PU Flooring Coatings - SETATHANE®

Solvent-Free Hydrophobic Polyols for Floor and Building Applications Over the past decade, considerable work has been undertaken to develop new bio-based raw materials as building blocks for resins and coating systems. Castor oil, a vegetable oil obtained from the seeds of the castor plant, Ricinus Communis, can be used as a polyol in polyurethane synthesis. Castor oil is a light, odorless and tasteless liquid ranging from colorless to very pale yellow. Its boiling point is 313°C and its density is 961 kg/m³. It is a triglyceride in which approximately 90% of the fatty acid chains are ricinoleic acid. Poly-isocyanate commonly used for floor applications is polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate, also known as p-MDI (see Figure 1). However, in some cases, aliphatic poly-isocyanates are also used to achieve exterior durability and reduced yellowing. [caption id="attachment_103521" align="aligncenter"] Figure 1. Monomeric and polymeric MDI[/caption] Chemical modification of natural oil (see Figure 2) should be employed to produce polyols with improved balance between hardness and flexibility, as well as improved application properties such as chemical and hydrolysis resistance characteristics. [caption id="attachment_103522" align="aligncenter"] Figure 2. Castor oil molecule and reactive sites for modification[/caption]   Modified castor oil-based polyols can be effectively formulated into polyurethane floor coatings with high renewable content. Compared to neat castor oil-based polyurethanes, they feature faster cure, better block and chemical resistance properties, greater resistance to hydrolysis, and superior balance between hardness and flexibility. Kimteks Kimya Tekstil Ürünleri Tic. A.Ş. Allnex- SETATHANE®️ please consult your authorized product manager. Melih Kamhi Product Manager - Paints Division Kimteks Kimya A.Ş. Can Güngör Business Unit Manager - Paints Division Kimteks Kimya A.Ş.