Patent Description:
In recent years, it has become possible to manufacture a number of carboxylic acids such as lactic acid, <NUM>-hydroxy propionic acid, succinic acid and itaconic acid and diols such as <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol and butanediol in industrial scale through biological fermentation using renewable biological feedstock. There have also been significant technical advances in manufacturing polymer resins comprising ester oligomers with significant percentages of bio-based carboxylic acids and alcohols. These ester oligomers with significant amount of bio-based components can be mixed with liquid ethylenically-unsaturated monomers to yield polymer resins useful in coating applications.

There has also been a growing interest in developing radiation curing of polymer resins useful in coating applications due to the absence of any volatile organic content, speed of curing process and efficiency. Taken together, the radiation curing process and the use of bio-based monomeric components in the manufacture of polymer resins useful in coating applications pave the way to achieve sustainability goals of the chemical industry.

<CIT>,<CIT> and<CIT>, all assigned to Desoto Inc. , teach dicyclopentadiene and cyclopentadiene modified polyester resins.

<CIT>, assigned to Chemische Werke, teaches a dicyclopentadiene modified unsaturated polyesters and process for preparing them.

<CIT>, assigned to PPG Industries, Inc. , teaches air drying of unsaturated polyester resins prepared from polyol, an adduct of cyclopentadiene and a dicarboxylic acid.

<CIT> and <CIT>, both assigned to SCM Corporation, teach dicyclopentadiene modified polyester resins.

<CIT>, <CIT>,<CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>,<CIT> and <CIT>, all assigned to The Dow Chemical Company, teach one or other dicyclopentadiene or cyclopentadiene modified ester oligomers.

<CIT>, assigned to United States Steel Corporation, teaches a method of preparing unsaturated polyester resins containing high amounts of dicyclopentadiene.

<CIT>, assigned to Hoechest Aktiengesellschaft, teaches a resin binder containing a norbornane ring system.

<CIT>, assigned to Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. , teaches unsaturated polyester produced by reacting dicarboxylic acid anhydride with alkylene oxide in the presence of a reaction product of dicarboxylic acid and dicyclopentadiene.

<CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>, all assigned to Union Carbide Corporation, teach one or other dicyclopentadiene or cyclopentadiene modified ester oligomers.

<CIT>, assigned to The Alpha Corporation, teaches polyester composition modified with dicyclopentadiene.

<CIT> and <CIT>, both assigned to Nippon Shokubai Co. , teach dicyclopentadiene modified polyester resins.

<CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>, all assigned to BASF Aktiengesellschaft, teach binder composition comprising dicyclopentadiene or its derivatives.

<CIT>, assigned to Ashland Inc. , teaches a process for the preparation of dicyclopentadiene modified unsaturated polyester.

<CIT> discloses UV-curable polyurethane dispersions.

<CIT> discloses cross-linked polyesters of dicyclopentadiene dicarboxylic acids.

<CIT> discloses a polymer having unsaturated cycloaliphatic functionality and coating compositions formed therefrom.

<CIT> discloses a curable resin modified with urethane acrylate.

<CIT> discloses an unsaturated polyester resin composition.

<CIT> discloses a high powered radiation and/or thermal hardening coating powder with a functionalized based structure.

It is described herein a process of formulating polyester resin compositions comprising unsaturated ester oligomers derived from bio-based components for coating applications and using that polyester resin composition to laminate a variety of surfaces following peroxide treatment or thermal energy treatment or UV radiation or high-energy radiation curing procedure. More specifically, it is described herein a procedure for preparing modified ester oligomers wherein the modification of ester oligomers involves the incorporation dicyclopentadiene at the ends of the ester oligomers or incorporation of nadic acid or methyl nadic acid in the backbone of the ester oligomers.

Procedures for preparing dicyclopentadiene or nadic acid or methyl nadic acid modified ester oligomers are described herein. Also procedures are described herein for preparing polyester resins by combining dicyclopentadiene or nadic acid or methyl nadic acid modified ester oligomers with ethylenically-unsaturated monomers and their use in the coating applications with appropriate curing procedures. The coating composition of the present disclosure is suitable for use on the surface of broad range of substrates. The coating composition of the present disclosure is also useful as ink, paint and paint varnish.

According to the present invention, there is provided a coating composition useful in coating substrates with surface tension less than <NUM> mN/m selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and styrene butadiene rubber, the coating composition comprising at least one dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer and at least one liquid ethylenically unsaturated monomer,.

Particular embodiments of the coating composition comprising at least one dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer, the use of the coating composition, and a trifunctional dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer are set out in the appended claims which define the scope of the present invention.

It is described herein a process for producing ester oligomers useful in formulating polyester resins useful in coating applications and curing such polyester resins on a variety of substrates using curing process involving the use of peroxides or thermal energy or ultra violet radiation or electron beam radiation.

A process for preparing dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomers involving at least one carboxylic acid, at least one diol and dicyclopentadiene is disclosed herein. A process for preparing an ester oligomer having two dicyclopentadiene units, one at each end of the ester oligomer is described. A process for preparing an ester oligomer having a single unit of dicyclopentadiene is described. A process for producing dicyclopentadiene modified oligomers with acid functional group or hydroxyl functional group or urethane acrylate functional group is described. A bio-based <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol may be used as a diol and bio-based succinic acid may be used as a dicarboxylic acid.

According to the appended claims, the dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer is blended with a liquid ethylenically-unsaturated monomer and used as a polyester resin formulation in coating applications on a variety of substrates. In yet another aspect, the polyester resin formulation useful in coating applications further contains one or more photoinitiators and is cured over the substrates using ultraviolet or electron beam radiation. The polyester resin formulation developed for curing using ultraviolet or electron beam radiation may further contain certain peroxide initiators to facilitate chemical crosslinking between the ester oligomer and ethylenically-unsaturated monomers.

