Resin Additives for Compound Performance

Hydrocarbon resins are commercially used as additives in several types of elastomer systems.  The low molecular weight oligomers are prepared from a variety of feedstocks including C4, C5, and vinyl aromatic monomers.  Combinations of these feeds in various polymerization systems leads to a broad range of resin structures, which can be tuned for compatibility in a number of elastomeric systems.

Understanding the structure-property relationships of resins allows for the translation of performance prediction between systems.  The current paper will review the use of low molecular weight resins as additives in various elastomeric systems, focusing on how resin composition, structure, and functionality can improve the physical properties of the compound.  Examples from applications including tire, adhesives, and thermoplastics will be included to illustrate the utility of resins for improving the performance of polymeric systems.