Novel UV-curable Bio-based Polymers Derived from Non-edible Phenolic Biomass

Novel UV-curable bio-based polymers were prepared from cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), a natural phenol compound, at room temperature via thiol-ene reaction. The physical, thermal, optical, and mechanical properties of UV-cured polymers and the structure-property relationship of these materials were investigated. The resultant UV-cured polymers showed flexibility, transparency with high gloss, thermal resistance, and long-term stability as compared with other CNSL-based polymers. This is because the one step UV-click thiol-ene reaction from transparent CNSL-derived monomer proceeded effectively between S-H and C=C of allyl and alkyl sidechains, leading to a much more highly flexible crosslinked structure. This UV-curable bio-based polymer can be very advantageous in application of flexible coating and film.