Study of epoxidized-cardanol containing cationic UV curable materials

Cationic photopolymerization, thermal and mechanical properties of thin film materials containing bio-renewable cashew nutshell oil derivative – epoxidized-cardanol (ECD) were investigated. Higher and more consistent monomer conversion as a function of relative humidity was found for thin film materials containing 10 wt.% ECD and 5 wt.% hydroxy-functional reactive diluents during cationic photopolymerization. In addition, ECD imparted balanced physiochemical properties to the cationic UV curable materials. ECD showed great potential to be used as a reactive ingredient in cationic UV curable materials.