Abstract: Condensation resins obtained by the polycondensation of alkyl aryl ketones and formaldehyde, wherein the polycondensation mixture contains 0.05 to 5% by weight, based on the alkyl aryl ketone, of an activator having the formula (A) ##STR1## wherein X is a nitrogen or phosphorus atom; R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each independently a C.sub.1-3 -alkyl group or a phenyl group; and Y.sup.- is the anion of an inorganic or organic acid, have higher softening points than resins prepared by analogous processes but without the activator.

Abstract: The reaction of maleic anhydride with vinylbenzene to form tetralin dianhydride is improved by conducting, per mole of vinyl group, 2-20 l/h of air (measured under normal conditions: 20.degree. C./l bar) through the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A naphtha-soluble, hydrogenated C.sub.1-4 -alkyl C.sub.6-10 -aryl ketone/formaldehyde resin, having an oxygen content of at least 6% by weight and a softening point of at least 70.degree. C. can be produced by a process comprising the step of hydrogenating a C.sub.1-4 -alkyl C.sub.6-10 -aryl ketone/formaldehyde resin under a hydrogen pressure of at least 200 bar and a temperature of 140.degree.-300.degree. C., in the presence of a nickel, palladium, palladium/copper or palladium/nickel catalyst. These resins are useful, for example, as additives to improve the hardness of varnishes and other coatings.

Abstract: In a liquid coating composition comprising a small amount of solvent or no solvent, a binder and optionally conventional auxiliary agents, wherein the binder consists essentially of:(A) 45-10% by weight of an aminoplast, the low molecular weight precursors thereof, or mixtures thereof; and(B) 55-90% by weight of an at least difunctional polyester or a mixture of such polyesters; wherein the polyester component B has been produced by the condensation of a conventional alcohol component I with an acid component III, wherein component III consists essentially of a mixture of:III.1 67-92 molar percent of hexahydroterephthalic acid or a lower alkyl ester thereof; andIII.

Abstract: Liquid, highly pigmentable coating compositions containing little or no solvent and which are suitable for spray coating employ a binder consisting either ofA. 45-10% by weight of an aminoplast, a low-molecular weight precursor thereof, or a mixture thereof, andB. 55-90% of an at least bifunctional polyester, or a mixture thereof, having predominantly hydroxy end groups, a degree of condensation of between 2.5 and 10.5 and a molecular weight of up to 1,000, and prepared by condensing an alcohol component consisting of 0-30 molar percent of one or more 3-6 carbon atom polyols having 3-4 hydroxy groups and 100-70 molar percent of a mixture of diols consisting of 33-90 molar percent of ethylene glycol and 67-10 molar percent of 1,2-propanediol, or a condensation product of A and B.