A modified form of wood rosin created through esterification, it involves reacting wood rosin with a polyhydric alcohol, such as glycerol or pentaerythritol. This chemical process alters the original properties of the rosin, resulting in a material with enhanced characteristics. A common example includes glyceryl abietate, where glycerol reacts with abietic acid, a primary component of wood rosin, to form the ester.
The modification process provides improvements in properties like softening point, solubility, and stability. These enhancements are valuable in various applications because they allow for greater control over performance in final products. Historically, rosin modification has been a key area of development to expand the usability of rosin beyond its raw form, enabling its application in more demanding environments and formulations.