This glossary gives standalone, plain-English definitions for 40 terms used when specifying hydrocarbon resin, formulating adhesives, buying construction-grade PVA fiber, and arranging export shipments. A term explains what a value means; the current TDS, agreed test method, batch COA, contract, and destination customs ruling control an actual order.
Alphabetical index
Acid value · Alkali resistance · APHA/Hazen · Aromaticity · CFR · CIF · COA · Cold polymerization · DACP cloud point · DCPD · Denier · dtex
ECC · Elastic modulus · EVA · EXW · FCL · FOB · Gardner color · Hatschek process · Hot polymerization · HS code · Hydrogenation
L/C at sight · LCL · MMAP cloud point · Open time · Piperylene · PSA · SBS · SDS (formerly MSDS) · SEBS · Set time · SIS
Softening point (R&B) · Tackifier · TDS · Tensile strength · Tg · Wax cloud point
Resin chemistry and production
Aromaticity
Aromaticity is the degree to which a hydrocarbon resin contains aromatic-ring character. Greater aromaticity often improves affinity for styrenic domains and aromatic solvents, while lower aromaticity favors many aliphatic elastomers and polyolefins. It is a compatibility direction, not a complete measure of polarity or finished-formulation performance.
Cold polymerization
Cold polymerization is catalytic resin production at a controlled temperature lower than thermal or “hot” polymerization. Lewis-acid catalysts are commonly used with C5 or C9 feeds. The process can enable lighter color and tighter property control, but “cold” is a relative process label, not a universal temperature specification.
DCPD
DCPD means dicyclopentadiene, a cyclic C10 hydrocarbon used as a resin feedstock. Thermal or catalytic polymerization can produce DCPD-rich, cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon resins; subsequent hydrogenation can further change color, odor, stability, and compatibility. “DCPD resin” therefore identifies a family, not one fixed specification.
Hot polymerization
Hot polymerization usually means high-temperature thermal polymerization of a hydrocarbon feed without the Lewis-acid route associated with cold polymerization. It is common for selected C9 and DCPD resins. Feed composition and operating conditions determine color, odor, molecular profile, softening point, and application—not the process name alone.
Hydrogenation
Hydrogenation adds hydrogen across reactive unsaturation in a base hydrocarbon resin. Partial or full hydrogenation normally reduces color and odor and improves resistance to oxidation, heat, and UV-related yellowing. It can also shift polymer compatibility, so a water-white hydrogenated resin is not automatically a drop-in replacement.
Piperylene
Piperylene is the common name for pentadiene isomers found in C5 steam-cracker streams. Piperylene-rich feedstocks are polymerized to make many aliphatic C5 tackifier resins. Commercial feed composition also includes other unsaturated C5 components, so “piperylene resin” does not mean a pure single-monomer polymer.
Tackifier
A tackifier is a compatible low-molecular-weight resin blended with a polymer to develop tack, wetting, peel, or adhesion. Hydrocarbon resin, rosin derivatives, and terpene resins are common families. A tackifier must be selected with the base polymer because extra tack can reduce cohesion or cause phase separation.
Resin properties and test methods
Acid value
Acid value is the milligrams of potassium hydroxide needed to neutralize acidic constituents in one gram of material, reported as mg KOH/g. Hydrocarbon resins normally have low values. The result can affect cure chemistry, pigment interaction, and storage behavior, but only comparable methods and sample conditions should be compared.
APHA/Hazen
APHA, Hazen, and platinum-cobalt color describe closely related scales for very light, clear liquids or resin solutions. Lower numbers indicate less visible yellow color, with zero near water-white. The scale, solvent, concentration, path length, and instrument must be stated; APHA values are not interchangeable with Gardner numbers.
DACP cloud point
DACP is the diacetone-alcohol cloud point used to indicate resin polarity. A heated resin solution in a defined xylene/diacetone-alcohol system is cooled until clouding appears; a lower DACP generally indicates greater polarity. Highly aromatic resins may remain soluble below the method limit, so compare only like test procedures.
Gardner color
Gardner color ranks clear yellow-to-brown liquids or resin solutions on a scale from 1 to 18, with lower values lighter. Visual ASTM D1544 and instrumental methods exist. A result is meaningful only with the method and sample preparation, because neat resin and a stated solution can give different readings.
