2019 Volume 55 Issue 5 Pages 299-215
Castor oil is a non-edible vegetable oil harvested around 700,000 tons per year in the world. The bestfeature of the castor oil contains about 90% of Ricinoleyl group. Ricinoleic acid has a hydroxyl group on the12th carbon. And itself is used as a polyol. Castor oil based polyols have property of lower water absorptionthan that of petroleum derived polyether type or polyester polyol, and it is utilized for flooring materials,anticorrosion coatings, electric insulating potting materials, two component solvent free adhesive and foam.Further, since it is compatible with various raw materials, it is also used to improve handling property andanother property by using in combination with petroleum-derived polyol. Castor oil based polyols havesufficient adhesive strength, and switching from epoxy type adhesive is progressing. In addition, with the risein environmental awareness, the movement to shift from petroleum-derived raw materials to plant-derivedraw materials is getting widespread. Castor oil, which is non-edible oil, has attracted attention as a promisingmaterial, and it is expected that demand for green chemicals will expand in the future.
