DOI: https://doi.org/10.9767/jcerp.20691

Self-Strengthening Bio-based Coatings via Autoxidative Cross-linking of Linseed Oil-Derived Surfactants

1Faculty of Polymer Chemical Engineering, Hamhung University of Chemical Engineering, Hamhung, 999092, North Korea

2Faculty of Chemistry, Kim Il Sung University, Pyongyang, 999093, North Korea

3Faculty of Printing Engineering, Pyongyang University of Publishing and Printing, Pyongyang 999093, North Korea

Received: 25 Mar 2026; Revised: 20 Apr 2026; Accepted: 20 Apr 2026; Available online: 23 Apr 2026; Published: 26 Dec 2026.
Editor(s): Istadi Istadi
Open Access Copyright (c) 2026 by Authors, Published by Universitas Diponegoro and BCREC Publishing Group
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Abstract

A high-performance, bio-based wax emulsion was formulated using surfactants derived from linseed oil—linseed oil sodium soap (LOS) and linseed oil monoglyceride (LOM). Based on their complementary hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB ~18 for LOS, ~5 for LOM), a 50:50 blend was predicted to match the HLB requirement of beeswax (9–12). Experimental optimization confirmed that a 15% beeswax emulsion stabilized by 5% total concentration of this blend exhibited exceptional properties: fine particle size (D[4,3] = 307 nm), high electrostatic stability (ζ = -31.7 mV), and resistance to centrifugation and thermal aging (50 °C, >28 days). The key innovation lies in the dry film performance. Quantitative FTIR analysis revealed a 72% consumption of C=C bonds over 30 days, confirming spontaneous oxidative crosslinking of the surfactants' unsaturated bonds. This crosslinking led to a continuous 59% increase in elastic modulus (255 → 405 MPa) and superior water resistance (0.9% absorption), significantly outperforming films prepared with conventional saturated or synthetic emulsifiers. This work demonstrates that linseed oil-derived surfactants function as dual-purpose agents, effective emulsifiers and latent crosslinkers, providing a novel strategy for sustainable, high-performance coatings that evolve functionally after application. The intrinsic coating properties were established using PET as an inert model substrate to isolate coating performance from substrate effects. The exceptional barrier and mechanical properties of the developed coating remained effective in preliminary evaluations on paper substrates, confirming its potential for sustainable packaging applications where water resistance and mechanical durability are critical. Copyright © 2026 by Authors, Published by Universitas Diponegoro and BCREC Publishing Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

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Keywords: Wax emulsion; Bio-based surfactant; Oxidative crosslinking; Self-strengthening coating; Sustainable packaging

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Language : EN
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