阅读说明：本技术 浅色松香酯组合物及其制备方法 (Light-colored rosin ester composition and preparation method thereof ) 是由 M·C·沙普曼 于 2018-06-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：公开了浅色或低色松香或松香酯组合物。通过使用助催化剂,得到了颜色显著改善的低色松香或松香酯。在一个实施方案中,助催化剂的三线态形成量子产率(Φ<Sub>T</Sub>)大于0.5,且三线态寿命(τ<Sub>T</Sub>)大于0.5微秒。在另一个实施方案中,助催化剂选自吖啶酮、蒽酮、9-芴酮、噻吨酮、氧杂蒽酮、衍生物或其组合。(Light or low color rosin or rosin ester compositions are disclosed. By using the cocatalyst, a low-color rosin or rosin ester with a significantly improved color is obtained. In one embodiment, the triplet-forming quantum yield (Φ) of the promoter T ) Greater than 0.5 and triplet lifetime (τ) T ) Greater than 0.5 microseconds. In another embodiment, the co-catalyst is selected from the group consisting of acridone, anthrone, 9-fluorenone, thioxanthone, xanthone, derivatives, or combinations thereof.)

1. A method of making a light colored rosin comprising:

contacting one or more rosins with a cocatalyst to produce a mixture;

heating the mixture to a temperature to produce a light colored rosin;

wherein the cocatalyst comprises a compound represented by the formula:

wherein n is 0,1 or 2; x represents oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen or carbon; z₁、Z₂、Z₃、Z₄、Z₅、Z₆、Z₇And Z₈Are the same or different and each represents carbon or nitrogen; r₁、R₂、R₃、R₄、R₅、R₆、R₇And R₈The same or different and each is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkenyl, arylalkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkylene, cycloalkylalkylene, alkynylene, phenyl, tolyl, naphthyl, pyridyl, furyl, acyl, propionyl, formyl, benzoyl, acetoxy, a halogen group, alkoxy, amino, benzyl, a halogen-substituted benzyl, an alkyl-substituted benzyl, an alkoxy-substituted benzyl, a halogen-substituted aryl, an alkyl-substituted aryl, an alkoxy-substituted aryl, dialkylamino, monoalkylamino, monoalkylamido, dialkylamido, cyano, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyalkyl, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethylthio, trifluoromethylsulfonyl, and the likeA group, nitro, carboxyl, hydroxyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, sulfamoyl, dimethylsulfonamido, mercapto, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, alkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl, alkylsulfanyl, arylsulfanyl, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, isopropoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl, carbonylchloro, phosphino, phospho, phosphodiester, phosphonate, oxiranylalkyl, carboxyalkyl, glucopyranosyl, or glucopyranosyloxy.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the triplet-forming quantum yield (Φ) of the promoter_T) Greater than 0.5, and triplet lifetime (τ)_T) Greater than 0.5 microseconds.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the co-catalyst is selected from the group consisting of acridone, anthrone, 9-fluorenone, thioxanthone, xanthone, and derivatives and combinations thereof.

4. The method of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the light colored rosin has an initial (pure) Gardner color of less than 10 as determined according to ASTM D1544-04 (2010).

5. The method of any one of claims 1-3, further comprising contacting the mixture with a disproportionation catalyst, wherein the disproportionation catalyst is selected from the group consisting of 2,2' -thiobisphenol, 3' -thiobisphenol, 4' -thiobis (resorcinol), 1' -thiobis (pyrogallol), 4' -thiobis (6-tert-butyl-m-cresol), 4' -thiobis (6-tert-butyl-o-cresol), thiobinaphthol, 2' -thiobisphenol, 3' -thiobisphenol, palladium, nickel, platinum, iodine, iodide, sulfide, poly-tert-butylphenol disulfide, 4' -thiobis (2-tert-butyl-5-methylphenol), Nonylphenol disulfide oligomer, pentylphenol disulfide polymer, and combinations thereof;

wherein the content of the disproportionation catalyst is 0.01-5.0 wt% and the content of the co-agent is 0.01-5.0 wt% based on the total weight of the rosin or rosin ester.

6. The method of any one of claims 1-3 wherein the one or more rosins comprise any one of tall oil rosin, gum rosin, wood rosin, disproportionated rosin, fortified rosin, and combinations thereof, and wherein the one or more rosins have an acid value of 120 KOH/g of 190mg KOH/g.

7. A method of preparing a light colored rosin ester comprising:

contacting one or more rosins with a cocatalyst, one or more polyols, optionally one or more monocarboxylic acids, and optionally one or more polycarboxylic acids to produce a mixture;

heating the mixture to a temperature to produce a light colored rosin ester;

wherein the cocatalyst comprises a compound represented by the formula:

wherein n is 0,1 or 2; x represents oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen or carbon; z₁、Z₂、Z₃、Z₄、Z₅、Z₆、Z₇And Z₈Are the same or different and each represents carbon or nitrogen; r₁、R₂、R₃、R₄、R₅、R₆、R₇And R₈Are the same or different and are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkenyl, arylalkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkylene, cycloalkylalkylene, alkynylene, phenyl, tolyl, naphthyl, pyridyl, furyl, acyl, propionyl, formyl, benzoyl, acetoxy, a halogen group, alkoxy, amino, benzyl, a halogen-substituted benzyl, an alkyl-substituted benzyl, an alkoxy-substituted benzyl, a halogen-substituted aryl, an alkyl-substituted aryl, an alkoxy-substituted aryl, dialkylamino, monoalkylamino, monoalkylamido, dialkylamido, and mixtures thereof,Cyano, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyalkyl, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethylthio, trifluoromethylsulfonyl, nitro, carboxy, hydroxy, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, sulfamoyl, dimethylsulfonamido, mercapto, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, alkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl, alkylsulfanyl, arylsulfanyl, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, isopropoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl, carbonylchloro, phosphino, phospho, phosphodiester, phosphonate, oxiranylalkyl, carboxyalkyl, glucopyranosyl, or glucopyranosyloxy.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising contacting the mixture with a disproportionation catalyst selected from the group consisting of 2,2' -thiobisphenol, 3' -thiobisphenol, 4' -thiobis (resorcinol), 1' -thiobis (pyrogallol), 4' -thiobis (6-tert-butyl-m-cresol), 4' -thiobis (6-tert-butyl-o-cresol), thiodinaphthol, 2' -thiobisphenol, 3' -thiobisphenol, palladium, nickel, platinum, iodine, iodide, sulfide, poly-tert-butylphenol disulfide, 4' thiobis (2-tert-butyl-5-methylphenol), nonylphenol disulfide oligomers, amylphenol disulfide polymers, and mixtures thereof, And combinations thereof.

