Pitch (resin)
Pitch is a viscoelastic polymer which can be natural or manufactured, derived from petroleum, coal tar, or plants. Pitch produced from petroleum may be called bitumen or asphalt, while plant-derived pitch, a resin, is known as rosin in its solid form. Tar is sometimes used interchangeably with pitch, but generally refers to a more liquid substance derived from coal production, including coal tar, or from plants, as in pine tar.
Production
Pitch is the principal product of coal tar, at least from the economic perspective. Coal tar is produced by thermolysis of coal, usually with the objective of obtaining coke, which is heavily used in the production of iron and steel. The thermolysis is conducted at >700 °C, yielding about 75% of coke, the rest being tar and gases. The tar is further processed, generating some chemicals, some fuel, and a soft pitch. Further treatment of the soft pitch yields pitch.Pitch sometimes refers to materials obtained from conifers, i.e. naval stores. Somewhat like the processing of coal to coke and tar, tree exudates are processed to obtain organic compounds. The pitch is obtained from fractions with a high boiling point or is undistillable.
Uses
Pitch, a traditional naval store, was traditionally used to help caulk the seams of wooden sailing vessels. Other important historic uses included coating earthenware vessels for the preservation of wine, waterproofing wooden containers, and making torches. It was also used to make patent fuel from coal slack around the turn of the 19th century. Petroleum-derived pitch is black in colour, hence the adjectival phrase "pitch-black".The viscoelastic properties of pitch make it well suited for the polishing of high-quality optical lenses and mirrors. In use, the pitch is formed into a lap or polishing surface, which is charged with iron oxide or cerium oxide. The surface to be polished is pressed into the pitch, then rubbed against the surface so formed. The ability of pitch to flow, albeit slowly, keeps it in constant uniform contact with the optical surface.
Chaser's pitch is a combination of pitch and other substances, used in jewelry making.