Latest News

Cardolite's LITE 513DF paper wind best paper at European Coatings Conference 2023

Congratulations to the Cardolite team for winning best paper of the European Coatings Conference 2023! The paper covered the performance of a novel CNSL-based multifunctional epoxy diluent (LITE 513DF) in comparison to a monofunctional CNSL-based diluent and a commonly used petroleum-based difunctional diluent. Results demonstrated that LITE 513DF enables the formulation of high-performance coatings that meet strict regulations and sustainability goals.  Some of the benefits covered in the paper include the effectiveness of LITE 513DF in reducing the viscosity of epoxy resins; its excellent water resistance and chemical resistance, especially to aggressive acid or alkaline solutions; its good anti-corrosion performance; and its ability to improve flexibility and crack resistance while showing minimum decrease in mechanical strength and Tg even at high use level. For more information please contact us and visit our epoxy modifiers page. 

Cardolite advances CNSL Technology

to meet new industry needs

CNSL Technology

Cashew Nutshell Liquid Technology

Cardolite products are based on cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL), a natural, non-food chain, and annually renewable biomaterial. CNSL is a resin extracted from a soft honeycomb structure inside the cashew nutshell.

Ultra LITE cnsl

Ultra LITE Technology

New proprietary process technology is at the core of the Ultra LITE Series products, and enables the production of a much purer cardanol building block with lighter color (Gardner 1 or less).

Cardolite polyols can be formulated in PU coatings for textiles

Polyurethane Center

Cardolite offers a variety of technologies, such as polyols, NCO blocking agents, diluents, and surfactants for polyurethane coatings, adhesives, elastomers, textiles and foams. Please visit our new Polyurethane Center to learn more about each product line.

New Products and Technologies

ENABLING ZERO AND LOW V.O.C. SOLUTIONS

OUR CARDANOL PRODUCTS

Innovation is at the heart of Cardolite’s culture.

With over three decades of research, Cardolite has pioneered new developments in cardanol-based technologies and created a balanced and comprehensive portfolio of cardanol-based products that cover a wide range of performance attributes and applications in the coatings, adhesives and sealants, foams, composites, and automotive markets.

The Cardolite portfolio is comprised of robust products designed to meet multiple and broad requirements to help customers in their product consolidation efforts and universal products offering. In addition, Cardolite offers custom-made products to meet specific requirements of more challenging applications.

Products are available worldwide.

  • Epoxy Curing Agents

    Cardolite’s phenalkamines provide very fast cure even at low temperature, and excellent corrosion protection even on immersed surfaces whereas Cardolite’s phenalkamides deliver good anticorrosion properties with longer pot life, better flexibility and UV resistance, and extended overcoat window.

  • Epoxy Modifiers and Resins

    Cardolite epoxy resins and diluents not only enable sustainable solutions, but also improve anti-corrosion properties, flexibility, adhesion and early water resistance. Our cardanol diluents also act as accelerators for epoxy-amine reactions and are an excellent replacement for nonyl phenol.

  • Polyols, Diols and NCO Blocking Agents

    The hydrophobicity, excellent hydrolytic stability, and ease of handling of our polyols and diols deliver unique performance to foams, coatings, and adhesives and sealants. Proprietary, high purity cardanol is a non-toxic alternative to NCO blocking agents such as phenols, providing favorable deblocking conditions and excellent stability at room temperature.

  • Polymer building blocks

    Our CNSL-based intermediates can be used as building blocks for renewable polymers that address current environmental, health and performance requirements. The unique properties of the CNSL backbone will translate in excellent water resistance, adhesion properties, and bond strength.

  • Friction Materials

    CNSL friction particles and resins are used in OEM and aftermarket disc pad brakes, drum linings and train blocks to improve wear and fade, reduce noise, increase flexibility, and provide thermal stability.

The Markets We Serve

COATINGS

√  Protective and Marine Coatings

√  Industrial and Transportation Coatings

√  Concrete Floor Coatings

√  Special Coatings Applications such as potable water, food contact, and tank and pipe linings

ADHESIVES

√  Building and Construction Adhesives

√  Industrial and Transportation Adhesives

√  Structural and High Strength Adhesives

√  Electronic Potting

COMPOSITES

√  One-component Composite Systems

√  Two-component Composite Systems

√  Hand lay-up, Resin Transfer Molding, Pultrusion and Prepreg Solutions

√  Formulated Epoxy-Hardener bio-based resin matrix

FRICTION MATERIALS

√  OEM and Aftermarket Automotive and Rail

√  Drum linings, Disk pads, Train blocks

√  Semi-metalic, ceramic, asbestos, and non-asbestos organic brakes

√  Normal and Heavy duty brake applications

FOAMS

√  Rigid Polyurethane Foams

√  Polyurethane Spray Foams

√  Continuous PUR/PIR Panels

√  PUR Rigid Boardstocks

√  PIR Foams

√  Pour-in-place PUR Foams

MARKETS AND APPLICATIONS

 Protective and Marine Coatings

  Industrial and Transportation Coatings

  Concrete Floor Coatings

  Special Coatings Applications such as potable water, food contact, and tank and pipe linings

PERFORMANCE BENEFITS

 Very fast cure even at lower temperatures

  Excellent corrosion protection even for immersed surfaces

  Adhesion to various substrates without pretreatment

  Products to avoid blush at low temperature and high humidity

  Solutions for good yellowing resistance and gloss retention

  Solutions for extended overcoat window

MARKETS AND APPLICATIONS

  Building and Construction Adhesives

 Industrial and Transportation Adhesives

√  Structural and High Strength Adhesives

  Electronic Potting

PERFORMANCE BENEFITS

  Fast bond strength even at lower temperatures

 Very hydrophobic for superior water and moisture resistance

  Wide range of mechanical properties with solutions for softer and structural high strength adhesives

  Adhesion to various substrates without pretreatment including to plastics and composites

  Excellent thermal and aging resistance

MARKETS AND APPLICATIONS

  One-component Composite Systems

 Two-component Composite Systems

√  Hand lay-up, Resin Transfer Molding, Pultrusion and Prepreg Solutions

  Formulated Epoxy-Hardener bio-based resin matrix

PERFORMANCE BENEFITS

  Formulation-friendly, easy handling

 Good mechanical strength

√  Excellent water and chemical resistance

  Improved interlaminar adhesion and vibration damping

  High biocontent

MARKETS AND APPLICATIONS

  OEM and Aftermarket Automotive and Rail

 Drum linings, Disk pads, Train blocks

√  Semi-metalic, ceramic, asbestos, and non-asbestos organic brakes

  Normal and Heavy duty brake applications

PERFORMANCE BENEFITS

  Brown and black particles, and liquid resins

 Improve wear and fade

√  Increase flexibility

  Reduce noise

  Provide thermal stability

  Based on renewable CNSL

MARKETS AND APPLICATIONS

  Rigid Polyurethane Foams

 Polyurethane Spray Foams

√  Continuous PUR/PIR Panels

  PUR Rigid Boardstocks

  PIR Foams

  Pour-in-place PUR Foams

PERFORMANCE BENEFITS

  High reactivity for spray applications

 Surfactant-like properties for cost savings

√  Excellent fire protection, less flammability

  Low water/vapor permeability

  High compression strength

  Very good dimensional stability

  High biocontent