9. The method of any one of claims 7-8, wherein the one or more rosins comprise any one of the following: tall oil rosin, gum rosin, wood rosin, disproportionated rosin, rosin fortified with any of fumaric acid, maleic acid, acrylic acid, maleic anhydride, citraconic acid, mesaconic acid, itaconic acid, and esters derived therefrom, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of any of claims 7-8, wherein the one or more polyols have an average hydroxyl functionality of 2-10, and wherein the one or more polyols are present in an amount of 5-40 wt%, based on the total weight of the rosin ester;

wherein the one or more polyols comprise at least one of: ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, trimethylene glycol, glycerol, trimethylolpropane, trimethylolethane, pentaerythritol technical grade, dipentaerythritol, tripentaerythritol, 1, 4-cyclohexanediol, polyethylene glycol, polyglycerol technical grade, polyglycerol-3, polyglycerol-4, 1, 4-cyclohexanedimethanol, tricyclo [5.2.1.0(2.6) ] decane-4, 8-dimethanol, hydrogenated bisphenol a (4,4' -isopropylidenedicyclohexanol), mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, maltitol, lactitol, and combinations thereof;

wherein the one or more monocarboxylic acids comprise any of formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, enanthic acid, caprylic acid, pelargonic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, cerotic acid, benzoic acid, cyclopropanecarboxylic acid, cyclopentanecarboxylic acid, cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, linoleic acid, α -linolenic acid, elaidic acid, cis-6-hexadecenoic acid, arachidonic acid, myristoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, myristic acid, isostearic acid, or combinations thereof, wherein the one or more monocarboxylic acids are present in an amount of 15 to 90 wt.%, based on the total weight of the rosin ester, and wherein the one or more polycarboxylic acids comprise 2 to 54 carbon atoms.

11. The process of any one of claims 7-8, further comprising contacting the mixture with an esterification catalyst, wherein the esterification catalyst comprises any one of: acetic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, hypophosphorous acid, sulfuric acid, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, calcium hydroxide, metal oxides, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide, calcium bis-monoethyl (3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) phosphonate, and combinations thereof.

12. A method of providing a light colored rosin ester comprising:

contacting one or more rosins with a cocatalyst, a disproportionation catalyst, one or more polyols, optionally one or more monocarboxylic acids, and optionally one or more polycarboxylic acids, to produce a mixture; whereinThe triplet-forming quantum yield (phi) of the cocatalyst_T) Greater than 0.5, and triplet lifetime (τ)_T) Greater than 0.5 microseconds; and

wherein the rosin ester composition has a Gardner color unit change of 5.0 or less when heated to a temperature of 177 ℃ for 96 hours; the PAN number of the rosin ester is equal to or less than 25; and said rosin ester has at least 30 wt% dehydroabietic acid.

13. A rosin ester prepared by the method of claim 12.

14. A composition comprising the rosin ester of claim 13, wherein the composition is any one of a pavement marking composition, an adhesive composition, and a pressure sensitive adhesive composition.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to light-colored (or low-colored) rosins and rosin esters.

Background

CN105754485A discloses a deep processing method of rosin and a production method of rosin glyceride, which is used for producing the rosin glyceride with high softening point and high purity. CN105778765A discloses a method for producing pentaerythritol rosin esters with high softening point and high purity. CN105802500A and CN105802501A disclose methods for producing rosin glycerin ester with high purity and light color. JP02064182 discloses rosin esters with light color and excellent thermal stability, wherein the esterification reaction is carried out by dehydrocondensation of rosin and alcohol in an inert gas stream. Holton, h.h., prepr.pap.annu.meet.tech.sect., c.p.p.a,62nd, CPPA, Montreal, QC, Canada,1976, p.a107, disclose the use of anthraquinones as pulping catalysts in the paper industry.

For various applications, there is still a need to improve the color properties of rosin esters.

Summary of The Invention

In one aspect, a method of making a light colored rosin or making a light colored rosin ester is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: one or more rosins are contacted with a co-catalyst to produce a mixture that is heated to a temperature to produce a light colored rosin. In one aspect, the triplet-forming quantum yield (Φ) of the promoter_T) Greater than 0.5 and triplet lifetime (τ)_T) Greater than 0.5 microseconds.

In another aspect, the co-catalyst is selected from acridone, anthrone, 9-fluorenone, thioxanthone, xanthone, or derivatives and/or combinations thereof.

In yet another aspect, the cocatalyst comprises a compound represented by formula I:

in another aspect, a method of making a light colored rosin ester is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: contacting one or more rosins with a cocatalyst, a disproportionation catalyst, one or more polyols, optionally one or more monocarboxylic acids, and optionally one or more polycarboxylic acids to produce a mixture, heating the mixture to a temperature to produce a light colored rosin ester; wherein the cocatalyst comprises a compound of formula I.

In yet another aspect, a method of providing a light colored rosin ester is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: contacting one or more rosins with a cocatalyst, a disproportionation catalyst, one or more polyols, optionally one or more monocarboxylic acids, optionally one or more polycarboxylic acids to produce a mixture; wherein the triplet state of the cocatalyst forms a quantum yield (. PHI.)_T) Greater than 0.5 and triplet lifetime (τ)_T) Greater than 0.5 microseconds.

Detailed Description

The following definitions apply to the present invention unless otherwise stated.

Acid number (or "neutralization number" or "acid number" or "acidity"): the mass of potassium hydroxide (KOH) required to neutralize 1g of chemical, mg. ASTM D465-05(2010) may be used to determine acid number.

Gardner color: a measure of the yellow intensity of the liquid sample is measured. A lighter (i.e., smaller) yellow intensity corresponds to a lower gardner chroma value.

"tall oil", also known as "liquid rosin", is a viscous yellow-black liquid obtained as a by-product in the production of softwood pulp primarily by the sulfate process. Crude tall oil contains rosin, which contains resin acids (mainly rosin acids and their isomers), fatty acids (mainly oleic and linoleic acids), and tall oil pitch tall oil, distilled tall oil (its rosin content is reduced to 10-35%) and Tall Oil Fatty Acids (TOFA) (its rosin content is reduced to 0.1-10%) can be obtained by fractional distillation.

