Synthesis and Characterization of Water- Reducible Alkyd Resin from Cottonseed Oil

Ezidinma Timothy. A, Onukwuli D.O, Uzoh C.F.

Medium oil water-reducible alkyd resin was synthesized by polyesterification reaction of commercially refined cottonseed oil with glycerol and maleic anhydride patially substituted with trimellitic anhydride in lithium hydroxide catalytic process and copolymerized with polyethylene glycol. A predictive mathematical model was obtained to predict the acid value and viscosity as functions of polybasic acid/oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration, reaction temperature, reaction time, and rate of mixing. The optimal conditions for the production of alkyd resin was found to be MA/oil ratio 0.38:1, temperature 240.61⁰C; catalyst concentration 0.38% reaction time 150mins and mixing rate 600rpm.At these  conditions  87% conversion was achieved producing water- reducible  alkyd resin with acid value of 15mgKOH/g. Pyscochemical and performance evaluation of the resin showed that it can satisfactorily substitute for convetional alkyd resins in situations where minimal volatile organic compound emission is desired.