Preparation and properties of waterborne UV-curable epoxy soybean oil acrylate resin

In order to meet increasingly strict environmental regulations and environmentally friendly paint standards, UV-curable waterborne bio-based coatings with attractive characteristics of environment friendly, low toxicity, high efficiency, energy conservation, and competitive price have become one of the research hotspots. Herein, the epoxy soybean oil-based acrylate (AESO) was modified with cyclic anhydride, neutralized by triethylamine, then dispersed in deionized water to form the high bio-based content waterborne UV-curable resin (WAESO) with good storage stability. The effects of molar ratios of hydroxyl/anhydride and neutralized degree on the WAESO stability were studied. The thermostability and the comprehensive properties of cured films were further investigated. The WAESO synthesized by AESO and succinic anhydride with the OH/RCOOR″ molar ratio of 4:1 was found to display good storage stability over 6 months, its average particle size was 71 nm, and its zeta (ζ) potential was − 87.64 mV. The cured film of the emulsion displayed good thermostability with 232°C of the initial degradation temperature, good flexibility with 1 mm, and excellent solvent resistance over 100 double rubs. The cure films on the wood and PVC sheets exhibited excellent sanding property and high gloss with 108°. The water-based modification of AESO in this work is expected to be applied to wood and plastics paints because of good comprehensive performance, environmental protection, and high bio-based contents.