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Towards bio-based, low-VOC UV-coatings using terpene-based acrylates

UV- Coatings are known for their fast processing and great performance. But they have two issues: Monomer content is VOC and there are hardly sustainable, bio-based options. Both can be overcome with termpene-based acrylates.

UV Coatings
UV coating process is fast and efficient, but it could be more sustainalbe on the raw material side. Source: Sergey Ryzhov – stock.adobe.com

Terpene-based acrylic monomers offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative for common acrylic monomers. Using them for high solid UV coating systems allows for the significant reduction of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. These bio-based acrylates can be used to modulate the glass transition temperature (Tg), enabling them to match or even surpass the performance of petrochemical monomers like styrene and methyl methacrylate.

Event Tip: Bio-based Coatings

In the EC Short Course “Bio-based Coatings” on March 17, 2025, you will learn about plant-based raw materials in coatings, their production, and the challenges of replacing fossil-based materials. The course provides insights into sustainable alternatives and their impact on the industry

Novel monoterpene copolymers synthesized with limonene-based acrylates and a nopol-based methacrylate demonstrated excellent curing performance, thermal stability, and solvent resistance, with VOC emissions reduced by up to 98%. The storage modulus and the loss modulus of the respective homopolymers of the limonene-based monomers were analyzed by DMA measurements. The results showed that these give very hard polymers with a slight degree of cross-linking. These findings highlight the potential of terpene-based acrylates as versatile, high-performance, and sustainable substitutes for fossil-based monomers in UV-coating systems.

Source: Obermeier et al., SSRN, 2025