Utilization of vegetable oils in coatings

Abstract Vegetable oils are common raw materials in the coating industry, especially for alkyd resins. These are in common use, but in many industrial coating systems they bacame second choice because of substitutes based on petrochemical raw materials and which provide an improved technological performance. In architectural coating systems alkyd resins still play an important role because of their benefits such as the economical balance, an uncomplicated application and an outstanding appearance of the films. Water-borne and high solids systems as well as alkyd/acrylic-hybrids will increase their market share for ecological reasons. Apart from alkyd resins, oils are used as reactive diluents e.g. in printing inks, and fatty acids are used as educts for a series of specialty products in the coating industry, e.g., electric insulation systems.