| abstract |
In certain aspects, the present invention relates to thermosetting polymer compositions consisting of functional epoxies of biological origin and / or derivatives thereof (for example, epoxidized vegetable oil (s)), together with carboxyl-functional acrylics and / or polyesters. When cured, the exemplary compositions of the invention provide high performance products that are suitable for composite, coating, adhesive, sealant and / or elastomeric applications. When used in stone composite formulations with suitable fillers such as quartz and titanium dioxide, exemplary products have high hardness, very low water absorption and high mechanical strength with resistance to stains, chemicals and heat. When used in coating formulations, cured films by way of example have excellent adhesion, high gloss, clarity, toughness, low water absorption, solvent and chemical resistance, flexibility and impact resistance without compromising hardness. The coating formulation properties may also include external durability. The properties of the composition can be selectively modified to hard, soft, resistant or elastomeric material by selecting the appropriate stoichiometry and type of functional resin to react with epoxide derivative (s). |