Polymerization of Vegetable Oils and Their Uses in Printing Inks

Materials. Alkali-refined soybean oil was obtained from Riceland Foods (Stuttgart, AR) and Archer Daniels Midland (Decatur, IL). Alkali-refined canola and cottonseed oils were purchased from Bunge Oil (Bradley. IL). Alkalirefined sunflower oil was obtained from Archer Daniels Midland. Alkali-refined safflower oil was obtained from Pacific Anchor Chemical Co. (Cumberland, RI). Polystyrene standards were obtained from Polymer Laboratories. Ltd. (Amherst, MAl. and had the following specifications: (peak average molecular weight and molecular weight distribution) 580, 1.14; 1320, 1.09; 3250, 1.04; 9200. 1.03; 28500, 1.03; 66000, 1.03; 156000, 1.03; 435500, 1.04; 1030000, 1.05; 2250000, 1.04; and 2880000, 1.04. Methods. Vehicles were prepared in a four-necked reaction flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer. '!\vo major methods were used in preparation of polymers: Method A-alkali-refined vegetable oil was polymerized with stirring at 330 ± 3°C in nitrogen atmosphere to the desired viscosity; some polymers prepared by this method were used directly as vehicles. others with Gardner-Holdt viscosities as high as Z8-Z9' were admixed with low-viscosity polymers and/or unmodified, alkali-refined vegetable oil at 67-75°C in a reaction flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer. Method B-heat-bodying was continued until the oil gelled. The reaction was discontinued at the transition point when clumps of gel began to climb up the shaft of the mechanical stirrer. The gel was blended in various ratios with unmodified alkali-refined vegetable oil at 330 ± 3°C. The heating softened the gel and promoted blending. Agitation was continued until a smooth vehicle was obtained. The proportions of the gel and unmodified oil determined the resultant vehicle viscosities. Method A was repeated at 280, 290, 300, 310 and 320 ± 3°C to determine the effect of temperature on the rate constant. Method A was also repeated at 300 ± 3°C and *To whom correspondence should be addressed at NCAUR. 1815 N. University. Peoria. IL 61604.