Molded resin product and process for producing same

The process for producing a moldable resin composition capable of being cured under suitable molding conditions into a solid resinous material having improved toughness and hardness characteristics which comprises:

• (a) Preparing a finely divided intimate mixture consisting essentially of
• (i) the substantially water insoluble, polycyclic, aromatic, polycarboxylic acid product obtained by subjecting a slurry containing coal to reaction with aqueous nitric acid having a concentration of about 5% to about 90% at a temperature of about 15.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. for about 0.5 to about 15 hours, said acid product having a neutral equivalent between about 150 and about 350;
• (ii) one or more polyols defined by the formula
• HO--R--(OH).sub.x
• wherein x is a number from 1 to 5 and R is an organic bifunctional radical selected from the group consisting of aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and carbocyclic radicals having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and
• (iii) a suitable acid catalyst,
• wherein the ratio of total acid neutral equivalents to total available hydroxy equivalents of said polyol ranges from about 0.5 to about 3.0, and
• (b) subjecting said curable mixture to an increased temperature, in the range between about 80.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. but not under molding pressure and temperature conditions, for a period of at least 15 minutes.