The main use of resin is to be a glue, to transfer tension between the fibers, to bind them together and protect them from external factors. The first resins found in nature, in plants, insects or trees, amber or shellac are some of the examples of natural resins. Resin is a versatile substance that can be used for a multitude of purposes. Commonly used to make durable castings, crafts, floors, countertops, and more.
Resin can be used to make plastics and is an excellent adhesive. Polyethylene resins are the most common type of resin, with more than 100 million tons produced annually. They have strong chemical and vapor or moisture resistance and a high degree of flexibility. They are used for packaging laminates and films, containers, cable insulation, cladding, toys, molds, cladding, and pipes and tubes.
This resin is used to make fillers, construction materials, fishing rods, accessories and even surface coatings. Acrylic resins are unique because they are made up of acrylic acids that give them some interesting characteristics. Like most thermoplastics, this resin has good shape retention, but unlike most thermoplastics, it is immune to the effects of UV exposure and also has a fairly strong tensile strength. As a result, acrylic resin is used to create adhesives, surface coatings, elastics and even decoration.
Hard transparent resins, such as copales, dammars, mastic and sandarac, are mainly used for varnishes and adhesives, while milder odoriferous oleoresins (incense, elemi, turpentine, copaiba) and rubber resins containing essential oils (ammonia, asafetida, gamboge, myrrh and con) are used more with therapeutic purposes, food and incense. So what is the difference between epoxy resin and polyester resin? The main difference lies in how they heal. When considering vinyl ester or polyester resins, they require that a small amount (1 to 3%) of catalysts be added for curing purposes. In the United States, people who sell resin for crafts and resin crafts must comply with ASTM D4236.Nowadays, resin is mainly used for craft purposes and if you take a look at platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest, you will come across incredible things.
It is interesting to note that this reaction to tree trauma is used in the manufacturing process of certain commercial resins and essential oils by stimulating resin flow by inflicting intentional injury or irritation to the bark (see tapping below). Milder odorous oleoresins such as incense, elemi, turpentine, copaiba, and gum resins containing essential oils (ammonia, asafetida, gamboge, myrrh, and escammonium) are most commonly used for therapeutic purposes and incense. This means that the resin brand has been tested and proven to be safe to use for arts and crafts purposes.
