Petroleum Resin Preparation by Cationic Polymerization of Pyrolysis Gasoline

This study investigates the process for manufacturing of petroleum resin from pyrolysis gasoline feedstock taken from Tabriz Petrochemical Company. These resins have been used extensively in a wide variety of areas such as adhesives, paint, and printing inks industries. This product is prepared through polymerizing a petroleum fraction containing unsaturated hydrocarbons with the presence of Friedel-Crafts catalyst. The resins were characterized by 1H NMR and IR spectroscopy and the effective factors in the production of petroleum resins, reaction temperature, amount of catalyst and solvent types were analyzed. Analysis of the polymerization temperature demonstrates that resins with high molecular weights and softening points are produced at low temperatures. The optimal amount of catalyst to prepare resins with high molecular weight and softening point is achieved at 0.45-1.25 wt% of the feedstock. When polymerization takes place in the presence of aromatic solvents, the molecular weight and softening point of resins are reduced. The addition of compounds such as indene and styrene led to an increase in molecular weight and softening point while it reduced the resin yield dramatically.These compounds can be utilized to regulate molecular weight.