In this study, magnetic shielding and thermal properties of iron oxide nanoparticle filled bio-based epoxy paint are studied. The synthesis of the epoxidized acrylated castor oil (EACO), which is the main component of bio-based epoxy paint, consists of two steps. Acrylation of the castor oil occurs in the first step and epoxidation is then followed. The product is EACO. FTIR and ¹H NMR techniques are used to characterize of the starting materials and monomer. In the paint formulations, 90% EACO monomer is mixed with 10% acrylic acid (AA). Oleic acid coated iron oxide nanoparticles, then, are added to the paint resin up to 80%. Photopolymerization of the synthesized materials is studied with one-by-one mixture of DMPA and AIBN catalysts. Thermal properties of the synthesized polymers are also evaluated. TGA and DSC techniques are used. Neat bio-based epoxy paint shows two T_g at -4 and 60 ℃ respectively. The 5% weight loss temperature is observed on cured bio-based resin at 205 ℃. Additionally, 50% weight loss temperature is measured at 425 ℃. The cured paints are tested for electrical switchgear in terms of magnetic shielding. It is found that the synthesized materials would reduce the magnetic field (B) of an electrical cord up to 80%. Additionally, magnetic shielding of control transformer by using synthesized paint formulations provide significant shielding up to 11%.

Keywords: castor oil, epoxy acrylates, renewable resources, iron oxide, magnetic shielding, electrical networks.