Unsaturated polyester, UP, resins were obtained by reacting the propylene or ethylene glycol, PG or EG, with different acrylopimaric adducts APA, maleic anhydride as a source of double bond, phthalic anhydride and adibic acid as dibasic acids. The molecular weights of UP were determined by end group analysis. The chemical structures of the resulting UP resins were confirmed by H-1 NMR analysis. The curing exotherm, of UP, vinyl ester resins (VE) and styrene was evaluated at temperatures from 35 to 55 degrees C using free radical initiator and accelerator. The curing behaviors of cured UP resins with styrene were evaluated by DSC measurements. The prepared UP curable resins were evaluated in the field of steel coating by measuring their mechanical properties and chemical resistance. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.