Modified epoxy resin

A process for preparing a modified epoxy resin, the process comprising fusing in the presence of an advancement catalyst:

• a. dicyclopentadiene-phenolic adduct having the formula II:
• wherein:
• R3 and R4 are independently H, alkyl group, branched alkyl group, alkoxy group, or substituted biaryl group;
• R4 and R3 optionally forming a fused aromatic ring or a fused hetero aromatic ring;
• n is 0 to 1, wherein concentration of n=0 monomer is greater than 75%;
• b. diglycidyl derivative having the formula (III a) or (III b):
• wherein
• R1 and R2 are independently alkyl group having 1 to 32 C atoms, branched alkyl group having 1 to 32 C atoms, cyclo-aliphatic group, substituted cycloaliphatic group, aromatic group, substituted aromatic group, biarylene or alkyl substituted biarylene group, cycloaliphatic-aromatic group or aryl ene-Z-aryl ene group;
• X and Y are independently 0, —C(O)O—, or an amine group;
• Z is dicyclopentadiene;
• such that the modified epoxy resin of formula (I) is obtained:
• wherein
• R is R1, R2 or a combination of R1 and R2;
• R1 and R2 are independently alkylene group having 1 to 32 C atoms, branched alkylene group having 1 to 32 C atoms, cyclo-aliphatic group, substituted cycloaliphatic group, aromatic group, substituted aromatic group, biarylene or alkyl substituted biarylene group, cycloaliphatic-aromatic group or arylene-Z-arylene group;
• X and Y are independently 0, —C(O)O—, or an amine group;
• Z is dicyclopentadiene;
• R3 and R4 are independently either H, alkylene group, branched alkylene group, alkoxy group, substituted biarylene group or;
• R4 and R3 optionally forming a fused aromatic ring or a fused hetero aromatic ring;
• n is 0 to 1 with wherein concentration of n=0 monomer is greater than 75%;
• and
• N is 1-20.