DISTILLED EPOXY NOVOLAC RESINS

A continuous process comprising a) separating an epoxy novolac resin comprising oligomers having an average functionality of greater than 2.5 and a hydrolyzable chlorine content of less than 450 ppm with a continuous evaporator apparatus to form i) a first distillate vapor fraction comprising epoxy novolac resin having more than 75 weight percent of 2 functional components and wherein the mass of the first distillate vapor fraction is in the range of from 15 to 40 weight percent of the starting epoxy novolac resin; and ii) a first bottom fraction comprising epoxy novolac resin having less than 5 weight percent of 2 functional components and having a glass transition temperature of at least 15 C higher compared to the starting epoxy novolac resin when cured; b) recovering the first bottom fraction product; and c) condensing the first distillate vapor fraction to form a first condensed distillate vapor fraction; d) separating the first condensed distillate vapor fraction with a second continuous evaporator apparatus to form i) a second distillate vapor fraction wherein the mass of the second distillate vapor fraction is in the range of from 40 to 70 weight percent of the first condensed distillate vapor fraction; and ii) a second bottom fraction; e) recovering the second bottom fraction product; and f) condensing the second distillate vapor fraction to form a second condensed distillate vapor fraction product comprising at least 98 weight percent of 2 functional components with a total chlorine content less than 900 ppm, is disclosed.