"PAN number" refers to the sum of the weight percentages of palustric acid, rosin acid and neorosin acid moieties obtained by hydrolysis from rosin esters.

Light-colored (also referred to as low-colored) rosin esters and light-colored rosin ester compositions, and methods of making the same, are disclosed herein. Further disclosed herein are novel cocatalysts for obtaining light colored rosin and/or light colored rosin ester compositions, and methods of making rosin esters by contacting and heat treating rosin, cocatalyst, and optionally a disproportionation agent. In another aspect, a method of making low color rosin esters comprises contacting (a) one or more rosins in the presence of one or more novel co-catalysts and optionally an esterification catalyst and/or a disproportionation catalyst. In another aspect, a method of making a low color rosin ester comprises contacting (a) one or more rosins, (b) optionally one or more monocarboxylic acids, (c) one or more polyols, and (d) optionally one or more polycarboxylic acids, in the presence of a disproportionation catalyst and one or more novel co-catalysts.

Component-rosin: the rosin (or rosin acid) may comprise a mixture of rosin acids, the precise composition of which depends on the plant species. Abietic acid is C having a core of three condensed six-carbon rings containing double bonds of different numbers and positions₂₀A fused ring monocarboxylic acid. Examples include abietic acid, neoabietic acid, dehydroabietic acid, dihydroabietic acid, pimaric acid, levopimaric acid, sandaracopimaric acid, isopimaric acid, and palustric acid. Natural rosins are generally composed of a mixture of several primary rosin-type acids and pimaric-type acids in combination with minor amounts of other ingredients.

Rosin is commercially available or can be obtained from pine trees by distilling oleoresin (gum rosin is a distillation residue), extracting pine roots (wood rosin) or fractionating tall oil (tall oil rosin). Examples include tall oil rosin, gum rosin, and wood rosin, and mixtures thereof. If desired, the rosin can be subjected to one or more purification steps (e.g., distillation under reduced pressure, extraction, and/or crystallization) before being used as the rosin in the esterification step described herein. Hydrogenated rosin and partially hydrogenated rosin may also be used as a source of rosin. In one embodiment, the rosin is tall oil rosin, such as SYLVAROS rosin product available from Kraton Chemical.

Crude Tall Oil (CTO) obtained from the kraft pulping process comprises significant amounts of tall oil rosin and Tall Oil Fatty Acids (TOFA). Distilled Tall Oil (DTO) constitutes an industrial refined product obtained from the fractionation of crude tall oil, comprising tall oil rosin and TOFA (a mixture of several monocarboxylic acids), which can be used as a starting material for the preparation of rosin ester compositions. Examples include SYLVATAL by Kraton Chemical^TMAnd (5) product line.

In certain embodiments, the rosin is subjected to one or more processing steps to improve esterification of the rosin esterChemical and physical properties. The processing step can be performed before, simultaneously with, or after the preparation of the rosin ester. In one aspect, the rosin moiety is dimerized or polymerized and then esterified to obtain a rosin ester. Rosin polymerization and dimerization reactions are described in U.S. patent nos. 2369125, 2017866 and 2108928. Such rosin polymerization and dimerization reactions can be carried out by Bronsted acids such as sulfuric acid or by Lewis acids such as AlCl₃And (4) catalyzing.

In certain embodiments, the rosin ester comprises disproportionated rosin. Rosin disproportionation converts the abietic dienoic acid fraction to dehydroabietic acid and dihydroabietic acid fractions. The disproportionation process may include heating the rosin, typically in the presence of one or more disproportionation agents, as described in U.S. patent nos. 3423389, 4302371 and 4657703.

Examples of disproportionation agents include, but are not limited to, thiobinaphthol, including 2,2 '-thiobisphenol, 3' -thiobisphenol, 4 '-thiobis (resorcinol) and t, t' -thiobis (pyrogallol), 4'-15 thiobis (6-tert-butyl-m-cresol) and 4,4' -thiobis (6-tert-butyl-o-cresol), thiobinaphthol, 2 '-thiobisphenol, 3' -thiobisphenol; metals including palladium, nickel and platinum; iodine or iodide (e.g., iron iodide); sulfides (e.g., iron sulfides); and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, rosin is disproportionated using phenol sulfide-type disproportionating agents, such as poly-t-butylphenol disulfide, 4' thiobis (2-t-butyl-5-methylphenol), nonylphenol disulfide oligomers, and amylphenol disulfide polymers.

The rosin may be enhanced, for example, by Diels-Alder or ene addition of the rosin acid with a dienophile (e.g., α -unsaturated organic acid or anhydride of this acid).

The rosin may comprise a mixture of rosin acids (e.g., abietic acid) which may include conjugated double bonds in their ring systems. These conjugated double bonds may be a source of oxidative instability. In some embodiments, the rosin ester is processed to reduce the weight percentage of the component comprising conjugated double bonds.

In certain embodiments, the rosin ester comprises a rosin having a PAN number equal to or less than 25, or equal to or less than 15, or equal to or less than 5. The rosin can include equal to or greater than 30 wt% dehydroabietic acid, alternatively 30 to 60 wt%, alternatively 40 to 55 wt%, based on the total weight of the rosin. In certain embodiments, the weight ratio of dehydroabietic acid to dihydroabietic acid in the rosin is from 1:0.80 to 1:0.25, alternatively from 1:0.70 to 1:0.35, alternatively from 1:0.55 to 1: 0.40.

In a further aspect, the acid value of the rosin is 190mg KOH/g 120-185 mg KOH/g 150-182 mg KOH/g 170-182mg KOH/g. Acid number may be determined according to ASTM D465-05(2010) and expressed as mg KOH/g of sample.

In certain embodiments, the rosin content of the rosin ester composition is from 20 to 100 wt%, alternatively from 55 to 80 wt%, alternatively from 80 to 100 wt%, based on the total weight of the rosin ester.

Optional Components monocarboxylic acidsIn one aspect, the rosin ester optionally comprises one or more monocarboxylic acids examples include aromatic monofunctional carboxylic acids, heteroaromatic monofunctional carboxylic acids, aliphatic monofunctional carboxylic acids, unsaturated linear or branched monofunctional carboxylic acids, partially unsaturated linear or branched monofunctional carboxylic acids, cycloaliphatic monofunctional carboxylic acids, partially unsaturated cyclic monofunctional carboxylic acids, natural fatty acids, synthetic fatty acids, fatty acids derived from vegetable or animal oils, and combinations thereof.

