Cardanol

Cardanol


Applying Science And Analytics To Life

Cardanol is a phenolic lipid obtained from anacardic acid, the main component of cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL), a byproduct of cashew nut processing. Cardanol finds use in the chemical industry in resins, coatings, frictional materials, and surfactants used as pigment dispersants for water-based inks.

Cardanol is a naturally occurring Phenol in light pale yellow colour manufactured from CNSL. It is a mono hydroxyl Phenol having a long hydrocarbon Chain (C15H27) in the Meta position.

Cardanol is a naturally occurring Phenol manufactured from Cashew Nut Shell Liquid. It is a monohydroxyl Phenol having a long hydrocarbon Chain ( C15 H27 ) in the meta position.

The products obtained from Cardanol have many advantages over those manufactured from other substituted Phenols.

The Components of commercial Cardanol differ in the degree of unsaturation of the side chain but for all the practical purposes it can be represented by the following formula:
C6H4(OH) - (CH2)7 - CH = CH - CH2 - CH = CH(CH2)2 - CH3

The average unsaturation of the about two double bonds in the side chain of the Cardonal molecules makes cross-linking easy and gives satisfactory gradual drying and baking properties to paints prepared from it. Because of its peculiar Structure, Cardanol varnishes have high electrical insulation, greater resistance to water, Chemicals and also good flexibility.

The long hydrocarbon side chain imparts to Cardanol aldehyde condensate greater solubility in drying Oils such as linseed DCO, or Tung Oil and aliphatic hydrocarbons.

Cardanol can be substituted by 30% in phenolic resins used for phenol bonded resins for plywood and lamination industries.

Water-soluble PCF resin(phenol, cardanol pharmaldehyde resin): We develop PCF resin by substituting 30% cardanol in phenolic resins. The resins will give the additional property of antifungus and antithermic when used in plywood industries. In lamination industries, it gives an additional advantage in non-edge cracking and also cost-saving.

Applications of Cardanol:

Oil Soluble Resins

The meta substitution and the long hydrocarbon chain in its molecule make the resins prepared with Cardanol, highly soluble in oils and impart superior properties such as high electrical insulation and resistance against chemicals to its films. It is to manufacture both solid and semi-solid resole or novolac type of resins depending upon the nature of the catalyst and the aldehyde compound.

Cardanol resin varnishes have good electrical insulating properties and resistance against water and chemicals. They give superior quality Stamping Varnishes. Because of their high insulation and dielectric losses, these varnishes are preferred to compositions based on usual Phenol such as Cresol or Substituted phenols.

Surface Coatings and Paints

Cardanol resin Varnishes in addition to water and Chemical resistance have good air drying and baking properties. These compositions are suitable for wood finishes, food can lacquers tax tile bobbins and high-quality paints. Stoving paints can be prepared which could be baked at 60°C. The Cardanol based resins have good compatibility with other synthetic resins such as alkyds, epoxies chlorinated rubber, Phenolic etc., and can serve as raw material for a variety of paints.

Lamination Industry

By partly replacing the Phenol or Cresol in alcohol soluble resins used for Lamination one could prepare resins which impart greater flexibility resistance to Chemical and water, and superior electrical insulation to the lamination sheets.

Adhesives

Excellent quality of Friction dust could be prepared from Cardanol which finds uses in brake linings and clutch facings.