Curative
A coating created entirely from plant-derived ingredients is disclosed. Illustrative embodiments of the coating may be particularly well suited for use on leather-like materials created from epoxidized natural rubber-based formulations. Illustrative embodiments of the coating created may be comprised of substantially the reaction product between epoxidized vegetable oil and a polyfunctional naturally occurring acid (such as citric acid). Illustrative embodiments this reaction product may be used to produce porosity-free castable resins and vulcanize rubber formulations based on epoxidized natural rubber. Materials made from disclosed materials may be advantageously used as leather substitutes.
1. A coating comprising a reaction product between a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid and an epoxidized triglyceride, wherein said coating further contains a thickener of naturally occurring or naturally derived polymer.
2. The coating according to claim 1 wherein said thickener is further defined as being soluble in a solvent.
3. The coating according to claim 2 wherein said solvent is further defined as being selected from a group consisting of acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and ethanol.
4. The coating according to claim 1 wherein said thickener is further defined as being selected from a group consisting of shellac, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose.
5. The coating according to claim 1 wherein said reaction product between said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid and said epoxidized triglyceride further defined as being completed in a first stage and a second stage.
6. The coating according to claim 5 wherein said first stage is further defined as said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid being reacted with said epoxidized triglyceride in stochiometric excess to form a first material, and wherein said second stage is further defined as combining said first material with an additional portion of epoxidized triglyceride to create a thermoset resin coating.
7. The coating according to claim 1 wherein said reaction product is further defined as including a formed ester linkage.
8. The coating according to claim 7 wherein said reaction product is further defined as being among said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid, said epoxidized triglyceride, and a hydroxyl-containing solvent.
9. The coating according to claim 8 wherein said ester linkage is further defined as being formed between said hydroxyl-containing solvent and said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid.
10. A coating for a substrate, wherein said coating is based on an epoxidized natural rubber, and wherein said coating has a lower dynamic coefficient of friction than a dynamic coefficient of friction of said substrate.
11. The coating according to claim 10 wherein said coating is comprised of a reaction product between a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid and an epoxidized triglyceride.
12. The coating according to claim 10 wherein said coating further comprises a thickener of naturally occurring or naturally derived polymer.
13. The coating according to claim 10 wherein a glass transition temperature of said coating is higher than a glass transition temperature of said substrate.
14. A method of applying a coating to a substrate, said method comprising the steps of:
a. preparing said coating, wherein said coating comprises a reaction product between a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid and an epoxidized triglyceride, and wherein said coating includes a thickener of naturally occurring or naturally derived polymer;
b. providing a substrate, wherein said substrate is based on an epoxidized natural rubber;
c. applying said coating to said substrate; and,
d. allowing said coating and said substrate to cure.
15. The method according to claim 14 wherein said coating is further defined as being previously diluted with a solvent.
16. The method according to claim 15 wherein said solvent is selected from a group consisting of acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and ethanol.
17. An article comprising:
a. a substrate based on epoxidized natural rubber;
b. a coating engaged with said substrate, wherein said coating comprises a reaction product between a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid and an epoxidized triglyceride.
18. The article according to claim 17 wherein said coating further comprises a thickener of naturally occurring or naturally derived polymer.