1：Experimental Design and Method Selection:

The study employed photochemical thiol-ene reactions under UV light with a photoinitiator to synthesize polyols from alkoxylated cardanol (propoxylated or glycidol-alkoxylated) and hydroxyalkyl mercaptans (2-mercaptoethanol or 1-thio-glycerol). This method was chosen for its efficiency at room temperature compared to thermal methods.

2：Sample Selection and Data Sources:

Cardanol (Cardolite NX-2023) was used as the primary raw material, sourced from Cardolite Corporation. Other chemicals were purchased from suppliers like Acros Organics, TCI America, etc.

3：List of Experimental Equipment and Materials:

Equipment included a UV lamp (450 watt), Parr reactor, rheometer (AR 2000ex, TA Instruments), SEC system (Waters 515 pump with Phenogel columns), FTIR spectrometer (IRAffinity-1, Shimadzu), NMR spectrometer (Bruker Avance DPX-300), Instron device (model 3367), HumiPyc analyzer, and DSC (model Q100, TA Instruments). Materials included cardanol, propylene oxide, glycidol, TMG catalyst, 2-mercaptoethanol, 1-thio-glycerol, photoinitiator (2-Hydroxy-2-methylpropiophenone), THF solvent, and components for PU foam preparation (e.g., Jeffol SG-360, Rubinate M).

4：Experimental Procedures and Operational Workflow:

Alkoxylation of cardanol was performed in a Parr reactor at 105-110°C with catalysts. Photochemical thiol-ene reactions were conducted in glass vials under UV light for 3 hours with stirring, using THF as solvent. Solvent was removed by vacuum distillation. Polyols were characterized for hydroxyl number, viscosity, etc., and used to prepare rigid PU foams by mixing with isocyanates and catalysts, followed by foaming and curing.

5：Data Analysis Methods:

Hydroxyl numbers and acid values were determined by titration, viscosity measured rheometrically, molecular weights by SEC, functional groups by FTIR and NMR, and foam properties by compression testing, closed-cell content measurement, and DSC.