CHAPTER 11. Natural Oil Polyols

Natural oil polyols (NOPs) have emerged as a promising family of biosourced compounds with interesting properties for a wide range of applications. Their utilization has recently been of major concern as these polyols contain renewable raw materials regarded as more sustainable than petroleum based materials. NOPs with a high content of vegetable oil components feature the same range of properties and structural diversity as petroleum based polyols. In some cases, they even surpass petroleum based polyols. In the present chapter are summarized the most relevant advances of NOPs in the field of coatings, sealants, flooring, inks and adhesives. Once a clear view of the NOP market has been established, the different reaction pathways leading to the formation of NOPs from vegetable oils are detailed and commented on. The main pros and cons of NOPs derived from various naturally occurring vegetable oils as additives in coatings, sealants, flooring, inks and adhesives are then presented and discussed.