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This section provides an overview for rosins as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 5 rosin manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked rosin companies as of December, 2024: 1.Ingevity, 2.PinoPine, 3.Univar Solutions Inc..
Table of Contents
Rosin is a natural resin obtained by refining the oleoresin (pine resin) found in pine trees, making it a renewable biomass material.
In the modern era, a wide range of industrial products is manufactured using synthetic resins derived from petroleum. Resins, originally referring to viscous high-molecular compounds, include natural resins and synthetic resins. Natural resins can be plant-derived, animal-derived, or mineral-derived. Major natural resins include lacquer, rosin, natural rubber, amber, shellac, glue (animal glue), shellac, casein, and natural asphalt.
Powdered rosin has been used since ancient times as an anti-slip agent in sports and applied to string instruments like violin bows. Moreover, it is widely used as an intermediate material to enhance the properties of various industrial products during their manufacturing processes.
Rosin finds applications in various areas, serving as an anti-slip agent in sports, an intermediate material in various industries, and a source material for the production of rosin derivatives used in paper chemicals, synthetic rubber, ink, paint, solder, adhesives, and even chewing gum.
In the paper manufacturing process, sizing agents are used to prevent ink from bleeding and spreading on paper when written or printed. Rosin derivatives are employed as water-based sizing agents, penetrating paper uniformly.
To enhance the adhesion and compatibility with various substrates in adhesives, tackifiers (adhesive imparting agents) are used. Rosin derivatives and hydrocarbon resins, like hydrogenated petroleum resin, exhibit wide compatibility with elastomers and synthetic resins, the main components of adhesives.
Resins for printing inks are utilized to improve the dispersion of pigments, express colors effectively, and enhance drying properties (productivity) during printing. Rosin-modified phenolic resins are commonly used in offset printing inks.
As an emulsifying agent for the emulsion polymerization of synthetic rubbers like SBR (Styrene Butadiene Rubber), ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), and CR (Chloroprene Rubber), disproportionated rosin soap (alkali metal salt aqueous solution) is primarily used. It contributes to improving the adhesive properties and various physical properties of rubber.
Flux is used in soldering to remove the metal oxide film from the substrate electrode, components, and the solder itself, creating a clean surface. Rosin derivatives are included in the flux.
"Estergum," a food-grade material derived from rosin, is used in chewing gum to adjust the chewing texture. It is registered as a safe food additive and is widely added to both pellet and slab gum.
Rosin is produced from pine tree resin. Different manufacturing methods result in various types of rosin, such as gum rosin (colophony), tall oil rosin, and wood rosin.
Gum Rosin: Traditionally, gum rosin is obtained by making incisions in the bark of pine trees and collecting the exuding sap (oleoresin). The remaining substance after distilling volatile oil (turpentine oil) from the oleoresin becomes gum rosin.
Tall Oil Rosin: Tall oil rosin is produced by acid hydrolysis of the skimmings obtained from the caustic soda extraction of black liquor, a byproduct in the Kraft pulping process used to make craft pulp.
Wood Rosin: Wood rosin, also known as tall wood rosin, is extracted from processed chips of pine stumps using solvents. Although this method started in the United States in 1910, it has significantly decreased due to the depletion of stumps.
Rosin derivatives are intermediate materials derived from rosin that support various products essential for daily life. Numerous derivatives extend the applications of rosin.
Rosin Esters
Produced by esterifying rosin with alcohols, rosin esters are used in tackifiers (adhesive imparting agents) for adhesives, as bases for chewing gum, and in applications such as paints, inks, rubber, and paper.
Hydrogenated Rosin
Obtained by adding hydrogen to rosin, hydrogenated rosin is resistant to oxidation by oxygen in the air, exhibiting excellent heat and weather resistance. It is used in solder flux, pigment coatings, inks, paints, rubber, and various other applications.
Disproportionated Rosin
Produced by catalytically disproportionating rosin under the presence of a catalyst, this stabilized rosin derivative serves as an emulsifying agent in the emulsion polymerization of synthetic rubbers. It is used as disproportionated rosin soap (alkali metal salt aqueous solution) for the emulsion polymerization of synthetic rubbers like those used in car tires.