Further, a process for producing ester oligomers containing nadic acid in its back bone is described herein. According thereto, when dicyclopentadiene is subjected to temperature in the range of <NUM> - <NUM>, cyclopentadiene is produced which reacts with maleic anhydride in a Diels-Alder reaction to yield nadic anhydride. Upon reacting nadic anhydride with diols and dicarboxylic acids, an ester oligomer with nadic acid in the backbone is produced. Bio-based <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol may be used as a diol and bio-based succinic acid may be used as a dicarboxylic acid. A process for producing nadic anhydride modified oligomers with acid functional group or hydroxyl functional group or urethane acrylate functional group is described. The ester oligomer comprising nadic anhydride, diol and a dicarboxylic acid may be blended with a liquid ethylenically-unsaturated monomer and used as a polyester resin formulation in coating applications on a variety of substrates. In yet another aspect, the polyester resin formulation useful in coating applications further contains one or more photoinitiators and is cured over the substrates using ultraviolet radiation or electron beam radiation. The resin formulation comprising cyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer may further contain certain peroxide initiators to facilitate chemical crosslinking between the ester oligomer and ethylenically-unsaturated monomers.

Methyl nadic anhydride may be used in place of nadic anhydride to produce methyl nadic acid modified ester oligomers. Bio-based <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol may be used as a diol and bio-based succinic acid may be used as a dicarboxylic acid. A process for producing cyclopentadiene modified oligomers with acid functional group or hydroxyl functional group or urethane acrylate functional group is described. The ester oligomer comprising methyl nadic anhydride, diol and a dicarboxylic acid may be blended with a liquid ethylenically-unsaturated monomer and used as a polyester resin formulation in coating applications on a variety of substrates. In yet another aspect, the polyester resin formulation useful in coating applications further contains one or more photoinitiators and is cured over the substrates using ultraviolet radiation or electron beam radiation. The resin formulation comprising cyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer may further contain certain peroxide initiators to facilitate chemical crosslinking between the ester oligomer and ethylenically-unsaturated monomers.

The dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer, nadic acid modified ester oligomer and methyl nadic acid modified ester oligomers can be mixed in different proportions in a liquid ethylenically-unsaturated monomer to yield a polymer resin useful in coating applications.

The polyester resins prepared according to the present disclosure are useful in coating applications on a broad range of substrates including polyester, polypropylene, and polystyrene.

The following figures are included to illustrate certain aspects of the present disclosure.

Disclosed herein are methods for producing unsaturated polymer resins which are useful in preparing coating formulations with excellent adhesion properties. The coating formulations prepared according to the present disclosure are suitable for laminating a variety of surfaces and can be cured using ultraviolet radiation or electron beam radiation or thermal energy and peroxide treatment. The coating formulations with enhanced adhesion properties are suitable for use on the substrates with the surface tension of less than <NUM> mN/m. The list of the substrates with surface tension less than <NUM> mN/m includes polyolefins, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and styrene butadiene rubber.

As defined herein, the term "polymer resin" includes both polyester resin and polyurethane resin. Polyester resins useful in the present disclosure are prepared by mixing ester oligomers prepared according to the present disclosure with liquid ethylenically-unsaturated monomers. The present disclosure provides the procedure for preparing a number of ester oligomers useful in the preparation of polyester resins useful in the coating applications. Representative examples of ester oligomers include but not limited to dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomers, nadic acid modified ester oligomers and methyl nadic acid modified ester oligomers which can be mixed individually or in combination with liquid ethylenically unsaturated monomers to yield polyester resins which are useful in the coating applications on a broad range of substrates. The polyester resin formulations useful in coating applications further contains one or more photoinitiators and is cured over the substrate using ultraviolet or electron beam radiation. The polyester resin formulation developed for curing using ultraviolet or electron beam radiation may further contain certain peroxide initiators to facilitate chemical crosslinking between the ester oligomer and ethylenically-unsaturated monomers.

The term "ester oligomer" as defined herein includes the products resulting from the reaction involving at least one carboxylic acid, one diol and one of the reagents selected from a group consisting of dicyclopentadiene, nadic anhydride and methyl nadic anhydride. The synthesis of ester oligomer disclosed herein may optionally involve the use of isophoronone diisocyanate and <NUM>-hydroxyethyl acrylate.

The dicarboxylic acid used in the preparation of polyester resin may be saturated or unsaturated. When the dicarboxylic acid used in the preparation of polyester resin is saturated carboxylic acid, the resulting polyester is referred as saturated polyester. On the other hand, when the carboxylic acid used in the preparation of polyester has unsaturated double bond, the resulting polyester resin is referred as an unsaturated polyester resin. The carboxylic acids suitable for the preparation of a polyester resin according to the present disclosure is selected from a group consisting of succinic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, cinnamic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, citraconic acid, sebacic acid, malic acid, itaconic acid, muconic acid, citric acid, aconitic acid, propane-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-tricarboxylic acid, trimesic acid, <NUM>-butynedioic acid, <NUM>,<NUM>-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, hexahydrophthalic acid, hexachloroendomethylenetetrahydrophthalic acid, dichlorophthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, trimellitic acid, or mixtures thereof. The bio-renewable saturated and/or unsaturated dicarboxylic acid such as succinic acid, muconic acid, adipic acid, cinnamic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, citric acid, or a mixture thereof, are preferred.

The diols suitable for the preparation of a polymer resin according to the present disclosure is selected from a group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, benzyl alcohol, neopentylglycol, butanediol, pentanediol, hexanediol, cyclopentanediol, cyclohexanediol, dimethylol cyclohexane, diethylene glycol, glycerol, trimethylol propane, butanetriol, pentaerytritol, dipentaerythritol, cyclohexanetriol, or mixtures thereof. The bio-renewable dihydric and/or trihydric alcohol such as ethylene glycol, <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol, <NUM>,<NUM>-butanediol, isosorbide, or a mixture thereof, are preferred.

Biocatalysts have been developed to manufacture a number of carboxylic acids such as succinic acid, muconic acid, lactic acid, and <NUM>-hydroxypropionic acid and a number of diols such as <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol and butanol using biological feedstock such as glucose, glycerol and sucrose. These specialty chemicals derived from biological materials are referred herein as bio-based and are suitable for use in a number chemical and polymer industries to develop materials with desirable properties. These materials have properties close to the materials derived from petrochemical feedstock and thus these bio-based feedstocks could be used to avoid the dependence on fossil fuels. The representative examples provided herein involve the use of the bio-based specialty chemicals such as <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol and succinic acid in the preparation for coating materials with improved curing properties. Since there is no chemical difference other than the C14/C12 ratio between the <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol and succinic acid derived from renewable biological materials and the same chemicals derived from petrochemical feedstock, the method of manufacturing coating formulations disclosed herein can be practiced using either the <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol and succinic acid derived from renewable biological materials or <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol and succinic acid derived from petrochemical feedstock. It is desirable to use <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol and succinic acid obtained from renewable biological feedstock to achieve the sustainability goals of the chemical industry.

