| HS Code | 749308 |
| Softening Point Ring Ball | 160 °C |
| Color Gardner | 5 |
| Acid Value | <1 mg KOH/g |
| Iodine Value | 80 g I2/100g |
| Specific Gravity 25 C | 1.08 |
| Melt Viscosity 200 C | 1000 mPa·s |
| Glass Transition Temperature | 70 °C |
| Flash Point Cleveland Open Cup | 250 °C |
| Number Average Molecular Weight | 600 |
| Refractive Index 20 C | 1.58 |
| Solubility Parameter | 8.5 (cal/cm³)^0.5 |
| Ash Content | <0.1% |
As an accredited High-Soften-Point ENDEX 160 Hydrocarbon Resin for Coatings factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Packaged in 25 kg multi-wall paper bags with polyethylene liner, palletized and shrink-wrapped for safe transport. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | High-Soften-Point ENDEX 160 resin, solid flakes in PP bags, palletized, loaded into 20' FCL for safe transport. |
| Shipping | High-Soften-Point ENDEX 160 Hydrocarbon Resin ships as solid pastilles in 25 kg kraft bags or 500 kg bulk sacks on pallets. Keep dry, ventilated, and away from heat, flames, and strong oxidizers. Standard non-hazardous cargo; protect bags from damage and store below 45°C. |
| Storage | Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and open flames. Keep containers tightly sealed to prevent moisture contamination and oxidation. Avoid stacking excessively. Use within recommended shelf life, typically up to two years, ensuring proper handling to maintain resin quality and performance. |
| Shelf Life | Unopened, store in cool, dry place away from heat and sunlight; shelf life is typically two years from manufacture. |
In high-solids long-oil alkyd maintenance topcoats for structural steel exposed in ISO 12944-5:2019 corrosivity categories C3 and C4, high-softening-point ENDEX 160 hydrocarbon resin is evaluated at 4–10 wt% on total binder solids to modify pendulum hardness and to increase block resistance during warehouse stacking. The resin is not a film former; its aromatic hydrocarbon backbone acts as a hard, low-molecular-weight diluent that must be incorporated through a defined solvent pre-dissolution step. Incoming lots are tested for ring-and-ball softening point under ASTM E28; the accepted window of 155–165°C means that solid flake added directly to a single-shaft dissolver below 35°C will not fully solvate before the batch reaches 60°C, a failure mode observed on 200 L production dispersers as an amperage rise above 60 A and residual resin particles retained on a 60 µm filter screen. Compliance for the formulated enamel is established under ISO 12944-5:2019, Tables 1–2 for durability in C3-C4 environments, and under ASTM D2369-20 for non-volatile content when the material is supplied for U.S. industrial maintenance projects requiring EPA Method 24 data. The manufacturing path uses a 200 L high-speed disperser equipped with a 350 mm sawtooth blade and variable-frequency drive; the resin is pre-dissolved at 40% solids in xylene at 45–55°C for 45–60 min, then added to the letdown below 70°C after the pigment concentrate has been ground on a horizontal bead mill with 0.6–0.8 mm yttria-stabilized zirconia media to Hegman 6.5–7.0 per ASTM D1210. Spray viscosity is adjusted to 60–80 s ISO 2431 4 mm; airless application at 18–22 MPa through a 0.53 mm tungsten-carbide tip produces 80–120 µm dry film thickness on above-ground storage tank exteriors, pipe bridges, and structural steel. The upper loading boundary is set by viscosity and edge-covering performance: above 10 wt% on total binder solids, the batch often exceeds 110 KU at 25°C and must be thinned beyond the permitted VOC limit, while edge cracking after weathering is screened using ASTM D522 conical mandrel and ASTM G154 QUV-A exposure.
Chlorinated rubber marine paints formulated for splash-zone and above-waterline service use ENDEX 160 at 3–7 wt% on total binder solids because the resin accelerates hard dry and early block resistance under high-humidity coastal conditions, but over-addition retards solvent release and extends the recoat interval beyond the 16–24 h tide-constrained window required for overcoating. Compliance for such systems is assessed under ISO 12944-6:2018 for C4-H and C5-M exposures, with salt-spray testing per ISO 7253 and blister evaluation per ISO 4628-2 after 1,000 h. A typical 150 L high-speed disperser with a 250 mm disc at 12–18 m/s tip speed is used; the resin is pre-dissolved in a 4:1 xylene:butyl acetate blend at 35°C for 30 min before addition to the millbase. Grinding proceeds in a vertical pearl mill loaded with 1.2–1.5 mm zircon beads until Hegman 5.5–6.0 per ASTM D1210; the finished batch is filtered through a 60 µm polyester bag and applied by airless spray at 180–250 bar with a reversible 0.019 in tip. Terminal products are above-waterline hull enamels, wharf fender coatings, and swimming-pool deck enamels where local environmental permits allow chlorinated rubber binders. The main operational boundary is film thickness: dry films above 100 µm trap solvent from the high-Tg resin and produce blistering in salt-fog exposure; therefore, application is restricted to two coats of 50 µm each with 12–16 h intermediate drying at 20°C and relative humidity below 70%.
