Excerpts from the report Preface: This study of potential uses of fats and oils in drying-oil products had its inception early in 1953. It is well known that drying oils in recent years have encountered increased competition from synthetics. This raises a question as to the nature and strength of the competition from synthetic materials and of how drying oils can best meet it. The present study is aimed at finding out the following: (1) The factors affecting the use of various fats and oils in the drying-oil industry; (2) the difficulties that drying-oil users are encountering and the modifications desired to make the oils more useful in these industries; (3) the reasons why synthetic materials, nonoil paints, and tall oil, a byproduct of the alkaline paper pulp industry, have captured an increased share of the protective-coatings market; (4) the price and supply conditions under which one drying oil might be substituted for another; and (5) the present and probable future supply and price situation for materials used in the production of the synthetics. This information helps provide a basis for efforts to maintain or improve the competitive position of drying oils.