Monocarboxylic acids and their derivatives can be characterized by their iodine value. In certain embodiments, the iodine value of the one or more monocarboxylic acids is less than 275mg/g, or less than 180mg/g, or less than 115mg/g, or less than 80mg/g, or from 55 to 270mg/g, or from 60 to 250mg/g, or from 70 to 200mg/g, as determined by the method described in ASTM D5768-02 (2014).

In certain embodiments, the rosin ester composition comprises 15 to 90 wt%, alternatively 30 to 80 wt%, alternatively 40 to 75 wt%, of one or more monocarboxylic acids, based on the total weight of the components used to form the rosin ester.

Component (C-polyol): in certain embodiments, the rosin ester comprises one or more polyols. The polyol can include a combination of linear, branched, cycloaliphatic, partially unsaturated, or aromatic chemical moieties, and can optionally include one or more additional functional groups, such as alkyl groups (e.g., C), in addition to two or more hydroxyl moieties_1-3Alkyl), aryl (e.g., benzyl), alkoxy (e.g., methoxy), haloalkyl (e.g., trifluoromethyl), or keto. In the case of aromatic polyols, the aromatic ring may optionally include one or more ring substituents, such as fluorine, chlorine, alkyl (e.g., methyl or ethyl), methoxy, or trifluoromethyl. If desired, the one or more polyols may further comprise one or more heteroatoms (e.g., one or more oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen atoms) incorporated into the molecular structure, such as ether groups in the case of oxygen atoms or thioether groups in the case of sulfur atoms. In some cases, the one or more polyols include aliphatic alcohols (e.g., cycloaliphatic alcohols).

In certain embodiments, the one or more polyols have an average hydroxyl functionality of from 2 to 10, or from 2 to 7, or from 3 to 5. In some cases, the one or more polyols contain 2 to 36, or 2 to 20, or 2 to 8 carbon atoms. In some cases, the boiling point of the one or more polyols at 1atm can be greater than 240 ℃.

Examples of polyols include, but are not limited to, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, trimethylene glycol, glycerol, trimethylolpropane, trimethylolethane, pentaerythritol, technical pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, tripentaerythritol, 1, 4-cyclohexanediol, polyethylene glycol, polyglycerol, technical polyglycerol, polyglycerol-3, polyglycerol-4, 1, 4-cyclohexanedimethanol, tricyclo [5.2.1.0(2.6) ] decane-4, 8-dimethanol, hydrogenated bisphenol A (4,4' -isopropylidenebicyclohexanol), mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, maltitol, and lactitol. In some cases, the one or more polyols may be selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, glycerol, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, technical grade pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, polyglycerol-4, tricyclo [5.2.1.0(2.6) ] decane-4, 8-dimethanol, 1, 4-cyclohexanedimethanol, hydrogenated bisphenol a (4,4' -isopropylidenedicyclohexanol), and combinations thereof.

In certain embodiments, the rosin ester can comprise 5 to 40 wt%, or 5 to 30 wt%, or 8 to 18 wt%, or 8.5 to 13 wt% of the polyol, based on the total weight of the components used to form the composition.

Optional Components polycarboxylic acids: in certain embodiments, the rosin ester composition comprises one or more polycarboxylic acids. Examples include dicarboxylic acids, tricarboxylic acids and tetracarboxylic acids containing 2 to 35 carbon atoms. In some cases, the one or more polycarboxylic acids comprise from 2 to 54 carbon atoms.

The polycarboxylic acids may comprise a combination of linear, branched, cyclic aliphatic (cycloaliphatic), unsaturated, partially unsaturated, heteroaromatic or aromatic chemical moieties, and may optionally contain one or more additional functional groups, such as hydroxyl, alkyl (e.g., C), in addition to two or more carboxylic acid moieties_1-3Alkyl), aryl (e.g., benzyl), alkoxy (e.g., methoxy), haloalkyl (e.g., trifluoromethyl), or keto. In the case of aromatic polycarboxylic acids, the aromatic ring may optionally contain one or more ring substituents, for example fluorine, chlorine, alkyl (e.g. methyl or ethyl), methoxy or trifluoromethyl. If desired, the one or more polycarboxylic acids may further comprise one or more heteroatoms (e.g., one or more oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen atoms) incorporated into the molecular structure, such as an ether group in the case of an oxygen atom or a thioether group in the case of a sulfur atom.

Examples of suitable polycarboxylic acids include, but are not limited to, adipic acid, 3-methyladipic acid, succinic acid, sebacic acid, 1, 4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, 1, 3-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, 1, 2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, rosin dimer, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, phthalic acid, TOFA dimer, hydrogenated TOFA dimer, 2- (2-carboxyphenyl) benzoic acid, 2, 5-furandicarboxylic acid, camphoric acid, cis-norbornene-endo-2, 3-dicarboxylic acid, trimellitic acid, and combinations thereof.

Component-catalyst: in some embodiments, the reaction mixture comprises a co-catalyst, an esterification catalyst, and/or a disproportionation catalyst. In another aspect, the reaction mixture comprises rosin, an esterification catalyst and/or a disproportionation catalyst, and a co-catalyst. In another aspect, the reaction mixture comprises (a) rosin, (b) a disproportionation catalyst, and (c) a promoter.