On reverse-roller coating lines processing 0.40–0.80 mm hot-dip galvanized and Zn-55% Al alloyed coil, the substrate is carried to a peak metal temperature of 216–232°C for 20–30 s; ENDEX 160 is added to a polyester-melamine topcoat at 2–6 wt% on total resin solids to raise post-bake Persoz hardness without increasing the hexamethoxymethylmelamine level, which would otherwise reduce reverse-impact toughness. The compliance framework for prepainted architectural cladding is defined by EN 13523-0:2021 for general requirements, EN 13523-5:2016 for rapid deformation, and EN 13523-7:2014 for T-bend; additionally, ASTM D4145-10 and ASTM D4214-07 are used for U.S. specification work. The process on a 60 m/min reverse-roll coater uses a chrome-plated applicator roll at 1.5–2.5 MPa nip pressure, a wet film of 18–25 µm dry film thickness, a three-zone convection oven, and water quenching to below 40°C before rewind. Terminal finished product types are prepainted steel coil for commercial building cladding, insulated sandwich panels, and appliance cabinetry.
The critical formulation cliff-edge is at 6 wt% on total resin solids: ENDEX 160 is a non-reactive aromatic hydrocarbon resin, so higher loadings dilute the polyester-melamine network and lower MEK double rub resistance below the 80 double rub threshold specified in ASTM D5402-19. For each 1 wt% increment above 4 wt%, the formulator compensates by raising hexamethoxymethylmelamine crosslinker on total binder solids by 0.5–1.0 pt, and the glass transition shift is measured by ASTM E1356 differential scanning calorimetry using a heat-cool-heat cycle at 10°C/min. Amine-neutralized adhesion promoters or amine-containing flow modifiers should be avoided in this system; the basic species buffer the sulfonic acid catalyst and reduce crosslink density at high ENDEX 160 loadings. On a production scale, a 2°C drift in peak metal temperature in the third oven zone changes the final Persoz hardness by 10–15 s per ISO 1522; therefore, the line speed is interlocked with non-contact infrared pyrometry on the strip before quench.
| Standard designation | Property | Test condition or boundary |
|---|---|---|
| EN 13523-0:2021 | General requirements for coil coated metals | Panel preparation before each trial |
| EN 13523-5:2016 | Resistance to rapid deformation | 18 J reverse impact on 0.40–0.80 mm HDG |
| EN 13523-7:2014 | Resistance to cracking on bending | 0T–2T, no visible crack under 10× magnification |
| ASTM D5402-19 | MEK solvent resistance | ≥80 double rubs for topcoat |
| ASTM E1356-08(2014) | Glass transition temperature | Heat-cool-heat cycle at 10°C/min |
Solventborne alkyd traffic marking paints incorporating ENDEX 160 at 5–12 wt% on total binder solids are produced by grinding 14–18 wt% titanium dioxide in a sand mill to Hegman 5.0–5.5 per ASTM D1210, letting down with medium-oil soya alkyd and pre-dissolved resin in a 2:1 toluene:ethyl acetate blend, and applying through a truck-mounted airless striper at 80–110 bar with a 0.019–0.023 in tip, followed by drop-on glass beads at 0.4–0.6 kg/m²; the compliance benchmark is EN 1871:2000 for wear resistance and retroreflectivity, and the terminal products are high-traffic urban carriageway markings and airport apron markings.
On sheetfed metal decorating lines, stack block resistance of freshly printed tinplate and tin-free steel is measured by ASTM D3003; ENDEX 160 is dosed at 5–12 wt% on total varnish solids to raise the blocking threshold of air-dried and low-bake overprint varnishes. Non-food-contact exterior metal packaging components are evaluated under Regulation (EU) 10/2011 migration testing only when the varnished surface is separated from food by the metal substrate; direct food-contact clearance under 21 CFR 175.300(b)(3)(i) is not automatically conferred and must be established by the supplier. A 100 m/min roller coating line applies 2.5–4.0 g/m² dry varnish over lithographic inks; the sheet is cured through a hot-air oven at 150–165°C for 8–10 min, cooled below 35°C before stacking, and processed through a guillotine cutter. Terminal product types are decorative biscuit tins, aerosol overcaps, and painted metal signage. Unpigmented clear overprint varnishes will yellow under ASTM D4587 QUV-A; formulations specifying colour stability after 500 h exposure require 0.5–1.5 wt% ultraviolet absorber/HALS package on total varnish solids. Published data for the specific combination of ENDEX 160 and urea-formaldehyde crosslinker in this application is limited, so bench screening on actual lithographic ink sequences is required before plant trials.
