PURPOSE: To prepare a melamine resin having excellent plasticity, and useful for the top coating of a melamine-surfaced decorative laminate, by the polycondensation of an amino compound and formaldehyde in the presence of a reaction product of methylpentanetriol with a caroboxylic acid.

CONSTITUTION: A melamine resin having excellent plasticity is prepared by heating and refluxing an amino compound such as melamine, acetoguanamine, etc. (1 mole) with formaldehyde (1.5-4 moles) at pH8.0-12.0 in the presence of a compound obtained by reacting 3-methylpentane-1,3,5-triol with a fatty acid (pref. 8-20C unsaturated fatty acid such as oleic acid, linoleic acid, etc.). The molar raio of the triol to the fatty acid is 1 to 0.5-2.0, and the amount of the reaction product added is 5-30% of the solid component of the resin. The product is pref. added prior to the completion of the reflux, however, addition after the reaction is also effective.