Resins typically refer to organic polymers that soften or melt when heated, exhibit a tendency to flow under external force upon softening, and are solid or semi-solid at room temperature, although they can also be liquid. In a broad sense, any high molecular compound that can be used as a raw material for plastic processing is termed a resin.
Resins are divided into natural resins and synthetic resins. Natural resins refer to amorphous organic substances obtained from the secretions of plants and animals in nature, such as amber, shellac, etc. Synthetic resins are those obtained through chemical synthesis of simple organic substances or through chemical reactions of certain natural products, such as phenolic resins, polyvinyl chloride resins, etc., with synthetic resins being the main component of plastics.
As per synthetic reaction
This method allows resins to be categorized into addition polymers and condensation polymers. Addition polymers are polymers obtained through addition polymerization reactions, with the chemical formula of their chain units identical to that of the monomer's molecular formula, such as polyethylene.
Condensates are polymers obtained from condensation polymerization reactions, whose structural unit chemical formulas differ from the monomer molecular formulas, such as phenolic aldehyde resins, polyamide resins, etc.
By the composition of the main chain
This method allows resins to be categorized into carbon chain polymers, hetero-chain polymers, and elemento-organic polymers.
Carbon chain polymers refer to polymers whose main chains are composed entirely of carbon atoms, such as polyethylene.
A random-chain polymer refers to a polymer whose main chain is composed of atoms of carbon and oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and other two or more elements, such as polyformaldehyde, polyamide, polysulfone, polyether, etc.
Element organic polymers refer to polymers whose main chains may not contain carbon atoms, primarily composed of atoms of elements such as silicon, oxygen, aluminum, titanium, boron, sulfur, and phosphorus, such as organosilicon.
As nature
Thermosetting resins (commonly used in glass fiber reinforced plastics): Unsaturated polyester/vinylester/epoxy/phenolic/bis-maleimide (BMI)/polyimide resins, etc.
Thermoplastic resins: Polypropylene (PP), Polycarbonate (PC), Nylon (NYLON), Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK), Polyether Sulfone (PES), etc.
Synthetic resins are a class of high polymer polymers artificially synthesized. Their significant application is in the production of plastics. To facilitate processing and enhance performance, additives are often added, and sometimes they are used directly for forming, making them synonymous with plastics. Synthetic resins also serve as the basic raw material for manufacturing synthetic fibers, paints, adhesives, insulating materials, etc. There are many types of synthetic resins, with polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and ABS resin being the five major general-purpose resins, widely used as synthetic resin materials.
Resin craftwork
This set of craft items utilizes resin material in their design and composition, fully capitalizing on the material's advantages in terms of smooth lines and lustrous texture.