Suitable esterification catalysts include lewis acids and bronsted-lowry acids. Examples include acidic catalysts such as acetic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, hypophosphorous acid, and sulfuric acid; alkaline earth metal hydroxides, such as calcium hydroxide; metal oxides such as calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, and aluminum oxide; and other metal salts such as ferric chloride, calcium formate and calcium phosphonate (e.g., calcium bis-monoethyl (3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) phosphonate,

1425)。

co-catalyst: the reaction mixture comprises a cocatalyst. Although the term co-catalyst is used, it should be noted that the co-catalyst itself may be used alone without the addition of an esterification catalyst or a disproportionation catalyst. Examples of compounds useful as cocatalysts are represented by formula I:

wherein n is 0 or n is 1 or n is 2; x represents oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen or carbon; z₁、Z₂、Z₃、Z₄、Z₅、Z₆、Z₇And Z₈Are the same or different and each represents carbon or nitrogen; r₁、R₂、R₃、R₄、R₅、R₆、R₇And R₈The same or different and each independently can be hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkenyl, arylalkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkylene, cycloalkylalkylene, alkynylene, phenyl, tolyl, naphthyl, pyridyl, furyl, acyl, propionyl, formyl, benzoyl, acetoxy, a halogen group, alkoxy, amino, benzyl, a halogen-substituted benzyl, an alkyl-substituted benzyl, an alkoxy-substituted benzyl, a halogen-substituted aryl, an alkyl-substituted aryl, an alkoxy-substituted aryl, dialkylamino, monoalkylamino, monoalkylamido, dialkylamido, cyano, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyalkyl, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethylthio, trifluoromethylsulfonyl, nitro, carboxyl, hydroxyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, sulfamoyl, amino, and the like, Dimethylsulfonamide, mercapto, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, alkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl, alkylsulfanyl, arylsulfanyl, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, isopropoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl, carbonylchloro, phosphino, phosphate, phosphodiester, phosphonate, oxiranylalkyl, carboxyalkyl, glucopyranosyl or glucopyranosyloxy.

X represents an oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen or carbon atom, these atoms being substituted, according to the chemical valence rules, by one or more substituents and the other substituents being chosen from hydrogen, oxygen, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, oxiranylalkyl, carboxyalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, halogen-substituted benzyl, alkyl-substituted benzyl, alkoxy-substituted benzyl, halogen-substituted aryl, alkyl-substituted aryl and alkoxy-substituted aryl, or, in the case where X represents a nitrogen or carbon atom, the atom X in formula (I) is identical to the atom Z₅Covalently linked, resulting in the formation of a five or six membered ring. Examples of such compounds of the general formula (I) are 10-alkyl-9 (10H) -acridone and 9H-thioxanth-9-one 10, 10-dioxide. In one aspect, whenWhen n is 2, the structure of formula I has two identical or different X groups. In this case, both X groups may be carbon, or one X group may be carbon and the second X group may be nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur.

In one embodiment, the substituent R₁、R₂、R₃、R₄、R₅、R₆、R₇And R₈Two of which adjacent to each other may form a ring together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded. In the case where n is 0, R₄And R₅Are considered to be adjacent locations. The ring may be cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic and optionally comprises one or more substituents, wherein the substituents are the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, hydroxy, methoxy, cyano, amino, chloro and fluoro. The ring is optionally substituted with additional fused or isolated cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic rings. Wherein the substituent R₁、R₂、R₃、R₄、R₅、R₆、R₇And R₈Two adjacent to each other in (A) form a ring together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded, is 4H-cyclopentyl [ lmn]Phenanthridine-5, 9-dione. Another example is 4H-cyclopenta [ def ]]Phenanthren-4-one and 7H-benzo [ c]Fluoren-7-one.

Several compounds of formula (I) are naturally occurring. For example, many xanthones have been isolated from natural sources of higher plants, fungi, ferns and lichens. These naturally occurring compounds may have various substitution patterns R₁、R₂、R₃、R₄、R₅、R₆、R₇And R₈Such naturally occurring compounds of formula (1) are part of the present invention examples of such naturally occurring compounds of formula (1) are 4- β -D-glucopyranosyl-1, 3,6, 7-tetrahydroxy-9H-xanthen-9-one (CAS No. 24699-16-9, Isomangiferin), 3a,12 c-dihydro-8-hydroxy-6-methoxy- (3aR, 12cS) -7H-furan [ 3', 2': 4,5]Furan [2,3-c ]]Xanthen-7-one (CAS number 10048-13-2, petunidin) and 1,3, 6-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-2, 8-bis (3-methyl-2-buten-1-yl) -9H-oxaAnthracene-9-one (CAS number 6147-11-1, mangostin).

Alternatively, the co-catalyst may comprise a precursor of any compound characterized by formula I and its associated functional groups as described herein. Alternatively, the co-catalyst may comprise a chemical reduction product or a chemical oxidation product of any compound characterized by formula I and its associated functional groups as described herein. Alternatively, the co-catalyst may comprise a chemical reduction product or a chemical oxidation product of a precursor of any compound characterized by formula I and its associated functional groups as described herein.

In another aspect, examples of co-catalysts include thioxanthone, anthrone, xanthone, acridone, fluorenone, and any dimer, oligomer, or polymer derivative thereof, any complex thereof, any precursor thereof, any salt thereof, any stereoisomer thereof, any tautomer thereof, or any combination thereof. Examples of the co-catalyst compounds include anthrone, xanthone, 1-azaxanthone, acridone, 10-methyl-9 (10H) -acridone, 9-fluorenone, thioxanthone, 2-isopropylthioxanthone, 4-isopropylthioxanthone, 2-chlorothioxanthone, 1-chloro-4-propoxythioxanthone, 2, 4-diethylthioxanthone, 2, 4-dimethylthioxanthone, and 2, 4-diisopropylthioxanthone.

In one embodiment, the co-catalyst comprises an anthrone, a xanthone, a thioxanthone, an acridone, or a 9-fluorenone, the structures of which are shown below. The cocatalyst may also comprise derivatives of anthrone, xanthone, thioxanthone, acridone or 9-fluorenone of formula I.

In certain embodiments, the esterification catalyst is present in an amount of from 0.01 to 5.0 wt.%, or from 0.01 to 1.0 wt.%, or from 0.02 to 0.5 wt.%, based on the weight of the one or more rosins.

In one embodiment, the co-catalyst is present in an amount of from 0.01 to 5.0 wt%, or from 0.01 to 1.0 wt%, or from 0.02 to 0.5 wt%, based on the weight of the rosin or rosins. Cocatalysts of the type disclosed herein may be prepared by any suitable method. For example, cocatalysts suitable for use in the present invention are described in l.murov, i.e. carmichael and g.l.hug, Handbook of PhotoChemistry, Marcel Dekker, Inc, New York 1993, U.S. patent nos. 4585876, 4661595, 5545760, european patent No. 0520574, and U.S. application No. 2014/0107354.

