Ester-terminated polyamides of polymerized fatty acids useful in formulating transparent gels in low polarity liquids

A resin composition comprising ester-terminated polyamide of formula (1):

• ##STR8## wherein n designates a number of repeating units such that ester groups are from 10% to 50% of the total of the ester and amide groups;
• R.sup.1 at each occurrence is independently selected from an alkyl or alkenyl group containing at least 4 carbon atoms;
• R.sup.2 at each occurrence is independently selected from a C.sub.4-42 hydrocarbon group with the proviso that at least 50% of the R.sup.2 groups have 30-42 carbon atoms;
• R.sup.3 at each occurrence is independently selected from an organic group containing at least two carbon atoms in addition to hydrogen atoms, and optionally containing one or more oxygen and nitrogen atoms;
• and
• R.sup.3a at each occurrence is independently selected from hydrogen, C.sub.1-10 alkyl and a direct bond to R.sup.3 or another R.sup.3a such that the N atom to which R.sup.3 and R.sup.3a are both bonded is part of a heterocyclic structure defined in part by R.sup.3a --N--R.sup.3, such that at least 50% of the R.sup.3a groups are hydrogen.