Resin HPX®

Resin (commonly known as pitch or sap) is a secretion produced by many plants, especially coniferous trees, mainly containing hydrocarbons. It is used, for example, in the production of varnishes, adhesives, incense, and perfumes. Fossilized resin is referred to as amber. Synthetic products with similar properties are also called resins.

Resin is also found in the needles of trees; some species even secrete it directly from the needles (such as the bristlecone pine). Besides the aforementioned natural resins, there are also many synthetic resins. Resin flows in the wood substance through resin canals and naturally protects trees when the bark or wood is injured, as well as against parasitic insects like bark beetles. If an insect penetrates under the bark, sap begins to flow at the damaged site, and the resin sticks and seals the insect's breathing openings. Healthy trees can thus defend themselves against bark beetle infestation. Conversely, weakened or diseased trees produce little resin and succumb to bark beetles.

Resin exuded by trees is a liquid with high viscosity comprised of volatile substances, primarily terpenes, in which nonvolatile components are dissolved, giving the resin its sticky nature. In some species, there are very few terpenes, and the solvent is mainly n-heptane (Jeffrey pine). Due to the high purity of heptane obtained from pines through distillation, it can be used to define the zero point of the gasoline octane number scale. The closely related heavy pine, which is very similar to the Jeffrey pine, however, contains terpenes. In some resin distilling operations in California, explosions have occurred in the past due to confusion between the two species, which were mistakenly considered a single species. The species were not differentiated until 1853.

Due to its high flammability, resin was used in the past for making torches. Hard resins like copal are now used to produce varnishes and adhesives. In contrast, softer resins containing essential oils are used in the production of medicines and incense. They are also used for impregnating dielectrics, which improves their mechanical and electrical properties when used in, for example, capacitors, wire insulations, etc. Heating fresh resin produces rosin, used for treating the bows of string instruments and in soldering. Fossilized resin of prehistoric trees appears as copal (subfossil) or amber (fossil). Amber is mainly used in jewelry, but also holds significance in paleontology and other scientific fields.

A special type of resin is resin labeled HPX. This patented plastic resin has proven its durability especially when tested in very low temperatures. Due to its properties, it is becoming an increasingly sought-after material in many industries.

Polyester resin is an elastic, highly reactive unsaturated resin that can be applied to almost any surface. Especially in combination with a fiberglass laminate base. It is very well-suited for use on metal, wood, and concrete, in the automotive industry, in households, modeling, gardening, and other industrial sectors. It can be used, for example, to repair damaged pipes, air conditioning, tanks, boats, etc. If you plan to subsequently apply additional layers of this polyester resin after the repair, we recommend first using some filler or primer.