In one embodiment, the cocatalyst is any substance capable of catalyzing the reactions disclosed herein and is compatible with the other components in the mixture. In one aspect, suitable cocatalysts have a high triplet-forming quantum yield (referred to as Φ)_T). Cocatalyst singlet (E)_S) And triplet state (E)_T) The energy of the states is expressed in kJ/mol. Energy difference E_S–E_TIs represented by E_Δ(kJ/mol). The cocatalyst has triplet-forming quantum yield (phi)_T) (expressed as formation factor) and triplet lifetime (. tau.)_T) (in microseconds μ s). In one aspect, the Φ of the cocatalyst_TGreater than 0.5, or greater than 0.7, or greater than 0.8. In one aspect, the triplet lifetime of the promoter is greater than 0.5 μ s, or greater than 1.0 μ s, or greater than 5.0 μ s. In one aspect, E of the cocatalyst_SMore than 200 kJ/mol; or greater than 225kJ/mol, or greater than 250 kJ/mol. In one aspect, E of a suitable cocatalyst_ΔLess than 100kJ/mol, alternatively less than 75kJ/mol, alternatively less than 50 kJ/mol. Table 1 lists the values for co-catalysts of the type disclosed herein:

TABLE 1

Compound (I)	ES(KJ/mol)*	ET(KJ/mol)*	EΔ(KJ/mol)	ΦT	τT(μs)
						Acridone derivatives	304	244	60	0.99	20
Xanthones	324	310	14		20
						Anthraquinone	284	261	23	0.9	0.11

Value based on non-polar solvent

Preparation method: in one aspect, a reaction mixture for preparing a light colored rosin ester comprises: (a) one or more rosins, (b) one or more monocarboxylic acids, (c) one or more polyols, and (d) one or more polycarboxylic acids. The ratio of the weight of the one or more polycarboxylic acids to the weight of the rosin and the one or more monocarboxylic acids can be less than 1:20, alternatively less than 1:50, alternatively less than 1: 100. In some cases, the ratio of the weight of rosin to the weight of the one or more monocarboxylic acids is from 60:40 to 10: 85. The weight ratio of rosin and one or more monocarboxylic acidsThe ratio of the weight of the one or more polycarboxylic acids may be at least 6.5:1, or at least 15: 1. The values provided are amounts (e.g., wt%) of components or reactants used to prepare the composition. The final material after all processing steps may be free of individual components (e.g., rosin) that are chemically or physically distinguishable from the other components used in the preparation of the final composition.

Rosin esters can be prepared by esterification, transesterification, or interesterification using the reactants, catalysts, and co-catalysts disclosed herein. Suitable reaction conditions are described, for example, in U.S. patent No. 5504152. Suitable reaction conditions may be selected based on the following factors: a) the properties of the reactants (e.g., the chemical and physical properties of the rosin), b) the identity of the one or more monocarboxylic acids, c) the identity of the one or more polycarboxylic acids, d) the identity of the one or more polyols, e) the identity of the one or more catalyst monocarboxylic acids, and e) the desired chemical and physical properties of the resulting rosin ester, or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the process comprises esterifying a reaction mixture comprising one or more rosins, one or more monocarboxylic acids, and optionally one or more polycarboxylic acids with one or more polyols in the presence of a co-catalyst using an esterification catalyst. The method may optionally include a disproportionation agent. The process may be a thermal reaction at elevated temperature. In one embodiment, the rosin ester is prepared by subjecting the mixture to a temperature of 200-320 ℃ or 240-300 ℃ or 265-290 ℃. The esterification step may further comprise removing water formed as a by-product using standard methods such as distillation and/or using vacuum to drive the reaction to completion.

In certain embodiments, the rosin ester can be prepared by an esterification process, wherein the carboxylic acid-containing component is esterified with one or more polyols. This type of esterification reaction is an equilibrium reaction. Removal of the water formed as the reaction proceeds moves the equilibrium of the reaction in a direction favorable to product formation, driving the reaction to completion. Thus, in certain embodiments, the method comprises esterifying a mixture comprising one or more rosins, one or more monocarboxylic acids, and optionally one or more polycarboxylic acids with one or more polyols. The esterification step may comprise reacting the reaction mixture with one or more polyols under suitable conditions (e.g., elevated temperature) for a period of time. Optionally, the esterification step can further comprise removing water formed as a by-product of the esterification reaction. In certain embodiments, the esterification step can comprise contacting the reaction mixture and one or more polyols with an esterification catalyst (e.g., calcium bis (((3, 5-bis (1, 1-dimethylethyl) -4-hydroxyphenyl) methyl) ethylphosphonate) in the presence of a co-catalyst as described herein.

Rosin esters can also be prepared by a transesterification process in which an ester of a carboxylic acid-containing component is reacted with one or more polyols. In the case of polyols which have been reacted with carboxylic acids, there may remain some free unreacted polyol hydroxyl groups which can react with the ester in the transesterification reaction and lead to the exchange of their alkoxy groups. This transesterification reaction is an equilibrium reaction in which new rosin esters can be formed. Thus, in certain embodiments, the method may comprise reacting one or more rosin esters having a hydroxyl number >0 with one or more esters derived from a monocarboxylic acid and optionally one or more polycarboxylic acids. In certain embodiments, an alcohol or polyol may be added to initiate or accelerate the transesterification reaction. In certain embodiments, the transesterification step may include contacting the mixture and the one or more polyols with an esterification catalyst in the presence of a promoter.

Rosin esters can also be prepared by interesterification, which is physically related to esterification and transesterification. Interesterification may be carried out by blending the different esters and then rearranging the carboxylic acid moieties onto the polyol backbone used in the presence of a catalyst (e.g., an esterification catalyst) and in the presence of a co-catalyst. The interesterification reaction is an equilibrium reaction. For example, rosin esters can be reacted with triglycerides such as rapeseed oil. This interesterification reaction will result in a rosin ester in which the fatty acid moiety in the triglyceride is partially substituted with a rosin acid moiety, and in which the rosin acid moiety in the rosin ester is partially substituted with a fatty acid moiety.

Optionally, the method can include varying the relative amounts of the reactants to affect the hydroxyl and acid values of the resulting rosin ester. For example, a stoichiometric excess of carboxylic acid functionality relative to polyol functionality will generally result in rosin esters having low or negligible hydroxyl numbers. From a chemical point of view, this means that more moles of carboxylic acid moieties (carboxyl moieties) can be used than moles of total polyol hydroxyl moieties. In certain embodiments, the reactant mixture prior to initiation of the synthesis can comprise a stoichiometric molar ratio of total hydroxyl functional groups to total carboxyl functional groups of 1.40 or less (e.g., 1.10 or less, 1.05 or less, 1.00 or less, or 0.95 or less, or 1.00 to 1.15).

