Gum Rosin

R/X, YPR/WW, R/WG

Gum Rosin, also known as colophony or Greek pitch, is a solid resin derived from pine trees and some other plants, primarily conifers. It is produced by heating fresh liquid resin, which causes the volatile terpene components to evaporate. The result is a semi-transparent solid that ranges in color from yellow to black. Rosin is brittle at room temperature but melts at relatively low temperatures, such as those achieved on a stove. Its primary chemical components are resin acids, especially abietic acid.

Gum Rosin which preparated from China is commonly used in industries such as paper production, paint, soap, and printing ink. Since rosin tends to soften and oxidize easily, the oil paint industry often uses carboxylation of resin acids to produce resinates for further use. In the production of synthetic rubber and printing inks, resin acids undergo processes such as disproportionation, polymerization, or hydrogenation to form disproportionated rosin, polymerized rosin, or hydrogenated rosin, respectively. These reactions typically involve altering the double bonds in the resin acids to achieve the desired properties.

Substance Identification

Synonyms Colophony
CAS 8050-09-7
EINECS 232-475-7
FEMA N/A
HS.CODE 380610
Molecular Formula C19H29COOH
Molecular Weight 262.4302

Application & Uses

  • used as a binder component of adhesive, includes rubber based adhesive, synthetic resin based adhesive and plant base adhesives
  • used for paper sizing, improving the strength and smoothness, increasing wear resistance,
  • used for thermoplastic coating, such like road marking
  • used as vehicle body and enhancing the adhesion in ink industry
  • as film forming material for controlled-release fertilisers

Sales Specification

ITEM VALUE TEST METHOD & UNIT
Colour Slight Yellow
Softening Point 75 min @R&B, °C
Acid Value 165 min mgKOH/g
Ash 0.04 max %
Insoluble in alcohol 0.03 max %
Unsaponifiable matter 5 max %
ITEM VALUE TEST METHOD & UNIT
Colour Light Yellow
Softening Point 76 min @R&B, °C
Acid Value 166 min mgKOH/g
Ash 0.03 max %
Insoluble in alcohol 0.03 max %
Unsaponifiable matter 5 max %
ITEM VALUE TEST METHOD & UNIT
Colour Deep Yellow
Softening Point 75 min @R&B, °C
Acid Value 165 min mgKOH/g
Ash 0.04 max %
Insoluble in alcohol 0.03 max %
Unsaponifiable matter 5 max %

Q&A

What distinguishes gum rosin from the other rosin types available on the market?

Gum rosin is tapped from living pine trees and distilled, yielding a product with naturally lighter colour and higher purity compared with tall oil rosin, which is a by-product of kraft pulping, and wood rosin, which is solvent-extracted from pine stumps. This direct harvesting from living trees tends to give gum rosin better oxidative stability and more consistent batch-to-batch composition.

What advantage does gum rosin offer as a tackifier in adhesive formulations compared with petroleum-derived alternatives?

Gum rosin provides natural tackifying performance in hot-melt and pressure-sensitive adhesives, with the pine-tapped origin offering a renewable sourcing dimension that petroleum-derived C5 or C9 resins do not possess. The higher acid value of gum rosin also tends to facilitate subsequent esterification when a lower-acid tackifier is required.

Rosin is a very traditional raw material. Are there any newer applications being explored for it?

Gum rosin is typically perceived as a commodity raw material for traditional industries. However, its resin acid structure (conjugated double bonds + carboxyl group) can be functionalised for cutting-edge UV-curable coatings and 3D printing resins — repositioning gum rosin from a legacy industrial input to a bio-based platform for next-generation materials.

Package

  • Iron Drum, 225kg net each
  • Paper Bag, 25kg net each

Preview all the spec of packaging

GHS Hazard Statements

No data available

Storage

  • avoid contact with light
  • keep separated from incompatible substances
  • store and handle in accordance with all current regulations and standards
  • store in a cool, dry place
  • store in a tightly closed container

Remark

— Disclaimer —
The above information is believed to be accurate and represents the best explanation currently available to us. However, no liability is assumed for any consequences arising from the use of this content. The technical standards for our products are developed and updated jointly by our customers and ourselves; where any changes occur, the latest specification shall prevail and will be confirmed in the relevant contract.All suggestions and data provided are based on information we consider to be reliable and are offered in good faith, but without any guarantee, as the conditions and methods of use of our products are beyond our control. Foreverest® makes no warranties, whether express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness or suitability of this information, and expressly disclaims any implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. Prospective users should conduct their own tests and evaluations to determine the suitability of Foreverest® materials and any recommendations for their intended applications before adoption, and, where appropriate, should obtain confirmation or approval from the relevant regulatory authorities.Any references in this page to patents or patented technologies, including descriptive material derived from patents or citations of specific patent numbers, are provided for information only. They must not be interpreted as a recommendation to use our products in a manner that could infringe any third‑party patent, nor as a grant of any licence or permission to use patents owned by Foreverest®.

Start Purchasing

  • Minimum Order Quantity

    Minimum Order Quantity

    Quote required
  • Lead Time

    Lead Time

    Quote required
  • Available Incoterms

    Available Incoterms

    Quote required
  • Regional Availability

    Regional Availability

    Quote required
Products Album