Arizona Chemical Company, LLC

Theodore J Williams

Robert R Klein

John J Schmid

Zheng Lu

The specification discloses a process for making high viscosity gelled ink resins which exhibit improved properties. In a preferred embodiment, a precursor resin is conducted through an extruder with a cross-linking agent, preferably a heat reactive phenolic resin, to induce formation of covalent cross-link bonds in the resin producing a high viscosity resin which resists viscosity breakdown under high shear conditions. The resulting gelled ink resins may be used directly in making ink, obviating the need for further gelation and avoiding the use of conventional organo-metallic gelling agents.

Ink compositions

The specification describes a process for making gelled ink resins which exhibit improved properties. In a preferred embodiment, a rosin-based or hydrocarbon-based resin is mixed with an organic solvent and reacted with a crosslink agent under conditions sufficient to produce a substantially covalently cross-link gelled resin. The resulting gelled resin resists viscosity breakdown under high shear conditions and may be used directly for making ink compositions, obviating the need for further gelation and avoiding the use of conventional organo-metallic gelling agents.

Process for making self-gelled resin solutions for ink formulations

The specification discloses a method for making DCPD based resins that have essentially unimodal molecular weight distributions. The method comprises polymerizing dicyclopentadiene monomer in the presence of an organic sulfur compound which is effective to control the molecular weight distribution of the polymerized product. For end-use performance in inks, adhesives, coatings and other related areas, the invention provides dicyclopentadiene based resins having molecular weight distributions which effectively enhance the resin solubility and compatability in various formulations.

Polymerization of dicyclopentadiene

The specification discloses a method for making DCPD based resins that have relatively narrow molecular weight distributions. The method comprises thermally polymerizing dicyclopentadiene monomer in the presence of one or more strong acids, preferably with an olefinic modifier, to provide a dicyclopentadiene oligomer. Optionally, an organic sulfur species can also be used to further effect molecular weight control. For end-use performance in inks, adhesives, coatings and other related areas, the invention provides dicyclopentadiene oligomer resins having weight average molecular weights less than 1000 and relatively narrow molecular weight distributions, as measured by a polydispersity index, of less than about 2.3. Among the strong acids that are effective for controlling molecular weight, hypophosphorous acid is preferred because it gives light colored resins.

Thermal polymerization of dicyclopentadiene

Process for making high viscosity ink resins

The specification describes a process for making highly functionalized rosin ester resins; i.e., partially esterified rosin based resins. The resins are produced by reacting fortified rosin with a polyol at superatmospheric pressure in a closed reaction vessel while retaining at least a portion of the water formed during the esterification step in the reaction vessel, thereby limiting the reaction to a desired degree of partial esterification so that a relatively high degree of residual acid functionality is achieved in the final ester product. The process enables large scale production of resins with precise control of the degree of functionality of the resins thus produced. The products are particularly useful as binders in ink formulations.

Partially esterified rosin based resins

A method for bleaching hydrocarbon tackifier resins which comprises adding a bleaching agent to a molten resin and recovering a bleached hydrocarbon tackifier resin. The bleaching agent comprises from about 0.04 wt.% to about 0.06 wt.%, based on the weight of the reaction mixture, of an iodine supplying compound and from about 2.0 wt.% to about 10.0 wt.%, based on the weight of the reaction mixture, of an activating terpene compound. The iodine supplying compound is selected from the group consisting of elemental iodine and hydrogen iodide. The activating compound is selected from the group consisting of .alpha.-terpinene, .gamma.-terpinene, d-limonene, 1,4-cyclohexadiene and abietic acid.

Method for bleaching tackifying resins

A method for bleaching hydrocarbon tackifier resins which comprises adding a bleaching agent to a molten resin and recovering a bleached hydrocarbon tackifier resin. The bleaching agent comprises from about 0.04 wt. % to about 0.06 wt. %, based on the weight of the reaction mixture, of an iodine supplying compound and from about 2.0 wt. % to about 10.0 wt. %, based on the weight of the reaction mixture, of an activating terpene compound. The iodine supplying compound is selected from the group consisting of elemental iodine and hydrogen iodide. The activating compound is selected from the group consisting of .alpha.-terpinene, .gamma.-terpinene, d-limonene, 1,4-cyclohexadiene and abietic acid.

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Panama City, FL, United States of America

Theodore J Williams