Toward UV-Triggered Curing of Solvent-Free Polyurethane Adhesives Based on Castor Oil

An o-nitrobenzyl-protected precursor was used as a phototrigger for the release of the diamine cadaverine in polyurethane adhesives based on castor oil as a renewable source of polyol and organic diisocyanates. This resulted in formulations with suitably controlled curing by photoactivation. This material shows faster curing when UV light is applied as compared to curing in the absence of irradiation, which was in situ monitored by rheological measurements. In addition, the adhesion performance is superior, reaching lap shear strength values of up to 4600 kPa, which is unprecedented for bio-based adhesives. On one hand, the in-depth chemical characterization with FTIR spectroscopy revealed that the slow release of cadaverine yields a well-balanced urethane/urea composition with direct impact on adhesion properties. The photocured bioadhesive was shown to bond a variety of surfaces, such as polyethylene or even wood. On the other hand, the direct one-time addition of cadaverine yields a material with approximately the same viscoelastic properties, which were achieved almost immediately as a consequence of the favored fast formation of urea bonds in detriment of urethanes, however, lacking adhesion properties.

Automated summary

The new photocured bioadhesive, using o-nitrobenzyl-protected precursor as a phototrigger for the release of diamine cadaverine, demonstrates faster curing with UV light and superior adhesion performance, reaching lap shear strength values of up to 4600 kPa. Characterization with FTIR spectroscopy reveals a well-balanced urethane/urea composition and in-depth chemical analysis, showing the direct impact on adhesion properties. Additionally, the material bonds a variety of surfaces and has approximately the same viscoelastic properties as a result of the favored fast formation of urea bonds.