In one aspect, dicyclopentadiene is used to modify the ester oligomers to impart air drying characteristics, low profile properties, high heat distortion, excellent weathering performance, and increased filler dispersion in the resulting polyester resin. In using dicyclopentadiene for the purpose of modifying ester oligomers, the following steps are followed. Dicyclopentadiene and water are charged to a reactor and the temperature is elevated to <NUM> followed by the addition of maleic anhydride and the temperature is raised to <NUM> to enable the formation of maleic acid - dicyclopentadiene half-ester which is also referred as maleic acid-dicyclopentadiene adduct. Once the maleic acid-dicyclopentadiene is formed, a suitable diol and additional carboxylic acid are added and the temperature of the vessel is increased to <NUM> to initiate the synthesis of ester oligomer. The reaction is held at <NUM> until a desirable acid value for the resulting oligomeric ester is achieved (<FIG>).

Maleic anhydride and dicyclopentadiene useful in the present disclosure are derived from petrochemical feedstock. Succinic acid useful in the present disclosure is derived either from renewable biological resources through microbial fermentation or from petrochemical feedstock either via chemical or biological conversion. <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol useful in the present disclosure is derived either from renewable biological resources through microbial fermentation or from petrochemical feedstock either via chemical or biological conversion. As defined herein, renewable biological material includes any feedstock derived from plant materials as opposed to the materials derived from petrochemical feedstock. The term "renewable biological material" is also used interchangeably with the term "biomass". The term "biomass" as used herein refers to carbohydrates, sugars, glycerol and lignocellulosic materials derived from renewable plant resources which can be used in the fermentative production of succinic acid or <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol.

By means of using different proportions of maleic acid - dicyclopentadiene adduct, carboxylic acid and diol, it is possible to synthesize dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomers with specific composition and with specific functional group. By means of maintaining low ratio between the concentration of maleic acid - dicyclopentadiene adduct and the combined concentration of dicarboxylic acid and diol, it is possible to synthesize different types of dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomers (<FIG>).

In one type of dicylcopentadiene modified ester oligomer, there are two maleic acid - dicyclopentadiene adducts, one at each end of the resulting ester oligomer. Further by means of manipulating the relative concentration dicarboxylic acid and diol in the reaction mixture, it is possible to control the relative length of the polyester unit in between the two of maleic acid - dicyclopentadiene adducts. Thus, in a dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer, the number of repeating unit with ester bonds in between the two of maleic acid - dicyclopentadiene adducts may range from <NUM> to <NUM>.

In the second type of dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer, there is only one maleic acid - dicyclopentadiene adduct per molecule. In this type of dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer with one maleic acid - dicyclopentadiene adduct at the one of the molecule, it is further possible to introduce specific functional group at the other end of the molecule (<FIG>). In one aspect, it is possible to have a hydroxyl functional group at the end of the dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer by means of using a higher ratio of diol to carboxylic acid in the reaction mixture. In another aspect, it is possible to have a carboxylic acid functional group at the end of dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer by means of using a higher ratio of carboxylic acid to diol in the reaction mixture.

A procedure to introduce an acrylate functional group at the end of the dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer is also described herein. In the first step of this procedure to introduce an acrylate functional group at the end of the dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer, a dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer with hydroxyl functional group and having a hydroxyl number of more than <NUM> is synthesized. In the second step of the preparation of a dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer with an acrylate functional group, the ester oligomer from the first step is reacted with isophorone diisocyanate and <NUM>-hydroxyethyl acrylate in two step reaction to obtain dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer with an acrylate functional group as shown in <FIG>.

A procedure to produce dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer with hydroxyl functional group and dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer with acrylate functional group is described herein. In the first step of this process, a maleic acid - dicyclopentadiene half ester is reacted with trimethylol propane to yield an ester oligomer with hydroxyl functional group with very high hydroxyl number (shown at the top in <FIG>). The product from the first step of the reaction is referred as trifunctional dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer. In the next step, the ester oligomer with hydroxyl functional group from the first step is reacted with isophorone diisocyanate and <NUM>-hydroxyethyl acrylate to yield a dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer with acrylate functional group (shown at the bottom of <FIG>). The product from the second step of the reaction is referred as trifunctional dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer with urethane acrylate functional group.

Cyclopentadiene may be used in place of dicyclopentadiene to produce a modified ester oligomer. Dicyclopentadiene at elevated temperature in the range of <NUM> - <NUM> degrades and results in the formation of cyclopentadiene. It may be possible to produce cyclopentadiene in situ from dicyclopentadiene by raising the temperature to <NUM> - <NUM> range. Cyclopentadiene can be procured from a commercial supplier. Cyclopentadiene and maleic anhydride will undergo a Diels-Alder reaction to yield a nadic anhydride as shown in <FIG>. Nadic anhydride can be incorporated into the back bone of an ester oligomer as shown again <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, it is also possible to prepare nadic acid modified ester oligomers with different functional groups. It is possible to have a hydroxyl functional group at the end of the nadic acid modified ester oligomer by means of using a higher ratio of diol to carboxylic acid in the reaction mixture. It is possible to have a carboxylic acid functional group at the end of nadic acid modified ester oligomer by means of using a higher ratio of carboxylic acid to diol in the reaction mixture.

A procedure to introduce an acrylate functional group at the end of the nadic acid modified ester oligomer is also described herein (<FIG>). In the first step of this procedure to introduce an acrylate functional group at the end of the nadic acid modified ester oligomer, a nadic acid modified ester oligomer with hydroxyl functional group is synthesized. In the second step of the preparation of a nadic acid modified ester oligomer with an acrylate functional group, the ester oligomer from the first step is reacted with isophorone diisocyanate and <NUM>-hydroxyethyl acrylate to obtain a nadic acid modified ester oligomer with an acrylate functional group as shown in <FIG>.

