Chemical synthesis of a low viscosity and light coloured fatty acid-based polyol was conducted via a threestep reaction. The reaction variables, namely, temperature, pressure, amount of catalyst used, molar ratio of reactants and reaction time were investigated for their effects on the properties of the final polyol produced. Temperature and reduced pressure were found to have a profound impact on the rate of the first reaction step, which was an esterification reaction. In addition, it was observed that the amount of catalyst had a great influence on the colour of the product as well as the rate of the reaction. In the second reaction step, which was an epoxidation reaction, the molar ratio of reactants and reaction time play crucial roles in determining the properties of the final product. At the same time, temperature control was another important factor in this second step. The final reaction step was alcoholysis, in which the amount of catalyst used was one of the important factors that affected the properties of the final product.
Depending on the reaction parameters for this three-step reaction, fatty acid-based polyols with various properties could be prepared. However, polyols with low viscosity and light colour characteristics are preferred because they have the properties that are suitable for the production of 2K polyurethanes for the CASE industry.