Cationic UV-curing of epoxidized cardanol derivatives

This paper demonstrates the high reactivity and potentiality of bio-renewably obtained cardanol-based epoxy monomers as well as the possibility of tuning the final thermomechanical properties by changing either the epoxy content or the chemical structure of the starting photocurable resin. The reactivity of the cardanol monomers towards the cationic UV-curing process was investigated by Fourier transform IR analysis and it was shown that a high epoxy group conversion was achieved. Furthermore, the thermomechanical properties were investigated on crosslinked films by means of DSC and dynamic thermomechanical analysis. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry