Preparation of self-crosslinking synthetic resins

A process for the preparation of a synthetic resin which is self-crosslinking under the action of heat and based on polyadducts having a mean molecular weight M.sub.n of from 750 to 5,000, contains on average two or more phenolic OH groups per molecule and can be diluted with water when an acid is added, wherein one or more aliphatic or aromatic epoxy resins possessing on average two or more epoxide groups per molecule and having an epoxide equivalent weight of from 87 to 2,000 are reacted with

• (a) from 55 to 125 mol%, based on the epoxide groups present in the epoxy resin, of a compound which, in addition to one or more phenolic OH groups, contains a further functional group whose reactivity toward epoxide groups is the same as, or greater than, that of a phenolic OH group, and which is of the formula (I) ##STR17## where the OH group is meta or para to R.sup.1, and R.sup.1 is a radical ##STR18## where the OH group is meta or para to X, and X is a straight-chain or branched divalent aliphatic radical of 1 to 3 carbon atoms or ##STR19## where n.sub.1 is 1, 2 or 3, n.sub.2 is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and Y is carboxyl, mercapto, a basic secondary amino group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an N-alkyl-substituted acid amide group where the alkyl chain is of 3 to 6 carbon atoms, is interrupted by a secondary basic amino group and is unsubstituted or substituted by an OH group, or Y is a cyclic amidine of the formula (II) ##STR20## where n.sub.3 is 2 or 3, until the epoxide value is <0.008, and the resulting polyadduct is reacted with, per mole of phenolic OH groups,
• (b.sub.1) from 0.8 to 2.5 moles of formaldehyde or of a formaldehyde-donating compound and
• (b.sub.2) from 0.7 to 2 moles of a mixture of
• b.sub.2.1 from 0 to 99 mol% of a secondary amine of the formula (III) ##STR21## where R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are identical or different and are each a cycloaliphatic radical of 5 or 6 carbon atoms or a straight-chain or branched aliphatic radical of 1 to 8 carbon atoms which cycloaliphatic, straight-chain or branched aliphatic radical may contain 1 or 2 alkoxy groups of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or of a cyclic secondary amine of the formula (IV) ##STR22## where n.sub.4 =4, 5 or 6 and 1 or 2 CH.sub.2 groups can be replaced by an oxygen or sulfur atom, or of an alkylethanolamine or alkylisopropanolamine, where alkyl is of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or of a dialkanolamine where alkyl is of 2 or 3 carbon atoms, or of a mixture of such secondary amines with
• b.sub.2.2 from 1 to 100 mol% of a secondary amine of the formula (V) ##STR23## where R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are identical or different and are each a cycloaliphatic radical of 5 or 6 carbon atoms or a straight-chain or branched aliphatic radical of 1 to 8 carbon atoms which may contain 1 or 2 hydroxyl groups or alkoxy groups of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and Z is a straight-chain or branched divalent aliphatic radical of 2 to 12 carbon atoms, or of a secondary amine of the formula (VI) ##STR24## where n.sub.5 and n.sub.6 are identical or different and are each 1, 2 or 3, and R.sup.7 is an OH-substituted straight-chain or branched alkyl radical of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and is thus converted to a polymeric Mannich base.