A cyclopentadiene derivative can be used to modify the ester oligomers. Cyclopentadiene can be methylated to yield methyl cyclopentadiene which is reacted with maleic acid in a Diels-Alder reaction to produce methyl nadic anhydride as shown in <FIG> which can be incorporated into the back bone of an ester oligomer to yield a modified ester oligomer as shown in <FIG>. Alternatively, the methyl nadic anhydride is derived from nadic anhydride by methylation reaction.

Methyl nadic anhydride can be used as a starting material to produce a hydroxyl-bearing methyl nadic acid modified ester oligomer via polyester synthesis pathway using a glycol and a diacid as shown in <FIG>. By means of altering the ratio of diol and carboxylic acid in the reaction leading to the synthesis of ester oligomer, one can synthesize a methyl nadic acid modified ester oligomer with acid functional groups at both ends.

A procedure to introduce an acrylate functional group at the end of the methyl nadic acid modified ester oligomer is also described herein (<FIG>). In the first step of this procedure to introduce an acrylate functional group at the end of the methyl nadic acid modified ester oligomer, a methyl nadic acid modified ester oligomer with hydroxyl functional group is synthesized. In the second step of the preparation of a methyl nadic acid modified ester oligomer with an acrylate functional group, the ester oligomer from the first step is reacted with diisocyanate and acrylate to obtain a methyl nadic acid modified ester oligomer with an acrylate functional group as shown in <FIG>.

Maleic acid-dicyclopentadiene adduct, nadic anhydride and methyl nadic anhydride initiate oligomer formation in the presence of appropriate amount of a diol and a dicarboxylic acid even in the absence of any polymerization catalyst. Presence of metal catalysts such a nickel and tin catalysts would enhance the polymerization reaction.

Any one of the modified ester oligomers prepared according to the present disclosure is formulated either alone or in any desirable combination with at least one diluent monomer, an epoxy acrylate or a urethane acrylate and a photoinitiator to yield a polyester resin curable with ultraviolet or electron beam radiation for coating applications. For example a polyester resin formulation can be based on a single modified ester oligomer such as dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer or nadic acid modified ester oligomer or methyl nadic acid modified ester oligomer. Alternatively, dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer can be combined with nadic acid modified ester oligomer or methyl nadic acid modified oligomer in different proportion to produce a polyester resin. In another aspect, all three modified ester oligomers described herein can be combined in specific proportion to produce a polyester resin useful in coating applications. The list of diluent monomers suitable for formulating a polyester resin for coating application includes styrene, p-vinyltoluene, α-methylstyrene, methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, diallyl phthalate and triallyl cyanurate, in addition to any number of similar monomerss containing vinyl unsaturation. Furthermore, there are at least <NUM> commercially available acrylate and methacrylate monomers and any one of them is suitable for use in the present disclosure. Representative examples of commercially available acrylate and monomers include but not restricted to MIRAMER M4004, POLYESTER ACRYLATE <NUM>-<NUM>, GENOMER* <NUM>/TP20, Trimethylolpropane Trimethacrylate (TMPTMA), <NUM>-Ethylhexyl acrylate and Isobornyl Acrylate (IBOA).

Polyester resins prepared according to the present disclosure for coating applications are applied on the substrate and are subjected to curing. In general, the curing is achieved using a radical initiator and a promoter. A wide variety of initiators are available for curing polyester resins. A number of peroxides including ketone peroxides (methylethylketone peroxide, acetylacetone peroxide), hydro peroxides (cumene peroxide), diacyl peroxides (dibenzoyl peroxides), dialkyl peroxides (dicumyl peroxide, tert-butylcumyl peroxide), alkyl peresters (tert-butylperoxy-<NUM>-ethylhexanoate, tert-butylperoxybenzoate, tert-amylperoxy benzoate, tert-hexylperoxybenzoate) and percabonates (bis (<NUM>-tert-butylcyclohexyl) peroxydicarbonate) are suitable for curing the polyesters resins of the present disclosure. These peroxide curing agents can be used alone or in combination. A person skilled in the art will be able to use the curing agents in a desirable combination.

In general, coatings of unsaturated polyester resins are cured with light sensitive photoinitiators. The list of common photoinitiators include benzoin methyl ether, <NUM>,<NUM>-dimethoxy-phenylacetophenone, <NUM>-hydroxy-<NUM>-methylphenylpropane-<NUM>-one, α-hydroxy-acetoophenone, bis(<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethoxybenzoyl)-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,-trimethylpentylphosphate oxide, <NUM>-hydroxy-<NUM>-methyl-1phenyl-propan-<NUM>-one, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> - Trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide and Bis(<NUM>,<NUM>-dicholorobenzoyl)-(<NUM>-propylphenyl)phosphine oxide. Photointiators can be used alone or in combination with peroxide initiators. A person skilled in the art will be able to use the light sensitive photoinitiators in a desirable combination.

The cured samples can be evaluated using the techniques well-known in the art. Although the degree of curing is easily measured through certain qualitative methods such as fingernail marring or film integrity after thumb twist, a number a quantitative measure of curing efficiency is possible. For example, the measurement of disappearance of acrylate C=C bonds at <NUM>-<NUM> using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is the gold standard in assessing the curing efficiency. In addition, a number of other quantitative tests such as cross-hatch adhesion, flexibility, adhesion, hardness and impact resistance as provide under Experimental Section can be followed to quantify the curing efficiency and the suitability of the modified-polyester resins disclosed herein for coating applications.

Determination of acid value for ester oligomers: The acid value of ester oligomers was determined using the following protocol. Approximately <NUM> - <NUM> grams of sample was weighed into an Erlenmeyer flask and approximately <NUM> milliliters of toluene were added. The solution was stirred until the sample completely dissolved. The resulting solution was titrated immediately with <NUM>. 1N potassium hydroxide solution in the presence of a pH indicator dye such as phenolphthalein. The amount of <NUM>. 1N potassium hydroxide solution required to reach a pink end-point was recorded in milliliters and the acid value of the sample was determined using the following equation: Acid Value = [v x N x <NUM>] / sample weight, where v is the volume of the potassium hydroxide solution used and N is the normality of the potassium hydroxide solution used.

