Synthesis and photopolymerization of norbornyl epoxidized linseed oil

Norbornyl epoxidized linseed oil was synthesized via Diels–Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene with linseed oil at high pressure (∼200 psi) and high temperature (240 °C), followed by an epoxidation using hydrogen peroxide with a quaternary ammonium tetrakis(diperoxotungsto) phosphate(3−) epoxidation catalyst. The products were characterized using 1H and 13C NMR, FT-IR, and electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy. Photo-induced curing kinetics of norbornyl epoxidized linseed oil coatings was investigated using real-time FT-IR spectroscopy with a fiber optic UV-curing system. The norbornyl epoxidized linseed oil was formulated with three different divinyl ether reactive diluent. The effect of divinyl ether concentration and types of divinyl ether on the curing reaction was investigated. It was found that the curing rate of norbornyl epoxidized linseed oil was lower than that of cycloaliphatic epoxide, but higher than epoxidized linseed oil. The incorporation of divinyl ethers increased the curing rate and overall conversion of the epoxide groups. Of the three divinyl ethers used, coating with triethyleneglycol divinyl ether showed the highest curing rate and coating with cyclohexane dimethanol divinyl ether showed the lowest curing rate.