Applications of epoxidized and hydroxy-fluoroester pendent secondary high-molecular-weight guayule rubber in coatings

The epoxidation of secondary high-molecular-weight guayule rubber to yield epoxidized guayule rubber (EGR) and the subsequent opening of the oxirane r ings by fluoroacids to yield fluorinated guayule rubber (FGR) were reported in an earlier article.(1) The oxirane and hydroxyl groups that occur in EG R and FGR, respectively, enable these derivatives to be integrated into the binder system of coatings. The coating industry has long been interested i n nontoxic multifunctional crosslinking agents that do not emit volatile or ganic compounds (VOCs). Ring-opening reactions of epoxides and reactions be tween hydroxyl and isocyanate groups are prime examples of crosslinking tha t do not emit VOCs. This study was conducted to ascertain the viability of guayule rubber derivatives that contain epoxide and hydroxyl groups as cros slinking agents in solvent-based coatings and powder coatings. (C) 2001 Joh n Wiley & Sons, Inc.