Solventborne general industrial baking enamels formulated for basket-dip coating of small metal fittings use ENDEX 160 at 3–8 wt% on total non-volatile binder; the addition lifts pencil hardness after a 90–110°C bake cycle without extending full cure beyond 20 min, which is the maximum dwell time available in a 30 m continuous convection oven. Compliance is audited against ASTM D3363 for pencil hardness, ASTM D2794 for direct/reverse impact, and ASTM B117 for neutral salt-spray when the parts are specified for indoor industrial environments. The paint is mixed in 500 L vertical tanks with low-shear propeller agitation at 300–400 rpm; viscosity is maintained at 25–35 s ISO 2431 4 mm for dip application by centrifugal pump circulation, with a withdrawal rate of 1.2–2.0 m/min. Terminal products include brackets, hinges, lock bodies, and electrical enclosure hardware. Viscosity drift is the main operational boundary: above 8 wt% on total non-volatile binder, the paint reaches 90–110 KU at 25°C and may produce uneven film build in recessed areas; pre-drying at relative humidity above 60% is required before bake to prevent solvent popping.
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High-Soften-Point ENDEX 160 Hydrocarbon Resin for Coatings is supplied as a hard, flaked aromatic C9 hydrocarbon resin with a ring-and-ball softening point specification of 155–165 °C determined by ASTM E28. The resin is not hydrogenated and therefore retains aromatic character; this property distinguishes it from water-white hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins that typically exhibit broader aliphatic solubility but lower softening points. The high softening point contributes to increased film hardness, reduced cold flow, and rapid surface hardness development in solventborne coating systems. Because the resin is oligomeric and high-softening, solvent selection is a primary formulation variable: aromatic solvents, esters, and certain ketones provide sufficient solvency, while aliphatic mineral spirits produce haze or precipitation at ambient temperature.
The product is intended for solventborne coatings in which a non-functional hard resin can modify the free-volume and thermal-mechanical response of the dried film. Unlike reactive phenolic or rosin-modified phenolic resins, ENDEX 160 has an acid number below 1 mg KOH/g and does not participate in oxidative, epoxy-amine, or melamine crosslinking. The resin functions as a hard, thermoplastic co-binder that must be evaluated against the flexibility and re-coating requirements of the target formulation. The following specification envelope is used for incoming quality control.
The release specification set includes softening point, Gardner color, acid number, ash content, and density. Melt viscosity is not a standard certificate-of-analysis parameter for this resin, but it is controlled indirectly through softening point and molecular weight distribution. Batches at the upper and lower ends of the softening-point range can produce measurable differences in solution viscosity and dry-to-handle time, even though both lots meet the release specification.
| Property | Test method | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Softening point, ring-and-ball | ASTM E28 / ISO 4625-1 | 155–165 °C specification; 160 °C typical |
| Gardner color, 50 wt% in toluene | ASTM D1544 | ≤1 |
| Density at 25 °C | ASTM D792 / ISO 1183-1 | 1.06–1.08 g/cm³ |
| Acid number | ASTM D974 | ≤1 mg KOH/g |
| Ash content | ASTM D5630 | ≤0.1 wt% |
| Flash point, Cleveland open cup | ASTM D92 | >200 °C |
Production-scale dissolution of the flake resin is performed in jacketed high-shear dispersers fitted with a Cowles blade operating at 18–25 m/s tip speed. The preferred charging procedure adds the flake gradually to a preheated solvent blend at 60–80 °C, typically based on xylene, high-flash aromatic naphtha, or xylene/butyl acetate. Aromatic content below 60 wt% of the final solvent blend can reduce solubility and create a persistent haze at 25 °C. After dissolution, the batch is cooled to 40 °C before final aliphatic let-down and filtered through 25–50 µm bag or cartridge filters. Insoluble gel particles that pass into the finished coating can act as surface tension discontinuities and produce craters during spray application.
