Curative

Abstract

A coating created entirely from plant-derived ingredients is disclosed. Illustrative embodiments of the coating may be particularly well suited for use on leather-like materials created from epoxidized natural rubber-based formulations. Illustrative embodiments of the coating created may be comprised of substantially the reaction product between epoxidized vegetable oil and a polyfunctional naturally occurring acid (such as citric acid). Illustrative embodiments this reaction product may be used to produce porosity-free castable resins and vulcanize rubber formulations based on epoxidized natural rubber. Materials made from disclosed materials may be advantageously used as leather substitutes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article comprising:
 a. a substrate comprised of a natural fiber;   b. a coating engaged with said substrate, wherein said coating comprises a reaction product between a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid and an epoxidized triglyceride.   
     
     
         2 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein said coating further comprises a thickener of naturally occurring or naturally derived polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein said thickener is further defined as being soluble in a solvent. 
     
     
         4 . The article according to  claim 3  wherein said solvent is further defined as being selected from a group consisting of acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and ethanol. 
     
     
         5 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein said thickener is further defined as being selected from a group consisting of shellac, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose. 
     
     
         6 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein said reaction product between said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid and said epoxidized triglyceride further defined as being completed in a first stage and a second stage. 
     
     
         7 . The article according to  claim 6  wherein said first stage is further defined as said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid being reacted with said epoxidized triglyceride in stoichiometric excess to form a first material, and wherein said second stage is further defined as combining said first material with an additional portion of epoxidized triglyceride to create a thermoset resin coating. 
     
     
         8 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein said reaction product is further defined as including a formed ester linkage. 
     
     
         9 . The article according to  claim 8  wherein said reaction product is further defined as being among said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid, said epoxidized triglyceride, and a hydroxyl-containing solvent. 
     
     
         10 . The article according to  claim 9  wherein said ester linkage is further defined as being formed between said hydroxyl-containing solvent and said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         11 . A method for making a coating, said method comprising the steps of:
 a. mixing a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid with an epoxidized triglyceride; and   b. allowing said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid and said epoxidized triglyceride to form an ester linkage.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising the step of adding a thickener. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said thickener is further defined as being soluble in a solvent. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein said solvent is further defined as being selected from a group consisting of acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and ethanol. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein said thickener is further defined as being selected from a group consisting of shellac, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said reaction product between said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid and said epoxidized triglyceride further defined as being completed in a first stage and a second stage. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein said first stage is further defined as said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid being reacted with said epoxidized triglyceride in stoichiometric excess to form a first material, and wherein said second stage is further defined as combining said first material with an additional portion of epoxidized triglyceride to create a thermoset resin coating. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said reaction product is further defined as including a formed ester linkage. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein said reaction product is further defined as being among said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid, said epoxidized triglyceride, and a hydroxyl-containing solvent. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein said ester linkage is further defined as being formed between said hydroxyl-containing solvent and said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid.