SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The process of the present invention solves the above described problems. Short reaction times are sufficient (reaction times are usually in the order of up to 1 hour at most), relatively low capital requirements are necessary and a constant product consistency is obtained. Operational costs are low when compared with the known processes. These advantages are obtained by mixing the reactants, transferring the mixture to a moving surface at a suitable temperature to form a reacting layer and allowing the components to react on the moving surface. Optionally further heating and/or cooling may be applied to the reaction mixture on the moving surface to create the desired temperature profile. It will be appreciated that an ideal plug flow is obtained in this way, resulting in the high product quality.

Thus, the present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an advanced resin by reaction of a compound having on average more than one epoxy group per molecule and a compound having on average at least one hydroxyl group or carboxyl group per molecule, in the presence of a catalyst at elevated temperature, the process comprising (1) mixing the epoxy compound with the compound having at least one hydroxyl compound or carboxyl compound and the catalyst, and (2) transferring the mixture as a feedstream to a surface which is at least intermittently moving with respect to the feedstream.