Hydrogenation Process for Producing Light Petroleum Resins as Adhesive and Hot-Melt Components (Review)

The hydrogenation of petroleum resins (PRs) and the possibilities of using light hydrogenated PRs as components of hot-melt adhesives and pressure-sensitive adhesives have been surveyed. The theoretical aspects of hydrogenation of high molecular weight compounds and the influence of the main factors, such as average molecular mass, structure of hydrogenated moieties, catalyst support morphology, and solvent nature, on the extents of the hydrogenation and chain degradation reactions and their competition have been analyzed. Catalysts and processes for PR hydrogenation have been considered, and the appropriateness of using unsupported nanosized catalysts that mediate the process without diffusion limitations has been substantiated. The possibilities of using hydrogenated PRs in adhesive compositions with regard for compatibility with polymers and rheological and adhesion properties are described. Promising fields of research in hydrogenation of polymeric materials have been identified, including hydrogen-donor hydrogenation, in situ synthesis of sulfides in polymer solutions, particle size optimization of the active phase for hydrogenation of polymers with different average molecular masses, and highly selective hydrogenation of polymers.