Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing a water dispersed polymer blend, comprising the steps of: (I) mixing (a) water; (b) at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer; (c) at least one branched water-dispersible sulfopolymer; and (II) polymerizing the ethylenically unsaturated monomer within the mixture to provide the water dispersed polymer blend.

Abstract: A water-based latex of an acrylic-modified waterborne alkyd dispersion in water is described. The acrylic-modified waterborne alkyd is a hybrid resin prepared by the polymerization of at least one latent oxidatively-functional (LOF) acrylic monomer in the presence of a waterborne alkyd. Preparation of the latexes may be achieved by emulsion polymerization of at least one latent oxidatively-functional acrylic monomer in the presence of a waterborne alkyd whereby the latent oxidative functionality of the acrylic polymer survives polymerization. Such acrylic-modified waterborne alkyds are useful in a variety of coating compositions.

Abstract: The specification describes various polymers having monomer of formula (I): In formula (I), R1 and R2 are, independently, hydrogen, a C1-C24 alkyl group, an aromatic or heteroaromatic group, a C3-C8 cycloalkyl or C2-C7 heterocycloalkyl group, or a —C(O)R3 group in which R3 is a C1-C24 alkyl group, an aromatic or heteroaromatic group, a C3-C8 cycloalkyl or C2-C7 heterocyclic group; or a —CH2—C(O)—R4 group in which R4 is a C1-C6 alkyl group. At least one of R1 and R2 is a —C(O)R3 group. The polymer may be a homopolymer or a copolymer containing other ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The polymer may be used in a variety of coating compositions such as inks, adhesives, paints and films. Unique monomers where both R1 and R2 are acetoacetyl groups and novel monomers where R2 is an acetoacetyl group are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides acrylic polymer-optical brightener compositions. The invention also provides acrylic polymer-optical brightener compositions further comprising near infrared absorbing compounds. The invention also provides processes for making such compositions. Still further, the invention provides methods for detecting and/or separating fluorescing and/or near infrared emitting articles from non-fluorescing and/or non-near infrared emitting articles.

Abstract: The specification describes various polymers having monomer of formula (I): ##STR1## In formula (I), R1 and R2 are, independently, hydrogen, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.24 alkyl group, an aromatic or heteroaromatic group, a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 heterocycloalkyl group, or a --C(O)R3 group. Preferably R1 and R2 are both a a --C(O)R3 group where R3 which can the same of different is selected from the group consisting of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.24 alkyl group, an aromatic or heteroaromatic group, a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 heterocyclic group; or a --CH.sub.2 --C(O)--R4 group in which R4 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group. At lease one of R1 and R2 is a --C(O)R3 group. The polymer may be a homopolymer or a copolymer containing other ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The polymer may be used in a variety of coating compositions such as inks, adhesives, paints and films.

Abstract: This invention provides the preparation of water-dispersible polyester/acrylic hybrids via a two-stage emulsion polymerization process. For example, methacrylic acid and/or 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate are copolymerized with styrene/acrylic monomers to yield a relatively hydrophilic and hydro-plasticized first stage. Subsequent additions of hydrophobic monomers to this first stage "seed" results in an inversion of the latex such that the more hydrophilic first stage is at the particle surface. This results not only in improved stability of the resulting latex without the use of additional surfactants, as evidenced by the production of reduced amounts of coagulum, while it also offers relatively low minimum filming temperatures due to the hydroplasticization of the shell of the particle. Furthermore, the use of the water-dispersible polyester results in extremely fine latex particle sizes which can significantly enhance coating properties such as film gloss and clarity.