Westvaco Corporation

John H Thomas

Joseph W LeVine

Richard C Houser

Henry G Boswell

Michael A Lake

Gary B Womack

Don P Duncan

A binder for use in gravure printing ink formulations comprising a modified rosin ester resinate prepared by forming a rosin-dienophile adduct, reacting the adduct with a polyfunctional hydroxy compound to form an ester and reacting with an acrylic-containing polymer to form a hard rosin ester. The polymer-modified rosin ester resinate is formed by reacting the prepared hard rosin ester with a rosin-dienophile adduct and an acrylic-containing polymer, reacting the product thereof with reactive zinc, followed by a reaction with lime, dehydrating the resinate product by refluxing, and adjusting its viscosity with a hydrocarbon solvent.

Modified rosin esters and their use in printing inks

Phosphinic acid (also called hypophosphorous acid), when used in very small quantities, is disclosed to act as a catalyst to accelerate the reaction of rosin with an unsaturated dibasic acid to form a modified rosin for subsequent esterification with a polyhydric alcohol. According to the process of the invention, a rosin is reacted with an unsaturated dibasic acid such as maleic anhydride or fumaric acid in the presence of phosphinic acid at a temperature of from about 180.degree. C. to about 220.degree. C. When the modified rosin is subsequently esterified, the rosin ester exhibits improved color, softening point, and viscosity in a specified solution.

Modified rosin ester preparation

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Jacksonville, FL, United States of America

John H Thomas