Determination of hydroxyl value of ester oligomers: The hydroxyl value of ester oligomers is determined using the following protocol. <NUM> gram of dimethyl amino pyridine is dissolved in <NUM> of toluene in an Erlenmeyer flask followed by the addition of <NUM> of acetic anhydride. This solution is referred as DMAP solution and is stable only for three hours post preparation. In another flask <NUM> of dibutylamine is added to <NUM> of toluene and the resulting solution is referred as DBA solution. In determining hydroxyl value, <NUM> to <NUM> gram of test sample is added to <NUM> of toluene in a <NUM> glass-stoppered Erlenmeyer flask and placed on a stirring hot plate until the test sample was fully dissolved. Once the sample is completely dissolved, <NUM> of DMAP solution is added and the flask is placed in a <NUM> oven for exactly <NUM> minutes followed by the addition of <NUM> of DBA solution while stirring to yield a "sample solution". Similar procedure is followed to prepare a "blank solution" where no test sample is added. To the "sample" and "blank" solutions <NUM> drops of Bromophenol blue indicator is added followed by titration with <NUM>. 5N HCL until the purple color of the solution turns to bright yellow endpoint. The total volume of <NUM>. 5N hydrochloric acid added to reach the endpoint is noted in the titration for "samples solution" and "blank solution". The hydroxyl value of the test sample is calculated using the following formula: Hydroxyl value = [(volume of <NUM>. 5N hydrochloric acid added to the "blank solution" - volume of <NUM>. 5N hydrochloric added to the "sample solution") x <NUM>] / sample weight.

Determination of percent isocyanate: The percent isocyanate is determined using the following protocol. In a flask, <NUM> of dibutylamine is added to <NUM> of toluene and the resulting solution is referred as DBA solution. In determining percent isocyanate, <NUM>-<NUM> grams of test sample is added to <NUM> of toluene in a <NUM> Erlenmeyer flask and placed on a stirring plate until the test sample is fully dissolved. Once the sample is completely dissolved, <NUM> drops of bromophenol blue indicator is added followed by titration with <NUM>. 5N hydrochloric acid in isopropanol until the purple color of the solution turns to bright yellow endpoint. A "blank" containing only <NUM> toluene and the bromophenol blue indicator is prepared and titrated in the same fashion. The total volumes of <NUM>. 5N hydrochloric acid added to reach the endpoint for both the "blank" and "sample" solutions are noted. The percent isocyanate of the test sample is calculated using the following formula: Percent isocyanate = [(volume of <NUM>. 5N hydrochloric acid added to the "blank" - volume of <NUM>. 5N hydrochloric acid added to the "sample") x <NUM>] / sample weight.

Cross-hatch adhesion test: For hard surfaces, a cross-hatch adhesion test was performed per ASTM D3359 standards.

Identifying bio-based <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol and succinic acid: The bio-based succinic acid and <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol manufactured according to the present disclosure can be distinguished from succinic acid and <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol manufactured following the traditional methods involving petroleum feedstock on the basis of their carbon <NUM> content following the method ASTM-D6866 provided by American Society of Testing and Materials. Cosmic radiation produces <NUM>C ("radiocarbon") in the stratosphere by neutron bombardment of nitrogen. <NUM>C atoms combine with oxygen atom in the atmosphere to form heavy <NUM>CO<NUM>, which, except in the radioactive decay, is indistinguishable from the ordinary carbon dioxide. CO<NUM> concentration and the <NUM>C/<NUM>C ratio is homogeneous over the globe and because it is used by the plants, the ratio <NUM>C/<NUM>C is retained by the biomass while the content of <NUM>C in the fossil materials, originally derived from photosynthetic energy conversion, has decayed due to its short half-life of <NUM> years. By means of analyzing the ratio of <NUM>C to <NUM>C, it is possible to determine the ratio of fossil fuel derived carbon to biomass-derived carbon. International Patent Application Publication No. <CIT> and <CIT> provide details about the use of ASTM-D6866 method for determining percent of biomass-derived carbon content in a chemical composition. Details related to carbon dating are disclosed in <CIT>. An application note from Perkin Elmer entitled "Differentiation between Fossil and Biofuels by Liquid Scintillation Beta Spectrometry - Direct Method" provides details about the methods involving ASTM Standard D6866.

Commercial samples used in the Comparative Examples: In the experiments aimed at comparing the adhesion performance of polyester resin prepared herein with the commercially available coating materials, the following four samples were used. (<NUM>) MYR <NUM>-<NUM>, a dicyclopentadiene-modified polyester resin prepared herein. (<NUM>) Dystar DCPD Oligomer (Dystar LP, Reidsville, NC. ); Dystar DCPD contains dicyclopentadiene, maleic anhydride, diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol. (<NUM>) GENOMER*<NUM>/TP20 from Rahn USA Corp. It is Bisphenol A epoxy acrylate in <NUM>% TPGDA (Tripropylene Glycol Di Acrylate). It is a resin for radically curable inks, coating and adhesives. This product is used in the following applications: screen inks and varnishes; flexo inks and varnishes; letterpress inks; coatings for board and plastic; wood coatings; and adhesives. (<NUM>) Polyester Acrylate <NUM>-<NUM> from Rahn USA Corp. It is a polyester acrylate resin for radically curable inks, coatings and adhesives. The product provides good adhesion onto various substrates such as PVC, polyolefin, polyester and polystyrene. It is recommended for use in printing inks and varnishes, overprint varnishes, plastic coatings and wood and industrial coatings. MYR <NUM>-<NUM> was cured using UV irradiation as in the Example <NUM>.

