Rosin phenolic resins for printing inks

Abstract

Rosin modified phenolic resins are prepared by reacting together rosin, fatty acid, phenol and aldehyde. The fatty acid may be Monomer (derived from the fatty acid dimerization process). The reaction mixture may optionally include α,β-olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid(s) or anhydride(s), and polyol(s). The resin may be dissolved in a solvent to form a varnish. The resin may be used as a component of inks for lithographic or gravure printing.

1 . A process for preparing a resin, the process comprising reacting components at elevated temperature, the components comprising rosin, fatty acid, aldehyde and phenolic compound, where phenol constitutes at least 25 wt % of the phenolic compounds.  
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein phenol constitutes at least 35 wt % of the phenolic compounds.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein phenol constitutes at least 55 wt % of the phenolic compounds.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the rosin constitutes up to 85 wt % of the components.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the fatty acid constitutes up to 65 wt % of the components.  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the aldehyde constitutes up to 40 wt % of the components.  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein phenolic compound(s) including phenol constitute up to 50 wt % of the components.  
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the fatty acid component comprises Tall Oil Fatty Acid (TOFA).  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the fatty acid component comprises Monomer.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the aldehyde component comprises formaldehyde.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the rosin component comprises gum rosin.  
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the components further comprise polyol.  
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the polyol component constitutes up to 15 wt % of the components.  
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the components further comprise an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound.  
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14  wherein the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound constitutes up to 8 wt % of the components.  
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the resin is self-gelling in mineral oil at resin:mineral oil weight ratio of 1:1.5.  
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the resin is completely soluble in mineral oil at 10% solids at 180° C.  
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the resin has a softening point in excess of 120° C.  
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 1  wherein a 45 wt % solution of the resin in a hydrocarbon solvent has a flow viscosity at 25° C. of 0.1 to 150 pascal-seconds.  
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the resin is suitable for use as a lithographic ink resin.  
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the resin is suitable for use as a gravure ink resin.  
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 1  wherein azeotropic distillation is not used to remove water from the resin.  
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 1  wherein an inert organic solvent capable of azeotropic distillation of water at the elevated temperature is not used as an entraining agent for azeotropic distillation of water.  
     
     
         24 . A resin prepared by the process of any of claims  1 - 23 .  
     
     
         25 . A varnish comprising a resin prepared by the process of any of claims  1 - 24 , and a solvent.  
     
     
         26 . The varnish of  claim 25  wherein the solvent is a hydrocarbon.  
     
     
         27 . A lithographic ink comprising a resin of  claim 24 .  
     
     
         28 . A gravure ink comprising a resin of  claim 24 .  
     
     
         29 . A process for preparing a resin, the process comprising reacting components at elevated temperature, the components comprising rosin, aldehyde, phenolic compound and fatty acid, where the fatty acid constitutes at least 30 wt % of the components.