PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF UNMODIFIED AND MONTMORILLONITE (BENTONE) CLAY MODIFIED ALKYD RESIN FROM THEVETIA NERRIFOLIA SEED OILS

Abstract

Thevetia Nerrifolia seed oil was extracted from its oil seed by soxhlet extraction using petroleum ether (40-60 oC) as solvent. The oil was characterized and the oil yield, refractive index acid value, saponification value, iodine value, colour and relative density were found to be 47.77%, 1.464, 4.365 (mg/KOH), 125.62 (mg/KOH), 98.48 (wij), 4+ and 0.926 respectively. Long oil alkyd resin was prepared by polycondensation of the Thevetia Nerrifolia seed oil monoglycerides produced by alcoholysis with phthalic anhydride. A portion of the alkyd resin prepared was modified with montmorillonite functionalized with alkyl ammonium hydroxide. The alkyd resins were characterized in terms of percentage non-volatile content, acid value, saponification value, iodine value, colour, drying schedule, chemical resistance and dry film hardness. These results compare favourably with alkyd resins from other known vegetable oils. The results also revealed that the incorporation of organo clay into alkyd resin structure has significantly improved physical and chemical film properties of the alkyd resin.