Light-coloured cashew nut lacquer has been prepared by the reaction of cardanol

maleic anhydride and urotropine. The chemical reactions involved in the synthesis has been discussed by means of the IR analytical results. The molecular weight of the reaction product determined by GPC is 2.8×103. The physico-mechanical properties of the casting film are excellent

and extremely resistant to strong acids

water and high temperature

which are comparable to those of natural lacquer.