Abstract: A process for the preparation of copolymers in which in a first step an olefinically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid is reacted with a polyhydric alcohol to yield a hemi-ester having free hydroxyl groups, which in a second step is reacted with a monoepoxy compound to yield an olefinically unsaturated diester containing hydroxyl groups, wherein the diester is copolymerized in at least one further step with at least one unsaturated monomer having no free carboxyl groups, and the hardenable reaction product thus obtained is either isolated or hardened with a hardening agent, and coating and adhesive compositions containing a copolymer thus obtained.

Abstract: An air-drying alkyd resin, based on A) a dicarboxylic acid; B) a non-drying monocarboxylic acid; C) a drying fatty acid; and D) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of D1) polyhydric, at least trihydric alcohol, and D2) mixtures of D1) with up to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the alkyd resin, of at least one dihydric alcohol; modified by an additional reaction with at least one monofunctional monomeric oxirane compound and having a viscosity of not more than 450 mPa.s (measured in a 60% xylene solution at 20.degree. C) and having an acid number of not more than 15, a process for its preparation and coated articles coated with compositions comprising said alkyd resin.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a flexible phenolic resin which comprises co-condensing a dimethylol phenol, substituted by an alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, with a methylol derivative of a polyfunctional phenol in which derivative at least half of the reactive hydrogen atoms in the polyfunctional phenol are substituted by methylol groups and wherein the ratio of the methylol groups of the derivative of the polyfunctional phenol per mol of the dimethylolalkyl phenol is from 1.4:1 to 6:1, a phenolic resin prepared by said process, a coating composition containing said phenolic resin and an article coated with or comprising said phenolic resin.