In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting rosin with a promoter to form a reaction mixture and heating the reaction mixture to a temperature of 285 ℃ and 320 ℃ to produce a light colored rosin. The light colored rosin referred to has a lighter color than the heated rosin without the co-catalyst. In another embodiment, the method comprises contacting rosin, a promoter, and a disproportionation catalyst to form a reaction mixture and heating the reaction mixture to a temperature of 260 ℃ to 295 ℃. In yet another embodiment, the rosin is contacted with additional catalysts and agents (e.g., esterification catalysts, disproportionation catalysts, polyols, etc.) and heated from 260 ℃ to 295 ℃ to produce a light colored rosin ester composition,

in certain embodiments, the method may further comprise one or more additional processing steps. In certain embodiments, one or more rosins or combinations thereof can be further processed, for example, to reduce the PAN number of the rosin, to affect the weight ratio of the various rosin acids and/or rosin acid esters present, to affect the hydroxyl number, to affect the acid number, or combinations thereof. Such methods may also be performed in conjunction with the esterification reaction, after the esterification reaction but before the hydrogenation reaction, after the hydrogenation reaction, or combinations thereof, where chemically permitted, to obtain rosin esters and/or hydrogenated rosin esters having the desired chemical and physical properties, as discussed in more detail below.

In certain embodiments, the rosin is subjected to disproportionation prior to esterification. In these aspects, disproportionated rosin or partially disproportionated rosin can be used as the feedstock for esterification. In some cases, disproportionation or further disproportionation may be carried out during esterification. For example, disproportionated or partially disproportionated rosin can be generated in situ and then esterified to a rosin ester in a one-pot process.

In certain embodiments, the method can further comprise hydrogenating the rosin ester, for example, contacting the rosin ester with a hydrogenation catalyst under suitable conditions for a period of time to form a hydrogenated rosin ester. Examples of hydrogenation catalysts include heterogeneous hydrogenation catalysts (e.g., palladium catalysts, such as Pd on carbon (Pd/C), platinum catalysts, such as PtO₂A nickel catalyst, such as Raney nickel (Ra-Ni), a rhodium catalyst, or a ruthenium catalyst). In some cases, the hydrogenation catalyst may be present in an amount of 0.25 to 5 wt%, based on the total weight of the crude rosin ester. The source of hydrogen for the hydrogenation may be hydrogen (H)₂) Or a compound which generates hydrogen under the reaction conditions, such as formic acid, isopropanol, cyclohexene, cyclohexadiene, diimide or hydrazine.

The hydrogenation reaction may be carried out at elevated temperatures, pressures, and combinations thereof, such as at temperatures of 120-300 ℃, pressures of 30-2000psi, or 100-1000 psi.

In certain embodiments, after esterification, transesterification, or interesterification, the resulting light colored rosin esters may contain small amounts of residual materials, such as unreacted rosin, decarboxylated rosin acid, and/or unreacted or partially reacted polyol. Rosin esters characterized by low acid numbers can be characterized by relatively low weight fractions of lower molecular weight species after volatiles removal and can be suitable for applications where low migration and/or low volatile organic compound content is advantageous. Examples may include food contact applications, adhesives, and low fogging systems.

Optionally, the method can include one or more processing steps to affect the hydroxyl number of the resulting rosin ester, affect the acid number of the resulting rosin ester, or a combination thereof. If desired, the rosin ester can be chemically modified after esterification (e.g., after esterification but before any hydrogenation, or after hydrogenation) to provide a rosin ester with a low hydroxyl number. The method involves chemically modifying the residual hydroxyl moieties in the rosin ester or hydrogenated rosin ester after esterification using a suitable synthesis method. For example, with an acylating agent (e.g., a carboxylic acid or derivative thereof, such as the anhydride disclosed in U.S. patent No. 4380513). The residual hydroxyl moieties in the rosin ester or hydrogenated rosin ester can also be reacted with electrophiles (e.g., isocyanates) to produce the corresponding carbamate derivatives. Other suitable electrophiles that can be used to react residual hydroxyl moieties include alkylating agents. In certain embodiments, the acid number of the rosin ester can be reduced by removing excess and/or unreacted rosin (e.g., rosin acid) after esterification but prior to any subsequent processing (e.g., hydrogenation or after hydrogenation). For example, after esterification, unreacted rosin and other volatile components can be removed using any suitable method.

Rosin esters can also be prepared by a combination of the esterification, transesterification and interesterification methods described above, wherein the esters can be reacted with one another in the presence of one or more polyols and one or more monocarboxylic acids and optionally one or more polycarboxylic acids or partial or half esters thereof. An example of a partial ester is a partial glyceride, which is an ester of glycerol with fatty acids in which not all of the hydroxyl groups are esterified. cis-HOOC-CH ═ CH-COOCH₃Is an example of a half ester derived from maleic acid. Monomethyl adipate and monoethyl adipate are examples of half esters derived from adipic acid. Removal of water or volatile monohydric alcohols formed as the reaction proceeds moves the equilibrium of the reaction in a direction favorable to product formation, driving the reaction to completion.

Instead of the monocarboxylic acid or the polycarboxylic acid, a reactant based on a monocarboxylic acid having a modified carboxyl group or a polycarboxylic acid having one or more modified carboxyl groups, respectively, may be used. For example, partial esters and half-esters as described above may be used instead of polycarboxylic acids. Other examples include anhydrides, thioesters, and phosgene (also known as acid chloride or acid chloride), which may be substituted for the monocarboxylic or polycarboxylic acids. Typically, these structurally related reactants comprise an acyl group that can react with a nucleophile (e.g., a hydroxyl group of a polyol) via a nucleophilic acyl group substitution mechanism.

In either process, the anhydride may be used as an alternative reactant in place of the corresponding carboxylic or polycarboxylic acid. For example, succinic anhydride (also known as dihydro-2, 5-furandione) may be used instead of succinic acid, and palmitic anhydride may be used instead of palmitic acid. Trimellitic anhydride can be used instead of trimellitic acid. Similarly, acid chlorides can be used in place of the corresponding carboxylic acids, or in place of esters derived from the corresponding carboxylic acids. For example, methyl adipyl chloride (also known as monomethyl adipate chloride) may be used as a reactant instead of adipic acid or dimethyl adipate, diethyl adipate, monomethyl adipate, monoethyl adipate, or adipoyl chloride.

