ABSTRACT
Long and medium oil length alkyd resins were synthesized using breadfruit seed oil by the alcoholysis process. Oil extracted from the seeds of breadfruit were refined and characterized in terms of acid, iodine and saponification values. Glycerol and phthalic anhydride were used as the polyol, and polybasic acid respectively in the synthesis of the resins. Soyabean oil modified alkyd resin served as the reference alkyd resin. The drying properties of the alkyd resin investigated showed that the synthesized alkyds dried satisfactorily at alkyd film thickness of 0.10 mm, irrespective of alkyd resin oil length. While the synthesized alkyds showed good water, and acid resistance. All the synthesized alkyds failed the alkali resistance tests. The adhesion properties of the synthesized alkyd samples were good. Similarly, there was no mildew formation in any of the synthesized alkyd samples, an indication of bio-stability of the synthesized alkyds. The alkyd samples exhibited good storage property, an indication of better performance in coatings, and hence compared favourably with the reference oil, soyabean. This study has highlighted the utility of breadfruit seed oil in the coatings industry.