Batch-to-batch variance within the 155–165 °C softening-point window is not negligible in high-solids alkyd enamels. A lot at the upper end of the range can increase solution viscosity and shorten dry-to-handle time compared with a low-end lot, even when both lots meet the stated specification. Production sites running automated viscosity correction adjust let-down solvent by approximately 2–4 wt% between extreme lots to maintain constant Krebs-unit viscosity. The material is supplied as flakes and can agglomerate if charged too quickly into cold solvent; preheating the solvent to 60 °C before flake addition reduces this failure mode.
In ambient-cured medium-oil alkyd enamels, ENDEX 160 is used as a hard co-resin at 5–15 wt% of total binder solids. The resin raises the glass transition temperature of the dried film and shortens the time to dust-free and tack-free states. Pendulum hardness measured according to ISO 1522:2022 typically increases with resin addition, but the relationship is non-linear. Above 15 wt%, film flexibility can become limiting, and conical mandrel bending by ISO 1519:2011 or impact deformation by ISO 6272-1:2011 should be used to establish the upper addition limit on thin-gauge metal panels. Many industrial coating lines add the resin as a pre-cut solution at 50 wt% solids in xylene rather than as dry flake to reduce batch time and avoid incomplete dissolution.
In epoxy primers cured with polyamide or polyamine hardeners, the resin acts as an inert hard resin that increases hardness without participating in the epoxy-amine network. Its acid number below 1 mg KOH/g prevents secondary reactions with amine curatives. Rosin ester resins, in contrast, commonly carry acid numbers from 5–15 mg KOH/g and can consume amine curative or shift stoichiometry. This is one of the main practical differences between ENDEX 160 and rosin-based modifiers. The aromatic structure of ENDEX 160 provides compatibility with bisphenol-A based epoxy resins, but the resin is not a reactive diluent. Use levels in epoxy primers are typically 5–10 wt% of total binder solids; higher loadings can leave a low-molecular-weight aromatic phase that increases water vapour transmission and reduces post-cure glass transition.
High-solids polyester-melamine baking enamels are more sensitive to the resin’s solvent tolerance than conventional-solids alkyds. In formulations at 65–70 wt% solids at application viscosity, the let-down solvent often contains n-butanol, glycol ethers, or butyl acetate. ENDEX 160 is soluble in these oxygenated blends but not in low-aromatic mineral spirits. When the coating is atomised through a high-speed rotary bell applicator at 30,000–50,000 rpm, preferential loss of butanol and low-boiling ester components can make the remaining droplet more aromatic-rich. That shift is favourable for resin solubility but can increase viscosity in the flash-off zone and reduce leveling. Coating lines using electrostatic bell applicators should evaluate the resin at 5 wt% increments up to 15 wt% of total binder solids while monitoring craters, solvent popping after 60 °C flash-off for 10 min, and flow and leveling defects. Published data for this specific configuration are limited beyond general formulation practice.
For wood coatings, ENDEX 160 can be incorporated into nitrocellulose lacquers and acid-catalysed urea-formaldehyde sanding sealers. The high softening point reduces the thermoplastic character of nitrocellulose and improves sanding behaviour. The resin is not directly dispersible in waterborne lattices; direct addition to an acrylic latex produces coagulation. If a waterborne system is required, the resin must first be dissolved in a hydrophobic solvent and emulsified with an appropriate surfactant under high shear, after which film clarity and solvent flash-off remain variable and must be validated.
In forced-dried alkyd-urea and alkyd-melamine industrial finishes, the resin is used at 5–10 wt% of total binder solids to raise sanding hardness and reduce blocking of stacked parts. Because the resin does not participate in urea-formaldehyde or melamine-formaldehyde crosslinking, it remains as a thermoplastic oligomer in the cured network. Over-replacement above 10 wt% can produce a heat-softened fraction when coated parts are later exposed to temperatures near the resin softening point. Film hardness and block resistance are therefore improved within a narrow addition window, but excess resin reduces chemical resistance and crosslink density.
The comparative performance of ENDEX 160 against other resin classes is summarised in the table below. The values are typical ranges for the resin class, not guaranteed product specifications for all trade-named materials.