MMAP cloud point
MMAP is the mixed methylcyclohexane-aniline cloud point used to indicate aromatic character. A defined hot solution is cooled until turbidity appears; lower MMAP generally means greater aromaticity, while high values indicate more aliphatic character. MMAP is a screening tool for compatibility, not a direct adhesion measurement.
Softening point (Ring-and-Ball, R&B)
Ring-and-Ball softening point is the controlled temperature at which a resin softens enough to reach an apparatus endpoint, commonly measured by ASTM E28. Hydrocarbon resin has no sharp melting point. A higher R&B value does not equal the finished adhesive’s service temperature and does not prove better performance.
Tg
Tg is glass-transition temperature: the range where an amorphous material changes from relatively glassy to more rubber-like molecular motion. It is commonly measured by differential scanning calorimetry and depends on the stated onset, midpoint, or inflection convention. Tg is not the same property as Ring-and-Ball softening point.
Wax cloud point
Wax cloud point is the temperature at which a defined resin, polymer, and wax blend first becomes visibly cloudy during controlled cooling. It screens compatibility in hot-melt formulations. Polymer grade, wax type, blend ratio, cooling procedure, and observation method must match; otherwise two published values are not comparable.
Adhesives and base polymers
EVA
EVA is ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a common hot-melt adhesive base polymer. Vinyl-acetate content and melt index strongly influence flexibility, polarity, viscosity, and tackifier compatibility. Lower-VA grades often screen well with aliphatic resins, while higher-VA grades may require more aromatic or polar compatibility.
Open time
Open time is the interval after adhesive application during which the parts can still be joined and form an acceptable bond. It depends on formulation, coat weight, substrate, application temperature, ambient conditions, and assembly pressure. Open time is not simply the time until the adhesive feels dry.
PSA
PSA means pressure-sensitive adhesive, an adhesive that bonds to a suitable surface with light pressure without solvent activation, water, or a curing reaction at use. Tape and labels are common examples. PSA design balances quick tack and peel against shear resistance, cohesion, aging, and clean removability.
SBS
SBS is styrene-butadiene-styrene, a thermoplastic block copolymer with glassy styrene end blocks and a rubbery polybutadiene midblock. Tackifier aromaticity determines which phase is preferentially modified. Formulators balance tack and wetting against cohesion, heat resistance, oxidation stability, and physical crosslink strength.
SEBS
SEBS is styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene, the hydrogenated analogue of SBS. Saturating the butadiene midblock gives better heat, oxidation, and weathering stability, but changes solubility and tackifier requirements. SEBS compounds commonly use compatible hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins where color and long-term stability matter.
Set time
Set time is the interval required after assembly for an adhesive bond to develop enough strength to resist movement or handling under specified conditions. It is controlled by cooling, crystallization, solvent loss, or reaction mechanism. A short set time and a long open time are different formulation objectives.
SIS
SIS is styrene-isoprene-styrene, a thermoplastic block copolymer widely used in hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesives. Compatible C5 or hydrogenated aliphatic tackifiers preferentially soften the polyisoprene midblock and build tack. Resin loading, oil, styrene content, and molecular structure control peel, shear, and temperature performance.
PVA fiber and cement composites
Alkali resistance
Alkali resistance is a fiber’s ability to retain useful properties during exposure to high-pH cement pore solution. It should be evaluated by a defined aging condition and retained strength, modulus, or mass—not by the word “resistant” alone. PVA is valued for cement use partly because of strong alkaline durability.
Denier
Denier is a direct measure of fiber linear density equal to grams per 9,000 meters. A higher denier means more mass per unit length, although diameter also depends on polymer density and cross-section. Denier describes fineness; it does not by itself state tensile strength, modulus, or cut length.
dtex
Decitex, abbreviated dtex, is a metric linear-density unit equal to grams per 10,000 meters of fiber. One dtex equals 0.9 denier, and one denier equals about 1.111 dtex. Procurement documents should not treat equal denier and dtex numbers as the same fineness.
ECC
ECC means engineered cementitious composite, a micromechanically designed fiber-reinforced cementitious material that develops tensile strain hardening and multiple fine cracks. PVA fiber is common, but fiber alone does not create ECC. Matrix toughness, interface bond, fiber geometry, dispersion, and dosage must work together.
