In this study, a UV curable resin based on palm oil was prepared by modifying palm oil with glycerol and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). First, monoglyceride (MG) was prepared from a mixture of palm oil and glycerol at a ratio of 1 : 2 based on equivalent basis. The MG was treated with GMA to introduce unsaturated groups to MG chain via etherification between epoxy group (from GMA) and hydroxyl group (from MG). The amount of catalyst needed, reaction temperature, and time for this chemical modification were determined. The completion of reaction between GMA and monoglyceride was measured using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy by monitoring the disappearance of the epoxy group in FTIR spectrum. An increment at peak 1630 cm(-1) in FTIR spectrum was observed when more GMA was used in the chemical modification. Viscosity test and gel permeation chromatography analysis were carried out to characterize the resin produced. The resin was then cured using UV radiation and the properties of the cured resin were measured. From the results, the gel content of the cured resin was more than 97%. The hardness of the MG-GMA film was influenced by the amount of GMA used. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 127: 3040-3046, 2013