The sources of the reagents in the preparation of dicyclopentadiene-modified oligomer batches <NUM> through <NUM> were as follows: Dicyclopentadiene - Sigma Aldrich; Maleic anhydride - Sigma Aldrich; bio-based <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol - DuPont (Susterra), petroleum based succinic acid - Kawasaki; bio-based succinic acid - Myriant (LP140720-<NUM>, LP150429-<NUM>, and LP151202-<NUM>); Cardura E10P - Momentive; trimethylol propane - Alfa Aesar; and Pripol <NUM>-LQ (GD) - Croda.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating the mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol and <NUM> grams of petroleum based succinic acid were added and gradually heated to <NUM>. After maintaining the solution at <NUM> for <NUM> minutes, the solution was split into two halves and to one half, <NUM> grams Cardura E10P glycidyl ester of Versatic Acid (Momentive) was added to achieve improved chemical resistance. The acid value for the portion without Cardura addition was <NUM> and the acid value for the portion containing Cardura was <NUM>.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating the mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol, <NUM> grams of petroleum based succinic acid, <NUM> grams of trimethylol propane and <NUM> grams of Pripol <NUM>=LQ (GD) were added and gradually heated to <NUM>. The acid value of the final oligomer preparation was <NUM>. Pripol was added for increasing the flexibility but the molecular weight of the oligomer was too high and reactivity was too low.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating the mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol, <NUM> grams of petroleum based succinic acid, and <NUM> grams of trimethylolpropane were added and gradually heated to <NUM>. The acid value of the final oligomer preparation was <NUM>. Trimethylol propane was added to increase functionality but the molecular weight of the oligomer was too high and reactivity was too low.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating the mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol, <NUM> grams of bio-based succinic acid and <NUM> grams of trimethylolpropane were added and gradually heated to <NUM>. The acid value of the final oligomer preparation was <NUM>.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating the mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol, <NUM> grams of petroleum based succinic acid, and <NUM> grams of trimethylolpropane were added and gradually heated to <NUM>. The acid value of the final oligomer preparation was <NUM>. This is a scale up of Batch <NUM>.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating the mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol, <NUM> grams of petroleum based succinic acid, and <NUM> grams of trimethylolpropane were added and gradually heated to <NUM>. The acid value of the final oligomer preparation was <NUM>. This is a repeat of Batch <NUM>, the scale up of Batch <NUM>.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating the mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanedol, <NUM> grams of bio-based succinic acid and <NUM> grams of trimethylolpropane were added and gradually heated to <NUM>. The acid value of the final oligomer preparation was <NUM>. This is a scale up of Batch <NUM>.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating the mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of trimethylolpropane were added and gradually heated to <NUM>. The acid value of the final preparation was <NUM>. There was no addition of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol and succinic acid. The resulting product was solid at room temperature.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating the mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of bio-based succinic acid and <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol was added and gradually heated to <NUM>. The acid value of the final preparation was <NUM>.

In a representative preparation of Batch <NUM> material, <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene and <NUM> grams of water were charged into a <NUM>-L round bottom flask. Agitation of the components in the flask was started under nitrogen blanket and the contents were slowly warmed to reach a temperature of <NUM>. After reaching <NUM>, <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was slowly added into the mixture while maintaining the temperature below <NUM>. After the complete addition of maleic anhydride, the temperature was raised to <NUM> and maintained at that temperature for <NUM> hours. At the end of <NUM> hours of incubation, <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol from DuPont Tata and Lyle (Susterra™), <NUM> grams of trimethylolpropane (TMP) and <NUM> grams of Myriant's Bio-succinic acid were added at once and the heating was increased to <NUM> and the reaction vessel was maintained at that temperature until the acid value of the content inside the glass flask reached an acid value in the range of <NUM>-<NUM>.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating the mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol was added and gradually heated to <NUM>. The acid value of the final preparation was <NUM>. This preparation contained OH functional group suitable for urethane synthesis.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating the mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the aqueous solution of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol, <NUM> grams of bio-based succinic acid and <NUM> grams of trimethylolpropane were added and gradually heated to <NUM>. The acid value of the final oligomer preparation was <NUM>. This is a repeat of Batch <NUM>.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating this mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of ethylene glycol, <NUM> grams of bio-based succinic acid and <NUM> grams of trimethylol propane were added and gradually heated to <NUM>. The acid value of the final oligomer preparation was <NUM>.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating this mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of diethylene glycol, <NUM> grams of bio-based succinic acid and <NUM> grams of trimethylolpropane were added and gradually heated to <NUM>. The acid value of the final oligomer preparation was <NUM>.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating this mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-butanediol, <NUM> grams of bio-based succinic acid and <NUM> grams of trimethylolpropane were added and gradually heated to <NUM>. The acid value of the final oligomer preparation was <NUM>.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating this mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol, <NUM> grams of adipic acid and <NUM> grams of trimethylolpropane were added and gradually heated to <NUM>. The acid value of the final oligomer preparation was <NUM>.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating this mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of trimethylol propane were added and gradually heated to <NUM>. When the acid value fell to <NUM>, the temperature was set at <NUM> and <NUM> grams of Cardura E10P were added. The acid value of the final oligomer preparation was <NUM> and the final hydroxyl number was <NUM>.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by premixing <NUM> grams MYR <NUM>-<NUM> with <NUM> grams hexanediol diacrylate and warming to thoroughly blend. <NUM> grams isophorone diisocyanate, <NUM> grams butylated hydroxytoluene, <NUM> grams toluhydroquinone, and <NUM> grams dibutyltin dilaureate were charged to a reaction vessel and heated under air to <NUM>. <NUM> grams <NUM>-hydroxyethyl acrylate was charged to an addition funnel over the reaction vessel. When the isophorone diisocyanate reached <NUM>, the <NUM>-hydroxyethyl acrylate was added dropwise to control the exotherm below <NUM>. After <NUM>-hydroxyethyl acrylate addition was complete, the reaction was stirred for <NUM> minutes, before adding <NUM> grams of the premixed MYR <NUM>-<NUM> and hexanediol diacrylate. The temperature was gradually increased to a maximum of <NUM> until the percent isocyanate fell below <NUM>%.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating this mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol and <NUM> grams of bio-based succinic acid were added and gradually heated to <NUM>. The acid value of the final oligomer preparation was <NUM>.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by adding <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene to <NUM> grams of water under nitrogen and heating this mixture to <NUM>. <NUM> grams of maleic anhydride was added gradually to the mixture of dicyclopentadiene and water under nitrogen and was held at <NUM> for <NUM> hours. At the end of incubation at <NUM> for two hours, <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol were added and gradually heated to <NUM>. The acid value of the final oligomer preparation was <NUM>.

