Polymerization of tung oil by reaction of phenols with tung oil

Investigation was made on the mechanism of polymerization in reactions of tung oil and phenols in the presence of an acid catalyst. It was made by means of comparative HLC and NMR analyses of the products of tung oil self‐polymerization, other varied vegetable oil‐various phenol reactions, and tung oil‐various‐in‐functionality phenol reactions under given conditions. As a result, it was confirmed that polymerization in reactions of tung oil and phenols is attributed not to tung oil self‐polymerization but to di‐ or trialkylation, with tung oil, of phenols, which can serve as crosslinking agents of tung oil.