NOVARES Equivalent Guide: Rain Carbon C9 Alternatives

For a standard petrochemical NOVARES TT benchmark around 110°C, MR-C9110 is the closest Milorez screening candidate; around 120°C, start with MR-C9120. MR-C9130 is a lighter-color but higher-softening 130°C option. None is a direct substitute for NOVARES pure-monomer, indene-coumarone, phenol-modified or hydrogenated products.

Trademark and independence notice: NOVARES® is a trademark of Rain Carbon. Milorez is not affiliated with Rain Carbon. NOVARES names are used only to define comparison benchmarks, and MR grades are offered solely as closest-equivalent or comparable-alternative candidates for testing.

What is the Rain Carbon NOVARES range?

Rain Carbon’s official NOVARES overview describes thermoplastic hydrocarbon resins based on petrochemical or carbon-derived raw materials, supplied across several distinct series.¹ “NOVARES resin” therefore does not identify one chemistry.

The T Series contains petrochemical aromatic hydrocarbon resins. TT grades polymerize the full unsaturated range of a petro-aromatic C9 fraction. TL and TN use selected C9 ingredients; TN is positioned for EVA compatibility. TA, TNA and TMA are phenol-modified, while TK, TP and TS are aliphatically modified. TM grades are aromatic resins made from pure monomers, and TR grades are cycloaliphatic/aromatic copolymers.²

The C Series contains carbon-based indene-coumarone resins. CA grades add phenolic modification, giving a more polar profile and broader solubility behavior.³ NOVARES pure is a separate water-white hydrogenated family based on C9 or DCPD/C9 monomers.⁴ These distinctions determine whether an MR-C9 comparison is technically reasonable.

NOVARES-to-Milorez grade mapping

Typical values — family-level screening map only; confirm the current TDS and matching test methods

NOVARES benchmark	Published family position	Closest Milorez screen	Qualification limit
TT grade around 100–110°C	Standard mixed-feed aromatic C9	MR-C9110, nominal 110°C	Closest equivalent candidate for TT 110-type requirements; a 100°C benchmark may need reformulation
TT or other unmodified C9 grade around 120°C	Standard aromatic C9 at a higher softening point	MR-C9120, nominal 120°C	Comparable alternative by broad chemistry and softening point; compare color, viscosity and solubility
Appearance-sensitive, high-softening standard C9	Petrochemical aromatic resin where lower color is required	MR-C9130, nominal 130°C	Use only when the higher softening point and viscosity fit; it does not prove identity with TL, TN or TM chemistry
TM pure-monomer grades	Pure-monomer aromatic resin with very low Gardner color and strong UV/thermal stability	No direct MR-C9 match; MR-C9130 may serve only as a 130°C low-color control	Mixed-feed and pure-monomer resins can differ in color stability, molecular distribution and compatibility
C grades	Carbon-based indene-coumarone resin	No direct match; MR-C9110 or MR-C9120 only as a functional comparator	Feedstock and resin structure differ; check solubility, polarity, odor, color and film properties
CA, TA, TNA or TMA	Phenol-modified aromatic resin	No direct MR-C9 match	Do not replace without confirming hydroxyl or phenolic functionality and reactive-system behavior
NOVARES pure	Hydrogenated C9 or DCPD/C9, water-white	No standard MR-C9 match	Unhydrogenated C9 cannot reproduce water-white color, low odor or hydrogenation-related stability

The entries above are typical values and selection directions, not a cross-approval specification. The number in a trade name may indicate a softening-point class, but it does not establish matching feedstock, color, molecular weight, functionality or application performance.

Ink replacement scenarios

In solvent-borne printing inks, MR-C9110 is the first standard C9 screen when the incumbent NOVARES grade supplies aromatic compatibility, pigment wetting and varnish body. MR-C9120 can be evaluated when more hardness or warm-temperature response is needed.

Prepare varnishes at equal solids and under a matched heating history. Compare solution clarity, viscosity, pigment dispersion, gloss, drying or solvent release, adhesion, rub resistance and storage stability. Resin color matters more in transparent or light shades; MR-C9130 may warrant a parallel high-softening screen, but it is not a TM pure-monomer equivalent.

Coating replacement scenarios

In solvent-borne paints and coatings, standard C9 resin can function as a co-binder or modifier for pigment wetting, gloss, hardness, adhesion and water resistance. It does not oxidative-cure like an alkyd and is not a one-for-one replacement for a reactive binder.

Run a substitution ladder rather than changing the full modifier portion at once. Record application viscosity, dry time, gloss, hardness, flexibility, cross-cut adhesion, water and chemical resistance, yellowing and shelf stability. If the incumbent is a phenol-modified, pure-monomer or indene-coumarone NOVARES grade, first determine which property depends on that chemistry; a general C9 resin may not reproduce it.

Five-step sample qualification

1. Identify the complete benchmark. Provide the NOVARES series and grade, current TDS or COA, solvent package and end-use formulation.
2. Screen chemistry before softening point. Use MR-C9110 or MR-C9120 for conventional C9 targets and flag modified, pure-monomer, indene or hydrogenated grades.
3. Request a free sample. Use the sample request form and state color and application limits.
4. Test side by side. Compare neat-resin data, varnish compatibility and finished ink or coating performance under matched conditions.
5. Approve the commercial basis. Complete a production trial and agree the specification. Milorez’s MOQ is 1×20’FCL.

Frequently asked questions

What is the closest Milorez equivalent to a standard NOVARES TT grade?

MR-C9110 is the closest equivalent candidate near 110°C, while MR-C9120 is the comparable alternative near 120°C. Always verify the full incumbent grade.

Can MR-C9130 replace NOVARES TM?

No direct replacement is claimed. MR-C9130 is a lighter-color, nominal 130°C C9 screen, while TM is a pure-monomer aromatic family with a different technical basis.

Is MR-C9 equivalent to NOVARES C or CA?

No. C grades are indene-coumarone resins, and CA grades are phenol-modified. MR-C9 can only be tested as a functional comparator where the formulation permits.

What should an ink or coating trial measure?

Check clarity, viscosity, pigment wetting, gloss, drying, adhesion, hardness, flexibility, resistance, storage stability and aged color using one fixed recipe and matched methods.

Are samples free, and what is the MOQ?

Milorez provides a free sample. Commercial supply begins at one 20-foot full-container load.

Request a NOVARES benchmark review

Read the C9 resin selection guide, then request a free sample. Send the exact Rain Carbon NOVARES grade, TDS, formulation type, pass/fail tests, annual demand and destination. Milorez, a transparent export trading supplier based in Fujian, China, will propose the closest comparable alternative without claiming brand affiliation or automatic equivalence.

Sources

Footnotes

1. Rain Carbon, NOVARES Product Overview, accessed July 20, 2026. ↩

2. Rain Carbon, NOVARES T Series, accessed July 20, 2026. ↩

3. Rain Carbon, NOVARES C Series, accessed July 20, 2026. ↩

4. Rain Carbon, NOVARES pure Series, accessed July 20, 2026. ↩