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Production Methods

Rosin,?also called colophony or Greek pitch (Latin: pix graeca), is a solid form of resin obtained from pines and some other plants, mostly conifers, produced by heating fresh liquid resin to vaporize the volatile liquid terpene components.

Composition

Rosin is a complex mixture that mostly contains resin acids and a little amount of neutral fraction. Rosin mostly contains abietic ?type (abietic, levopimaric, pallustric, neoabietic, dehydroabietic and ?tetra abietic acids) and pimaric type (pimaric and isopimaric acids), besides neutral components.

Health effects

The fumes released during soldering have been cited as a causative agent of occupational asthma. The symptoms also include desquamation of bronchial epithelium.

Description and Sources

Rosin is a natural gum obtained as a resinous constituent of the oleoresin exuded by various species of pine, mostly conifers. It is the non-volatile fraction of the oleoresins from coniferous trees, mainly pine trees.
Rosin consists primarily of abietic- and pimaric-type resin acids (or rosin acids) with characteristic hydrophobic hydrophenanthrene rings.

Types of Rosin

Three types of rosin based on the way of recovery: gum rosin, wood rosin, and tall oil rosin. Rosin is present in unmodified and modified forms in various products such as printing ink, adhesives, and paper size.

Industrial and Pharmaceutical Applications

Used as a precursor for many industrial applications such as paints, inks, adhesives, and sealants. It's pharmaceutical applications including film-forming and coating properties, microencapsulation, and as a matrix material in tablets for sustained and controlled drug release. Rosin has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness, expelling pus and toxins, promoting muscle growth, and relieving pain.

Allergenic Properties

Colophony (rosin) is a common cause of contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) due to its widespread usage and skin sensitizing capacity. Main allergenic components include oxidized resin acids of the abietadiene-type, with 15-Hydroperoxyabietic acid being a major sensitizer.

Definition

A brittle yellow or brown resin that remains after the distillation of turpentine. It is used as a flux in soldering and in making paints and varnishes. Powdered rosin gives a ‘grip’ to violin bows and boxers’ shoes.

General Description

Gum rosin is an exudate gum, which is extracted from pine trees.