Batch <NUM> (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) was prepared by premixing <NUM> grams MYR <NUM>-<NUM> with <NUM> grams diethyleneglycol dimethacrylate and warming to thoroughly blend. <NUM> grams isophorone diisocyanate, <NUM> grams butylated hydroxytoluene, <NUM> grams toluhydroquinone, and <NUM> grams dibutyltin dilaureate were charged to a reaction vessel and heated under air to <NUM>. <NUM> grams <NUM>-hydroxyethyl methacrylate was charged to an addition funnel over the reaction vessel. When the isophorone diisocyanate reached <NUM>, the <NUM>-hydroxyethyl acrylate was added dropwise to control the exotherm below <NUM>. After <NUM>-hydroxyethyl acrylate addition was complete, the reaction was stirred for <NUM> minutes, before adding <NUM> grams of the premixed MYR <NUM>-<NUM> and diethyleneglycol dimethacrylate. The temperature was gradually increased to a maximum of <NUM> until the percent isocyanate fell below <NUM>%.

In a representative preparation of nadic-modified ester oligomer, <NUM> grams of methyl nadic anhydride (Sigma Co. ) <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol from DuPont Tata and Lyle (Susterra™), <NUM> grams of Myriant's Bio-succinic acid were added at once to a <NUM>-L round bottom flask and the temperature was increased to <NUM> and held at that temperature until an acid value of around <NUM> is obtained. Then <NUM> grams of Reaxis C256 organotin catalyst (Reaxis) is added and temperature is held at <NUM> until a desirable acid value is obtained. The commercial supply of methyl nadic anhydride can be replaced with nadic anhydride.

In another aspect of this example, the nadic anhydride is produced within the <NUM>-L round bottom flask from dicyclopentadiene in the following way. <NUM> grams of dicyclopentadiene, <NUM> grams of water, <NUM> grams of maleic acid anhydride, <NUM> grams of <NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol from DuPont Tata and Lyle (Susterra™), <NUM> grams of trimethylolpropane (TMP) and <NUM> grams of Myriant's Bio-succinic acid were added at once into a <NUM>-L round bottom flask and the temperature was increased to <NUM> and maintained at that temperature till the desired acid value is reached.

Adhesion performance experiments were conducted on ester oligomer MYR <NUM>-<NUM> against two commercial acrylate-based oligomers test standards namely GENOMER <NUM>/TP20 and Polyester Acrylate <NUM>-<NUM> (both from Rahn, USA) and a DCPD containing oligomer namely Dystar DCPD (Dystar, LP, Reidsville, NC, USA). Dystar DCPD contains dicyclopentadiene, maleic anhydride, diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol. Appropriate formulations were prepared as described in the Comparative Examples <NUM>-<NUM> below and equilibrated for <NUM> hours. Each blend was then applied to the top of a rectangular strip of substrate taped onto a piece of paper. The applied coating was then drawn with a <NUM> Meyer rod to obtain a uniform coating thickness. The draw-down was cured using a UV unit (Sugarman's equipment) with a medium pressure mercury lamp at <NUM>-<NUM> WPI intensity. Curing energy was measured using a radiometer. Samples were run through the UV unit at a running speed of <NUM> meter per minute (<NUM> feet per minute). Each coated surface was passed through three times. Tape adhesion test was performed per ASTM standards. For flexible, cuttable substrates such as film, it was straight adhesion test with no cross-hatch. For hard surfaces, a cross hatch adhesion test was performed per ASTM D3359 standard.

In this experiment, <NUM> grams of each of the four different ester oligomers namely, MYR <NUM>-<NUM>, Dystar DCPD oligomer, GENOMER* <NUM>/TP20 and Polyester Acrylate <NUM>-<NUM> were formulated with <NUM> grams of isobornyl acrylate (Allnex - UV/EB Curable Resins), <NUM> grams of MIRAMER M4004 polyetherpolytetraacrylate (Rahn USA Corp. ) and <NUM> grams of LTD (a photoinitiator from Rahn USA Corp. ) and subjected to adhesion test on the polyester, polypropylene, steel, polyethylene and glass surfaces. <NUM>/<NUM> millimeter thick coating was applied and run through the UV radiation unit three times at the belt speed of <NUM> meter per minute (<NUM> ft. The results of this adhesion testing with four different polyester resins are shown in the Table <NUM>. A "Pass" with no number indicates <NUM>% adhesion. A number indicates an approximate amount of coating left on the substrate. Thus a "Pass" with <NUM>% means <NUM>% of the coating stayed with the substrate while <NUM>% came off on the tape. A "Fail" with <NUM>% means an even distribution of coating on both the substrate and the tape.

In this experiment, <NUM> grams of each of the four different ester oligomers namely, MYR <NUM>-<NUM>, Dystar DCPD oligomer, GENOMER* <NUM>/TP20 and Polyester Acrylate <NUM>-<NUM> were formulated with <NUM> grams of isobornyl acrylate (Allnex - UV/EB Curable Resins), <NUM> grams of MIRAMER M4004 polyetherpolytetraacrylate (Rahn USA Corp. ), <NUM> grams of LTD (Rahn USA Corp. ) and <NUM> gram of G*<NUM> (Genorad <NUM>, Rahn USA Corp. ) and subjected to adhesion test on the polyester, polypropylene, steel, polyethylene and glass surfaces. <NUM>/<NUM> millimeter thick coating was applied and run through the UV radiation unit three times at the belt speed of <NUM> meter per minute (<NUM> ft. The results of this adhesion testing with four different polyester resins are shown in the Table <NUM>. A "Pass" with no number indicates <NUM>% adhesion. A number indicates an approximate amount of coating left on the substrate. Thus a "Pass" with <NUM>% means <NUM>% of the coating stayed with the substrate while <NUM>% came off on the tape. A "Fail" with <NUM>% means an even distribution of coating on both the substrate and the tape. The difference between Example <NUM> and Example <NUM> is the presence of G*<NUM> as an additional component in Example <NUM>.

