Ultraviolet Curable Coatings of Modified Lignin

Kraft lignin (KL) was converted to methacrylated lignin through an esterification reaction using meth acrylic anhydride. It was determined that up to 70% of the hydroxyl functional groups contained within the structure of lignin were converted into corresponding methacrylate. The methacrylated lignin (ML) was incorporated into ultraviolet (UV)-curable formulations, where the formulations were applied to a surface and cured under UV light to give robust, lignin-rich coatings with loadings as high as 31 wt % of methacrylated lignin.