Alkyd resin

An alkyd resin is a polyester modified with fatty acids or oils. Its film-forming and binding properties make it a common paint binder.

Polycondensation: A step-growth reaction in which molecules join while releasing small molecules such as water. Polycondensation builds the polyester backbone from polyols and polybasic acids.
Glycerol: A three-carbon alcohol with three hydroxyl groups, used in chemical synthesis and as a humectant. Glycerol is a common polyol that provides branching sites in alkyd synthesis.
Alkyd paint: A coating whose binder is an alkyd resin, usually curing through solvent evaporation and oxidation. It is the principal coating application of alkyd resin.
Acrylic paint: A paint using acrylic polymers as its principal binder, often dispersed in water. Acrylic paints generally dry by water loss rather than alkyd oxidative crosslinking.
Autoxidation: A reaction in which oxygen initiates or sustains oxidation of a substance, often through radical intermediates. Oxygen-driven reactions crosslink many alkyd films after application.
Phthalic anhydride: A cyclic anhydride derived from phthalic acid and widely used to make polyesters. It is a common aromatic acid component in alkyd resin backbones.
Enamel paint: A paint that dries to a hard, often glossy surface; the term covers several binder chemistries. Alkyd binders commonly provide the hard, smooth films associated with enamel paints.
Epoxy resin: A reactive resin containing epoxide groups that cures with a hardener into a crosslinked network. Epoxies typically rely on a separate curing agent and offer a different durability profile.
Drying oil: A plant-derived oil that hardens through oxidation and polymerization when exposed to air. Its unsaturated fatty acids supply the oxidative curing chemistry in oil-modified alkyds.
Fatty acid: A carboxylic acid with a hydrocarbon chain, found in fats and oils. Fatty acids attach oil-derived chains to the polyester structure.

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