Polymerized Rosin
Obtained by dimerizing rosin in the presence of a catalyst, polymerized rosin has a higher softening point than regular rosin. It is used in hot-melt adhesives and solder flux.
Acid-Modified Rosin
Created by modifying rosin with maleic acid or fumaric acid, acid-modified rosin is widely used in paper sizing agents, resins for paints, and water-based ink.
Rosin-Phenol Resin
Formed by combining the rosin skeleton with resol-type phenolic resin and further esterifying with various polyols, this high-molecular-weight resin possesses both hydrophobic parts from the alkyl chain of alkylphenol and hydrophilic parts from the hydroxyl groups of phenols and polyols. It plays a role in adjusting properties such as solubility in ink solvents, gloss, and drying performance in offset printing.
Acrylated Rosin
Produced by adding acrylic acid to rosin, acrylate rosin is used in adhesives, paints, inks, rubber, and paper.
Ultra-Light Rosin
A resin that successfully achieves light coloration to address the color issues associated with traditional rosin and its derivatives. It has superior initial color and long-term stability, finding wide application in adhesive imparting agents, solder flux resin, and medical adhesive agents.
When selecting rosin, which is a resin acid primarily composed of abietic acid, several factors should be considered:
Rosin can be derived from various sources, including gum rosin from pine resin, wood rosin from pine stumps, and tall oil rosin from byproducts of the papermaking process. These rosins differ in the type and quantity of resin acids, influencing properties like solubility, hardness, viscosity, color, and stability. It is essential to choose the most suitable rosin based on the intended application.
Various derivatives enhance the performance of rosin. Since different rosin derivatives exhibit distinct properties, it is crucial to choose the appropriate rosin derivative or additive method according to the intended purpose.
Being a natural raw material, the price and availability of rosin may fluctuate due to factors such as climate and demand. Caution is required to monitor current prices and ensure a stable supply.
Concerning rosin derivatives, it is necessary to use "registered" ones depending on the application. When using it as a chewing gum base, the selection must come from materials registered in the Food Additive Compendium or approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), the United States regulatory agency for food and pharmaceuticals. For applications such as tackifiers (adhesive imparting agents) in medical adhesive patches or as ingredients in pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, and cosmetics, one needs to choose from materials registered in pharmaceutical regulations (Pharmacopoeia), quasi-drug regulations (Regulations for Non-Prescription Drugs), and the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredient (INCI).
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Ingevity is a manufacturer of chemistries and materials to be converted into sustainable products, established in 1922 and headquartered in South Carolina. The company’s products include Adhesives, agrochemicals, asphalt paving, lubricants, bio-plastics, etc. With the help of polycaprolactone technology, derivatives of polyurethane, the company produces bio-plastics that are 100% degradable. It also introduces Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) additive to lower the traditional mix asphalt’s temperature, which can reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The company has offices in 31 locations, 4 manufacturing sites, and 7 technical centers. It received America’s most responsible companies award by Newsweek and Gold Ecovadis’ sustainability rating.
Univar Solutions is a distributor and supplier of chemicals and ingredients since 1924 and are headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois. The company provides a wide range of chemicals to customers and extends its value-added services to suppliers. The services include data sharing, digital marketing, lab and formulation capabilities, and more. As providers of chemicals their inventory is limitless with stocks of acids, enzymes, oxides, silicates, additives, and other ingredients and they offer packaging, product development, and custom blending besides the supplies. Overall industries like Food, Agriculture, Mining, Home and Industrial Cleaning, Pharmaceuticals, and lots more benefit from Univar Solutions.
Kraton Corporation is a manufacturer and distributor of specialty polymers and biobased chemicals established in 2009 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, USA. The company primarily produces specialty polymers such as fully fluorinated perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) for electronics or automotive components, and styrenic block copolymers such as unhydrogenated styrene-butadiene-styrene (USBS) for use in adhesives or coatings. It also offers custom formulation services for unique client projects. The company’s products are commonly used in road construction, tire manufacturing, and adhesives development.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ingevity |
27.9%
|
| 2 | PinoPine |
22.1%
|
| 3 | Univar Solutions Inc. |
17.4%
|
| 4 | Chemical Store Inc. |
16.3%
|
| 5 | KRATON CORPORATION |
16.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the rosin page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
2 | 100.0% |
