The alkyd resins of three different compositions based on nahar seed oil (Mesuaferrea), phthalic anhydride, and maleic anhydride were synthesized by an alcoholysis method. These alkyd resins were blended with a commercially available epoxy resin (Araldite 250, Ciba Geigy, Mumbai, India) separately to study the performance of the blends as coatings. The morphology of the blends was studied with scanning electron microscopy. The drying time, gloss, flexibility, pencil hardness, adhesion, pressure test, and chemical resistance under different conditions were measured for this purpose. The thermal characteristics of the blends were also investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The studies showed better performance of the blends with respect to the drying time, hardness, flexibility, gloss, pressure test, thermal stability, and chemical resistance. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.