w exports are a bit subdued at the start of the new fiscal and because of which processors are also

cutting down on imports of raw

e for April 2010 was down by 7.4% when compared to the same month of 2009 and in value terms is was lower by 6.15% over t

industry had a bad year in 2009-10 with exports falling by 2.7 % in value terms and 1.2 % in volume terms when compared wit
f 2008-09. However, things had started to look up in the first three months of 2010 calendar year with exports picking up, source
tion Council (CEPC) said.

ume of exports was higher by 3.2% and value higher by 5.38% over the same period last year. Experts said buyers are not comm
ong-term contracts because of the credit squeeze in the aftermath of global economic slow down.

cs in cashew has changed with recession. Big retailers are not only keeping lower inventory, they are covering lesser time. This w
tility in 2010 due to mismatch of buying and selling needs”, sources added.

production in 2009 was more or less unchanged compared to 2008. Despite fears of large drops in consumption, there are no lar
mporting countries.

f periodic activity will keep the market swinging in a range. Lower processing and shipments in April and May might lead to su
ope for some time,” Pankaj Sampat of Samsons Trading told FE.

f players in the raw cashew market has increased this year resulting in a wider price range. At higher levels, buying interest is lim

pricing will depend on this (number of players) and the trend in kernel activity in the next eight weeks. If kernel market is quiet,
nt to buy at higher prices,” Pankaj said.

of raw cashew are dropped as compared to the same period last financial year. In April, India ‘s imports of raw cashew fell by 4
re higher by 15 % in value terms and 24% in volume terms.

cial Express
ewnut shell liquid is a by-product of the cashew industry. The nut has a shell of about 1/8 inch thickness inside which
honeycomb structure containing a dark reddish brown viscous liquid. It is called the cashewnut shell liquid, which is
ericarp fluid of the cashewnut.
Cost Effective Modern Materials
In the search for the cost effective modern materials, CNSL
and its products have a significant role to play. Being
renewable, it offers much advantage over synthetics. Its
versatility stems from its innumerable applications in many
areas. Recent research has shown that the constituents of
CNSL possess special structural features for transformation
into speciality chemicals and high value polymers. This
involves a value addition of many orders of magnitude and
the chemical transformation provides 100% chemically
pure products. Thus, CNSL offers vast scope and
opportunities for the production of speciality chemicals,
high value products and polymers.

Advantages of CNSL based Polymers

• Improved Flexibility and reduced brittleness.
• Solubility in Organic Solvents.
• Improved Processability.
• Low Fade Characteristics for Friction.
• Resistance to 'Cold Wear'.
• Good Electrical Resistance.
• Better Water Repellence.
• Improved alkali and acid resistance.
• Compatibility with other polymers.
• Antimicrobial Property.
• Termite and Insect Resistance.

• Structural Features for Transformation into High Performance Polymers.

Polymerisation Characteristics of CNSL

CNSL can be polymerised by a variety of methods:

• Addition Polymerisation through the side chain double bonds using cationic initiators such as sulphuric
acid, diethylsulphate etc..
• Condensation Polymerisation through the phenolic ring with aldehydic compounds.
• Polymerisation after Chemical Modification to introduce speciality properties.
 • Oxidative Polymerisation.

• Various Combinations of the above.

Industrial Significance of CNSL

• Low Cost Phenol.
• Versatility in Polymerisation and Chemical Modification.
• Possibilities for Development of High Performance Polymers.

• Property advantage over phenolics in certain applications such as impact resistance, flexibility, faster heat
dissipation etc.

Reactivity
CNSL undergoes all the conventional reactions of phenols. Cardanol differs from phenol only in the C15 side
chain. It undergoes the well known formaldehyde condensation reaction of phenols that gives rise to phenolic
polymers. Moreover, it can be polymerised through the unsaturation in the side chain although the bulky nature
of the side chain restricts the molecular weight attainable to oligomers. One of the significant advantage of the
cardanol is its amenability to chemical modification to effect desirable structural changes so as to get specific
properties for making tailor-made polymers of high value. Thus, structural changes could be effected at the
hydroxyl group, on the aromatic ring and on the side chain.

Cardanol
Distillation of CNSLunder reduced pressure gives cardanol. The residue will be rich in cardanol and is generally
known as residol, which is conveniently used in the preparation of friction dust for brake linings, and also in
rubber compounding formulations. ( The process know-how for the production of cardanol and conversion of
residol into friction dust is available with RRL, Thiruvanathapuram).

ISI Specification of the untreated CNSL IS : 840(1964)

0.950 -
Specific Gravity/30° C
0.970
Viscosity at 30° C cps, Max. 550.0
Moisture % by weight, Max. 1.0
Matter Insoluble in Toluene % by weight,
1.08
Max.
Loss in Weight on heating, % by Weight,
2.0
Max
Ash % by weight, Max. 1.0
Iodine Value, Min 1.0
1. Wij's method 250
 2. Catalytic method 375
Polymerisation Time
a) Time in minutes, Max. 4
b) Viscosity at 30° C, cps, Min 30
c) Viscosity after acid washing at 30° C
200
cps, Min
Color shall be not deeper than dark brown when viewed by
transmitted light.

Specification for Treated Cashewnut Shell Liquid

The cashewnut shell liquid as extracted has a strong vesicant dermatatic action. Before this liquid is utilized for
preparation of resins, it requires treatment to get rid of metallic impurities as well as traces of sulphur
compounds. The liquid thus treated is known as " Treated Cashewnut Shell Liquid ".
The specification of treated cashewnut shell liquid is as follows:

Specific Gravity at 25° C / 24° C 0.955 - 0.975

Viscosity at 25° C ( max.) 800 cps
Lodine Value ( min. ) 240.00
Ash ( max ) 1%
Moisture ( max. ) 0.5%
Acid Value ( max. ) 14

Specification for Cold Pressure Cashewnut Shell Liquid

Cashewnut shell liquid is also produced by the 'Cold Pressed' method in solvent extraction plant. The
specification of the liquid is as follows:

Specific Gravity at 26° C 0.9668 - 1.0131

Refractive Index at 41.50° C 1.5158
Saponification number 106 - 119
Iodine number 270 - 296
Acid number 94 - 107

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