Urethane modified boron filled polyesteramide: a novel anti-microbial polymer from a sustainable resource

Boron filled soybean oil based polyesteramide (BPEA) was synthesized. It was further modified through a reaction with tolylene-2,4-di-isocyanate (TDI) to obtain boron filled polyesteramide urethane (BPEAU) with different loadings of urethane. The structures of BPEA and BPEAU polymers were confirmed by FT-IR, H-1 NMR and C-13 NMR spectroscopies. The physico-chemical characterization, viz., hydroxyl value, iodine value, acid value, refractive index and inherent viscosity was carried out by standard methods. Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities of these polymers were investigated by the measurement of the size and clarity of the zone of inhibition in nutrient media. All compositions of BPEAU resin were found to inhibit microbial growth while the resin with 8% urethane loading (BPEAU-8) showed the highest anti-microbial activity. The BPEAU resin can, therefore, be used as an anti-fungal and antibacterial coating material. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.