Elastic modulus
Elastic modulus measures stiffness: the ratio of stress to strain in the elastic region, commonly reported in GPa for fiber. A higher modulus means less elastic extension under the same stress. Modulus is not tensile strength; a stiff fiber can still break at a comparatively low stress or elongation.
Hatschek process
The Hatschek process forms fiber-cement sheet by filtering a dilute cement-and-fiber slurry on rotating sieve cylinders, transferring thin films to felt, and building layers to the target thickness. Dewatering, pressing, and curing follow. PVA grade, retention, dispersion, and drainage must suit the actual machine system.
Tensile strength
Tensile strength is the maximum tensile stress a material sustains before failure under a defined test. For PVA fiber it is commonly reported in MPa and depends on gauge length, conditioning, test speed, and specimen preparation. A high headline value does not guarantee dispersion, bond, or composite toughness.
Trade, shipping, and documents
CFR
CFR means Cost and Freight under Incoterms® 2020 and applies only to sea or inland-waterway transport. The seller pays carriage to the named destination port, but risk transfers when the goods are on board at origin. The seller has no CFR obligation to buy cargo insurance.
CIF
CIF means Cost, Insurance and Freight under Incoterms® 2020 for sea or inland-waterway transport. The seller pays freight and obtains the required minimum insurance to the named destination port, while risk still transfers on board at origin. CIF does not include import duty or final delivery.
COA
A Certificate of Analysis is a batch-specific report of actual test results for agreed release properties. It identifies the grade and lot and should state methods, units, and limits where applicable. A COA is evidence for one shipment batch; it does not replace the broader product TDS.
EXW
EXW means Ex Works under Incoterms® 2020. The seller makes packed goods available at the named place but is not obliged to load the collecting vehicle or clear export customs. Because the overseas buyer may struggle to perform China export formalities, FCA can be more operationally suitable.
FCL
FCL means full container load: one shipper books the use of a container rather than sharing it under an LCL consolidation. It does not guarantee the container is physically filled to capacity. Payload, volume, pallet plan, product density, and carrier limits determine the actual loading quantity.
FOB
FOB means Free on Board under Incoterms® 2020 and is limited to sea or inland-waterway shipments. The seller export-clears and loads the goods on the nominated vessel at the named port; risk then passes to the buyer, who arranges main freight and normally cargo insurance.
HS code
An HS code is a six-digit international customs classification maintained through the Harmonized System. Countries extend those six digits for national tariff and statistical purposes. The correct code depends on the product’s objective characteristics; a supplier’s suggested code is not a binding customs ruling or product approval.
L/C at sight
An L/C at sight is a documentary credit under which the nominated or issuing bank pays after a complying document presentation is examined. “At sight” does not mean instantly, and banks examine documents rather than product quality. Exact wording, deadlines, tolerances, and UCP rules must be workable.
LCL
LCL means less than container load: cargo from multiple shippers is consolidated into one container. It can suit smaller quantities, but adds consolidation handling, more touchpoints, destination charges, and possible delay. Compare total landed cost and damage exposure, not only ocean freight per tonne.
SDS (formerly MSDS)
A Safety Data Sheet is the standardized safety document formerly called an MSDS. Its 16-section format covers identification, hazards, handling, exposure controls, properties, transport, and other information. A non-dangerous-goods classification does not make the SDS unnecessary; carriers and importers may still require it.
TDS
A Technical Data Sheet summarizes a product’s identity, typical properties, test methods, use guidance, storage, and handling information. Typical values are not automatically contractual limits. Buyers should distinguish the TDS from the agreed specification, batch COA, and SDS, then trial the exact grade in the intended formulation.
Sources and next steps
Definitions align with ASTM E28 for Ring-and-Ball softening point, Eastman’s hydrocarbon-resin compatibility guide, ICC Incoterms® 2020, OSHA’s 16-section SDS guidance, the WCO HS 2022 nomenclature, and published Hatschek-process literature.
For a product decision, compare MR-* hydrocarbon resins or MF-* PVA fiber, then request the current technical documents and a sample. For customs and origin documents, use the HS codes and shipping documents guide.