Abstract: A process for hardening (I) a resin which is the reaction Product of a first reaction of a) an epoxy resin which contains at least two epoxy groups with b) an olefinically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid followed by a reaction with c) a carboxylic groups containing component; by copolymerizing said resin (I) with (II) a copolymerizable unsaturated monomer under the action of irradiation of an electron beam, one polycarboxylic acid unit of said carboxylic groups containing component being attached to at least two molecules of the epoxy resin the number of epoxy groups being approximately equal to the sum of the number of free carboxylic groups and the number of anhydride groups, the proportion being 1.25 to 1.5 equivalents of epoxyde per equivalent of unsaturated monocarboxylic acid and about 0.25 to 0.5 mol of carboxylic groups containing compound. The radiation dose may be as low as 0.25 Mrad/g resin. Shaped body which is obtained by the process and which may be a film, fibre or a coating.

Abstract: A new process for the preparation of hardenable phenolic resins which are substantially free from unreacted phenol and unreacted formaldehyde and which liberate at most only trace quantities of formaldehyde on hardening comprises reacting novolaks containing methylene bridges which are substantially free from unreacted phenol with formaldehyde in the presence of from 0.15 to 1 equivalent (based on the number of phenolic hydroxy groups) of a basic catalyst at 20.degree. to 70.degree. C. The phenolic resin products may be used wherever conventional phenolic resins have previously been used, an important application being the preparation of aqueous emulsions for use as coating materials and impregnating agents.