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Bio-based photocurable coating for water-resistant materials
A new study introduces an innovative bio-based photocurable system using curcumin and soybean oil resin, offering high reactivity, water resistance, and biocompatibility.
The development of environmentally friendly and water-resistant coatings is a key focus in modern materials research. A recent study presents a bio-based photocurable system based on acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) as the hydrophobic resin and curcumin as the photoinitiator.
By investigating different co-initiators, such as glycerol and 1,6-hexanedithiol, the researchers significantly improved the efficiency of the photopolymerisation process. Thiol-based co-initiators achieved a 66 % higher radical generation rate compared to glycerol-based systems. The optimised system completed crosslinking within 30 minutes, achieving a gel fraction exceeding 99 %, along with high crosslinking density and thermal stability (T10% of 317.1 °C).
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High biocompatibility and water resistance
Biocompatibility tests revealed a cell viability of 93 %, confirming the low toxicity and high environmental compatibility of the coating. Applied to various substrates, the system significantly enhanced hydrophobic stability, with the water contact angle decreasing by only 7–8 degrees within 16 minutes. The water absorption rate and ink resistance were also substantially improved.
This bio-based photocurable system offers a promising solution for the development of sustainable water-resistant materials, combining high reactivity with excellent biocompatibility.
Source: Kuo, C.-T. et al., Bio-derived photocurable resin for water resistant coatings. Progress in Organic Coatings, 109882 (2025).
