid unsaturation; (b)
neutralization of incomplete esterified trimellitic anhydrid~.

TABLE 2 to the polymer backbone (Table 2). This can


easily be achieved by saturated fatty acids or
Physical properties of polyester versus alkyds
their derivatives which are bound to a hydroxy
functional polyester yielding an alkyd resin
Polyester Alkyd Patent DE 36 13 083).

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