In this experiment, <NUM> grams of each of the four different ester oligomers namely, MYR <NUM>-<NUM>, Dystar DCPD oligomer, GENOMER* <NUM>/TP20 and Polyester Acrylate <NUM>-<NUM> were formulated with <NUM> grams of <NUM>-ethylhexyl acrylate (DOW), <NUM> grams of MIRAMER M4004 polyetherpolytetraacrylate (Rahn USA Corp. ) and <NUM> grams of LTD (Rahn USA Corp. ) and subjected to adhesion test on the polyester, polypropylene, steel, polyethylene and glass surfaces. <NUM>/<NUM> millimeter thick coating was applied and run through the UV radiation unit three times at the belt speed of <NUM> meter per minute (<NUM> ft. The results of this adhesion testing with four different polyester resins are shown in the Table <NUM>. A "Pass" with no number indicates <NUM>% adhesion. A number indicates an approximate amount of coating left on the substrate. Thus a "Pass" with <NUM>% means <NUM>% of the coating stayed with the substrate while <NUM>% came off on the tape. A "Fail" with <NUM>% means an even distribution of coating on both the substrate and the tape.

In this experiment, <NUM> grams of each of the four different ester oligomers namely, MYR <NUM>-<NUM>, Dystar DCPD oligomer, GENOMER* <NUM>/TP20 and Polyester Acrylate <NUM>-<NUM> were formulated with <NUM> grams of <NUM>-ethylhexyl acrylate (DOW), <NUM> grams of MIRAMER M4004 polyetherpolytetraacrylate (Rahn USA Corp. ), <NUM> grams of LTD (Rahn USA Corp. ) and <NUM> grams of G*<NUM> (Genorad <NUM>, Rahn USA Corp. ) and subjected to adhesion test on the polyester, polypropylene, steel, polyethylene and glass surfaces. <NUM>/<NUM> millimeter thick coating was applied and run through the UV radiation unit three times at the belt speed of <NUM> meter per minute (<NUM> ft. The results of this adhesion testing with four different polyester resins are shown in the Table <NUM>. A "Pass" with no number indicates <NUM>% adhesion. A number indicated an approximate amount of coating left on the substrate. Thus a "Pass" with <NUM>% means <NUM>% of the coating stayed with the substrate while <NUM>% came off on the tape. A "Fail" with <NUM>% means an even distribution of coating on both the substrate and the tape.

In this experiment, <NUM> grams of MYR <NUM>-<NUM> oligomer was formulated with <NUM> grams of trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA - BASF), <NUM> parts per hundred of a liquid photoinitiator blend comprising diphenyl (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trimethylbenzolyl) phosphinoxid (<NPL>) <NUM>-hydroxy-<NUM>-methylpropiophenone (<NPL>) and was tested for its coating property on glass and steel surfaces. In one of the two samples tested, <NUM> parts per hundred of ter-Butyl peroxybenzoate (TBPB, <NPL>) was added. <NUM>/<NUM> millimeter thick coating was applied and run through the UV radiation unit three times at the belt speed of <NUM> meter per minute (<NUM> ft. The results of this using cross hatch adhesion testing with these two different polyester resins are shown in the Table <NUM>. A "Pass" with no number indicates <NUM>% adhesion. A number indicates an approximate amount of coating left on the substrate. Thus a "Pass" with <NUM>% means <NUM>% of the coating stayed with the substrate while <NUM>% came off on the tape. A "Fail" with <NUM>% means an even distribution of coating on both the substrate and the tape.

In this experiment, <NUM> grams of each of the three different ester oligomers namely, MYR <NUM>-<NUM>, Epoxy Acrylate and Polyester Acrylate were formulated with <NUM> grams of isobornyl acrylate (Allnex - UV/EB Curable Resins), <NUM> grams of MIRAMER M4004 polyetherpolytetraacrylate (Rahn USA Corp. ) and <NUM> grams of LTD (a photoinitiator from Rahn USA Corp. ) and subjected to adhesion test on the polyester, polyethylene and polypropylene surfaces. <NUM>/<NUM> millimeter thick coating was applied and run through the UV radiation unit three times at the belt speed of <NUM> meter per minute (<NUM> ft. The results of this adhesion testing with three different polyester resins are shown in the Table <NUM>. A "Pass" indicates <NUM>% adhesion. A "Fail" means the applied coating is removed from the substrate in the adhesion testing.

In this experiment, the possibility of combining the dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer of the present disclosure (MYR <NUM>-<NUM>) with mono (<NUM>-acryloxyethyl) succinate (Myribond AF) obtained by reacting hydroxyl ethyl acrylate (<NPL>) with succinic anhydride (CAS <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>). Mono (<NUM>-acryloxyethyl) succinate (MAES) is also commercially available as a coating reagent from Dixie Chemicals, Pasadena TX. In the preparation of one polyester resin formulation according to the present disclosure, <NUM> gram of MYR113-<NUM> was combined with <NUM> grams of mono (<NUM>-acryloxyethyl) succinate and to the combined mixture was added one part per hundred of Irgacure <NUM> (CIBA), <NUM> parts per hundred of Genomer CPK (Rahn USA Corp. ) and a drop of Dow Corning Additive <NUM> solution. In the preparation of a second formulation, <NUM> gram of MYR113-<NUM> was combined with <NUM> grams of mono (<NUM>-acryloxyethyl) succinate and to the combined mixture was added one part per hundred of Irgacure <NUM> (CIBA), <NUM> parts per hundred of Genomer CPK and a drop of Dow Corning Additive <NUM> solution. These two polyester resin formulations were tested for its coating property on glass and steel surfaces. <NUM>/<NUM> millimeter thick coating was applied and run through the UV radiation unit three times at the belt speed of <NUM> meter per minute (<NUM> ft. /min) and the adhesive property of the coating formulation was tested using cross hatch testing. A "Pass" with no number indicates <NUM>% adhesion.

Claim 1:
A coating composition useful in coating substrates with surface tension less than <NUM> mN/m selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and styrene butadiene rubber, the coating composition comprising at least one dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer and at least one liquid ethylenically unsaturated monomer,
wherein said dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer comprises structural unit of formula (i), wherein R' and R" are aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon groups of <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms and n is <NUM> to <NUM>, and
wherein the coating composition further comprises a trifunctional dicyclopentadiene modified ester oligomer with structural unit of formula (xii), wherein R and R‴ are aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic and hydrocarbon groups of <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms.
<CHM>
<CHM>