Oxidative cleavage of unsaturated oils and products obtained therefrom

A solid foam material comprising a matrix formed from a cured resin, wherein the cured resin is derived from an oxidative cleavage product selected from aldehydes and peroxides and mixtures thereof formed by the oxidative cleavage of an unsaturated bond in an unsaturated plant or animal oil.

A resin composition, the resin composition being derived from an oxidative cleavage product selected from aldehydes and peroxides and mixtures thereof formed by the oxidative cleavage of an unsaturated bond in an unsaturated plant or animal oil, wherein the oil is other than soya oil.

An article or composition formed from or comprising a resin composition derived from an oxidative cleavage product selected from aldehydes and peroxides and mixtures thereof formed by the oxidative cleavage of an unsaturated bond in an unsaturated plant or animal oil, the article or composition being selected from moulded panels, non-woven materials, fibre-glass products, boards, treated paper, treated fabric, spun textiles, toys (e.g. children's toys), lubricants, adhesives, castings, automotive components (such as bumpers, fenders, steering wheels, interior panels and mouldings, exterior trim and mouldings), upholstery (as padding or mouldings), bonded recycled materials, foundry castings and casting materials (for example binders for refractory articles), bearing, films and coatings, packaging, foams, paint components, pipes, architectural and building products such as door and window frames, varnishes, release controlling coatings such as release controlling coatings for pharmaceuticals, solid prosthetic devices and medical devices, and wood treatment agents, e.g. for preserving and modifying the properties of wood.

A curable material formed by oxidative treatment of a comminuted oil-bearing plant maternal, whereby the oxidative treatment has converted unsaturated bonds in the oil into an oxidative cleavage product selected from aldehydes and peroxides and mixtures thereof.

A curable composition comprising an aqueous emulsion or an aqueous alkaline solution containing an oxidative cleavage product selected from aldehydes and peroxides and mixtures thereof formed by the oxidative cleavage of an unsaturated bond in an unsaturated plant or animal oil, wherein the curable composition is cured.

A process for the production of aldehydes and/or peroxide, which process comprises the treatment of a vegetable oil with ozone (e.g. in the presence of an alcohol as a solvent for the oil) so that hydroperoxides are produced, and the reductive cleavage of the hydroperoxides with a reducing sugar.