Method for preparing phenolic rosin resins

An improved method for producing phenolic rosin resin compositions which comprises:

• A) reacting in a condensation reaction:
• 1) about 30% to about 95% by total weight of the reactants of a rosin;
• 2) about 1% to about 40% by total weight of the reactants of a phenol;
• and
• 3) about 1% to about 25% by total weight of the reactants of an aldehyde;
• at a temperature in the range of about 80.degree. C. to about 180.degree. C. for a period of time sufficient to produce a phenol-rosin condensate, wherein the improvement comprises the addition of about 2% to about 50% by total weight of the reactants of a crosslinkable compound to the condensation reaction and wherein said crosslinkable compound functions as a solvent during the condensation reaction and is a member selected from the group consisting of polyols, polyamines, ethanolamines, and combinations thereof;
• and
• B) reacting in an esterification reaction:
• 1) about 85% to about 99% by total weight of the reactants of the phenol-rosin condensate;
• and
• 2) about 1% to about 15% by total weight of the reactants of a crosslinkable compound which is a member selected from the group consisting of polyols, polyamines, ethanolamines, and combinations thereof;
• at a temperature in the range of about 190.degree. C. to about 290.degree. C. for a period of time sufficient to produce a phenolic rosin resin composition having an acid number no greater than 35.