Synthetic resins are materials with a property of interest that is similar to natural plant resins: they are viscous liquids that are capable of hardening permanently. The synthetics are of several classes. Some are manufactured by esterification or soaping of organic compounds. Some are thermosetting plastics in which the term "resin" is loosely applied to the reactant or product, or both. The manufacture of synthetic resin varies between types and applications, however the process is always dominated by chemical reactions. Countless additives and catalysts end up in the mix on top of the base formula. Synthetic resin is typically manufactured using a chemical polymerization process.

There are various kinds of synthetic resins; acetal resins, amino resins, casein resins, epoxy resins, emulsion polymers, hydrocarbon resins, polyamide resins, polyesters rubber resins etc. The classic variety is epoxy resin, manufactured through polymerization-poly addition or poly condensation reactions, used as a thermoset polymer for adhesives and composites. Epoxy resin is two times stronger than concrete, seamless and waterproof. A large category of resins, which constitutes 75% of resins used, is the unsaturated polyester resins. Polyamide resins are products of polymerization of an amino acid or the condensation of a demine with a carboxylic acid. The applications of synthetic resins are seen in some important industries like paint industry, adhesive industry, the printing ink industry, the textile industry, the leather industry, the floor polish, paper, agricultural industry etc.

The resin produced by most plants is a viscous liquid, composed mainly of volatile fluid trepans, with lesser components of dissolved non-volatile solids which make resin thick and sticky. Some resins when soft are known as 'oleoresins', and when containing benzoic acid or cinnamic acid they are called balsams. The term “synthetic resin” was first used to describe synthetic chemical compounds that resembled natural resins in their general appearance.

The applications of synthetic resins are seen in some important industries like paint industry, adhesive industry, the printing ink industry, the textile industry, the leather industry, the floor polish, paper, agricultural industry etc.

Two principle polymer backbones which are used in producing resins- 1) Polystyrene                                                                                                                 2) Polyacrylic

Polystyrene is a synthetic aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene, a liquid petrochemical. Polystyrene can be rigid or foamed. General purpose polystyrene is clear, hard and brittle.

Further information:

Modern technology of synthetic resins & their applications describes the detailed information on subject. The major contents of this book are: acetal resins, acrylic solution resins, acrylonitrile resins, alkyd resin technology, amino resins, epoxy resins, emulsion polymers: manufacture, furan resins, hydrocarbon resins, ion-exchange resins, polyamide resins, polyurethane resins, rubber resins, shellac resins, alkyl and hydroxyl, water-reducible resins etc.

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