| Material class | Softening point range | Acid functionality | Solubility profile | Primary coating effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENDEX 160 | 155–165 °C | ≤1 mg KOH/g | aromatic, ester, ketone; limited aliphatic | hardness, block resistance |
| Standard low-softening C9 hydrocarbon resin | 95–120 °C | ≤1 mg KOH/g | broader aliphatic tolerance | moderate hardness, plasticisation |
| Rosin ester resin | 80–100 °C | 5–15 mg KOH/g | aliphatic and aromatic | adhesion promotion, pigment wetting |
| Hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin | 100–140 °C | ≤1 mg KOH/g | aliphatic, low-odour mineral spirits | hardness, UV colour stability |
Compared with a standard low-softening C9 hydrocarbon resin, ENDEX 160 contributes higher film hardness and higher blocking resistance under warm storage. The trade-off is that low-softening C9 resins can be let down with substantially more aliphatic solvent, which is often required in high-volume maintenance paints where low-odour mineral spirits are specified. The difference in solubility parameter is significant: ENDEX 160 solutions may tolerate only limited high-boiling aliphatic diluent before the resin precipitates as a cloudy micro-gel. In production, this failure appears as haze after final thinning, filtration blockage, or spray cratering. Such behaviour is less common with 95–120 °C C9 resins.
Compared with rosin ester resins, the acid number difference is the main technical boundary. Rosin esters provide adhesion to difficult substrates through carboxylic acid interactions with metal oxides, but they can react with basic pigments and amine curatives. ENDEX 160 is acid-base inert and is therefore preferred in zinc-rich primers and acid-catalysed wood coatings where acid functionality interferes with cure chemistry. The aromatic structure, however, absorbs ultraviolet radiation. Long exterior exposure under ISO 4892-2 accelerated weathering can produce yellowing. For white exterior topcoats, the resin should be limited to minor quantities or replaced with a hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin, although the hydrogenated alternative typically has a lower softening point and lower hardness efficiency.
The operational boundary for storage and handling arises from the high softening point. Flake resin can cold-flow or block at warehouse temperatures above 35 °C. Pallets should be stored in a dry area below that temperature and away from direct overhead infrared heaters. When the resin is melted for hot-melt incorporation, the recommended handling temperature is 200–220 °C. Prolonged hold times above 220 °C under air can shift Gardner color and generate gel particles. Plants that hold the resin molten for more than 24 h typically use nitrogen blanketing and temperature interlocks. Dry flake handling can generate combustible dust; area classification and grounding follow site combustible-dust protocols.
In can and coil coatings, ENDEX 160 is evaluated in solventborne polyester or epoxy-phenolic interior lacquers at 3–8 wt% of total binder solids to improve hardness and hot-water resistance. The high aromatic content may affect film extractables. Regulatory compliance for food-contact materials requires end-use migration testing under FDA 21 CFR 175.300 or EU Framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004. The resin does not contain substances restricted by RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU above the specified thresholds.
In high-solids applications, viscosity rise is a critical processing constraint. The resin can be blended with a low-viscosity reactive diluent to offset viscosity increase, but aromatic hydrocarbon solvent is usually required at 60–80 wt% of the total solvent blend. Methyl ethyl ketone or butyl acetate can be used to extend solubility in some systems. Low-aromatic exempt solvents such as acetone or parachlorobenzotrifluoride must be tested because their solvency for the resin is reduced; published data for these specific solvent blends are limited.
Incoming quality control should include softening point and Gardner color as mandatory tests. If the resin is used in automotive or can coatings, a batch-to-batch Gardner shift above 0.5 can alter the colour of white or pastel finishes. The acid number below 1 mg KOH/g should be verified when the resin is used with amine-cured epoxy systems. For critical coatings, the resin should also be checked for insolubles by dissolution at 50 wt% in xylene and filtration through a 25 µm absolute filter. Gel particles that survive final filtration can cause crater defects in spray-applied monocoats because they act as surface tension discontinuities.
For hot-melt coating lines, the high softening point raises processing torque. In a co-rotating twin-screw extruder with L/D 36, barrel set points of 180–200 °C are used for solid flake incorporation. Processing torque is higher than with lower-softening-point resins because melt viscosity remains elevated at standard barrel temperatures. Vent vacuum removes low-level volatile fractions. Running the line above 230 °C risks thermal degradation and colour shift. These processing conditions are specific to hot-melt operations but also apply when the resin is processed in heated static mixers for high-viscosity coating intermediates.
For high-speed reverse-roll coil coaters running at 60–100 m/min, the wet film is typically metered to dry film thicknesses of 15–20 µm. Resin addition can increase application viscosity and reduce sag on vertical sheet, but excessive addition reduces flow-out and can produce ribbing. The ribbing threshold is line-specific and is evaluated by visual inspection and high-shear rheometry in accordance with ISO 3219:2021. Published data for specific numerical hardness shifts or salt-spray resistance changes caused solely by ENDEX 160 in the many possible coating types remain limited to proprietary studies. The effect of the resin is best established by ladder studies in the exact target formulation rather than by direct extrapolation from generic resin-class data.
