Petroleum Resin

Brief Overview

Petroleum resin, also known as a hydrocarbon resin, is a C5/C9 aromatic hydrocarbon used in industrial applications. It generally has a tackifying effect, which means it is able to enhance the stickiness of the surface. The petroleum resin is acquired through a polymerization process. Usually the colors of thermal polymerized resin are darker than the ones produced through cold-polymerization. Generally, the hydrocarbon resin is not used independently, but together with other kinds of resins as promoter, adjusting agent and modifier.

Manufacturing Process

Petroleum resin production process mainly includes the following several processes: pretreatment (distillation and cutting of C5 and C9 fractions obtained through petroleum cracking), polymerization (using specific reaction conditions and catalyst type), distillation and flashing treatment (to obtain solid petroleum resin). C5 Resins are produced from aliphatic crackers like piperylene and isoprene, the current major catalyst is AlCl3. C9 Resins are produced from aromatic crackers like vinyl toluenes, indene, alpha methylstyrene, styrene, methylidene, etc, the current major catalyst is BF3. C5/C9 copolymer resins are produced from both aliphatic crackers and aromatic crackers.

Paints, coatings, Adhesives:

Because of its tackifying properties, petroleum resin is suitable for use in paints and varnishes (also due to its abrasion and water resistance), coatings, printing ink (it also helps with color spreading, brightness improvement and fast-drying), paper, adhesives, concrete-curing compounds, and other areas where tackiness is required. 

Rubber Industry:

Apart from that, petroleum resin with low softening point is used in rubber production. When it is added to natural rubber, it not only increases the adhesion between particles, but also helps to soften and reinforce the rubber while having no major effect on the rubber vulcanization process.