Review of autoxidation and driers

This article is an overview of the chemistry and driers used in autoxidatively cured coatings and in particular alkyds. The drying process for alkyds and other unsaturated fatty acid materials is based on a series of chemical reactions known as autoxidation. The autoxidative process is usually catalyzed by metal salts known as driers. Numerous of investigations have elucidated the catalytic activity and reaction mechanism of the drying process. Spectroscopic techniques, especially mass spectrometry, have been used to study the autoxidation process and its products. Recent investigations on the oxidative drying of alkyd coating films are presented with a focus on both metal based and more environmental friendly means of catalysis.