Performance of: the rosin ester is characterized by having an improved gardner color, as determined according to ASTM D1544-04(2010), of less than 10, alternatively less than 8, alternatively less than 6. In other aspects, the final (neat) gardner color of the rosin ester is less than 6, or less than 3, or less than 1.5.

In certain embodiments, the rosin ester has color stability upon heat aging that changes to 5.0 or less (e.g., 3.0 or less, or 1.0 or less) gardner color units when heated to a temperature of 177 ℃ for 96 hours. In some embodiments, the rosin ester exhibits a gardner color unit change of 0 to 5.0, 0.1 to 5.0, 0.2 to 5, 0.3 to 5.0, 0.5 to 5.0, 1.0 to 5.0, 2.5 to 5.0, 3.0 to 5.0, 3.5 to 5.0, 4.0 to 5.0, or 4.5 to 5.0.

In certain embodiments, the rosin ester has a softening point of 0 to 150 ℃, or 50 to 130 ℃, or 70 to 120 ℃, as measured using the ring and ball method. In certain embodiments, the rosin ester can be a liquid (e.g., a viscous liquid) at 20 ℃ and 1 atm.

In certain embodiments, the rosin esters have a glass transition temperature (Tg) of from-80 ℃ to 100 ℃, or from-30 ℃ to 80 ℃, or from 0-70 ℃, as determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC).

In one embodiment, the rosin ester is characterized by having a residual amount of cocatalyst of 0 to 200ppm or 5 to 150ppm or 0.0005 to 0.015 wt%. In some embodiments, 800-.

Applications of: the rosin ester compositions provided herein can be used in a variety of applications including adhesives (e.g., hot melt adhesives), tackifiers in hot melt and pressure sensitive adhesives, adhesive dispersions (e.g., aqueous adhesive dispersions), modifiers for rubbers and various plastics, emulsifiers for synthetic rubbers, mouth washBase materials for chewing gum, resins in coating compositions, inks, sizing agents for papermaking, asphalt markings, pavement markings, thermoplastic pavement markings, inks, coatings, rubbers (e.g., tires and tire treads), sealants, and plasticizers. Rosin esters are also useful in a variety of other applications, including as softeners and plasticizers in chewing gum stocks, as thickeners and clouding agents in beverages, as surfactants, surface active modifiers, or dispersants, additives in waxes and wax-based polishes, modifiers in skin products and cosmetic formulations (e.g., mascara), as insulators in the electrical industry, in the manufacture of paints and other wood treatment products, in treating wooden boat hulls, in soaps, as drying oils in candles, as lubricants and engine lubricants in automotive applications, in the preparation of biodiesel in metal working and other industrial applications, in the production of biodegradable hydraulic oils, and as curing agents in phase change materials or concrete.

Other examples include pavement markings such as retroreflective markings, thermoplastic pavement markings, preformed thermoplastic pavement markings, and preformed polymeric tapes. Thermoplastic binder systems are typically based on rosin esters of the type disclosed herein, and also include plasticizers, glass beads (or other optical devices), pigments, and fillers. There is a continuing effort to improve pavement marking systems and technological breakthroughs include increased retroreflectivity, increased service life and reduced installation costs. Light-colored rosin esters have brighter, more vibrant shades and can significantly improve pavement marking applications. In one embodiment, rosin esters are used in thermoplastic pavement marking formulations. The thermoplastic pavement marking formulation can include 5 to 25 wt% or 10 to 20 wt% rosin ester, based on the total weight of the formulation. The thermoplastic pavement marking formulation may further comprise, for example, from 0.1 to 1.5 weight percent of a polymer (e.g., a polymer derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers) of the thermoplastic pavement marking formulation. The formulation may further comprise a pigment (e.g., 1-10 wt% titanium dioxide), glass beads (e.g., 30-40 wt%), and a filler (e.g., calcium carbonate, which may make up the balance of the composition to 100 wt%). The formulation may also comprise an oil (e.g. 1-5 wt% mineral oil), a wax (e.g. 1-5 wt% paraffin-based wax or a fischer-tropsch wax), a stabilizer (e.g. 0.1-0.5 wt% stearic acid), and optionally other polymers and/or binders than the rosin esters described herein.

In some embodiments, light colored rosin esters are used in hot melt adhesives. The polymer in the adhesive may be any suitable polymer. The polymer may be, for example, a polyacrylate, a polyolefin, a polyamide, a polyvinyl ether, a polyurethane, a polyester, a polyvinyl ester, a copolymer thereof, or a blend thereof. In some cases, the polymer may be derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers. In certain embodiments, the polymer may comprise any one of the following: copolymers of ethylene and n-butyl acrylate; copolymers of styrene and one or more of isoprene and butadiene; a block copolymer of styrene and one or more of isoprene and butadiene; hydrogenated block copolymers of styrene and one or more of isoprene and butadiene, wherein the one or more of isoprene and butadiene is hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated; a polymer derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers; a polymer derived from vinyl acetate. The hot melt adhesive may contain one or more other ingredients including other tackifiers, waxes, stabilizers (e.g., antioxidants), templating agents, pigments and dyes, plasticizers, and fillers. The hot melt adhesive composition typically comprises one or more waxes, for example fischer-tropsch wax or paraffin wax.

In one aspect, the adhesive composition can comprise 15 to 60 wt% or 25 to 45 wt% rosin ester based on the total adhesive composition. The hot melt adhesive composition may comprise 15 to 60 wt% or 25 to 45 wt% rosin ester, based on the total amount of the hot melt adhesive composition. The pressure sensitive adhesive may comprise 5 to 60 wt% or 25 to 45 wt% rosin ester based on the total pressure sensitive adhesive composition.

Examples

The described embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the specification or the claims that follow in any manner.

The hydroxyl number is determined in accordance with DIN 53240-2. Acid number was determined according to ASTM D465-05 (2010). The softening point was determined according to ASTM E28-99 (2009). PAN values are determined according to ASTM D5974-00 (2010). Gardner color is measured according to ASTM D1544-04 (2010). The molecular weight distribution of the oligoesters and the resulting Mn, Mw and Mz values were determined by GPC. Glass transition temperature (Tg) was determined by DSC. The properties of all the starting rosins used are listed in table 1.

TABLE 1