Abstract: A binder has at least one isocyanate and at least one biopolymer mixed with water. The biopolymer may be a biopolymer nanoparticle or cooked and chemically modified starch. Optionally, the binder may also include urea. The biopolymer and water are mixed, and the isocyanate is added to the mixture. The binder may have a viscosity that is suitable for being sprayed on a substrate to make a composite material, for example a viscosity of 700 cP or less or 500 cP or less at 40° C. The substrate may be wood, another lignocellulosic material, or synthetic or natural fibers. In particular examples, the binder is used to make no added formaldehyde wood composites including particle board and fiberboard. Alternatively, the binder may have a higher viscosity and be used to make plywood.

Abstract: A binder comprising isocyanate droplets in water, wherein the isocyanate droplets have an average droplet size of 500 microns or less, and the isocyanate droplets have shells comprising a biopolymer or a reaction product of a biopolymer and isocyanate. The biopolymer may be a biopolymer nanoparticle or cooked and chemically modified starch. Optionally, the binder may also include urea. The substrate for the binder may be wood, another lignocellulosic material, or synthetic or natural fibers. In particular examples, the binder is used to make no added formaldehyde wood composites including particle board and MDF.

Abstract: A binder has at least one isocyanate and at least one biopolymer mixed with water. The biopolymer may be a biopolymer nanoparticle or cooked and chemically modified starch. Optionally, the binder may also include urea. The biopolymer and water are mixed, and the isocyanate is added to the mixture. The binder may have a viscosity that is suitable for being sprayed on a substrate to make a composite material, for example a viscosity of 700 cP or less or 500 cP or less at 40° C. The substrate may be wood, another lignocellulosic material, or synthetic or natural fibers. In particular examples, the binder is used to make no added formaldehyde wood composites including particle board and fiberboard. Alternatively, the binder may have a higher viscosity and be used to make plywood.

Abstract: This specification describes a composition for coating on a substrate, such as paper, useful for inkjet printing with ink having an anionic dye. The coating comprises a cationic binder and preferably pigment. The binder may be made of latex forming cationic biopolymer particles, for example made from cationic starch. Cationic biopolymer polymers are used as a cationic fixative. Optionally, a salt with a polyvalent metal ion may be added top the composition. With this addition, the substrate is also suitable for printing with dispersed pigment based inkjet ink.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel biolatex conjugate compositions and methods of production and use thereof. The novel biolatex conjugate compositions comprise a biopolymer-additive complex (prepared by co-extruding a biopolymer feedstock, at least one performance-enhancing additive, and at least one plasticizer under shear forces) reacted with a crosslinking agent under shear forces. The biolatex conjugate compositions exhibit enhanced performance properties for coated paper, paperboard, and other applications using extremely low levels of performance-enhancing additives.

Abstract: The invention relates to an application system for water-based adhesives to produce corrugated and laminated board products using less adhesive than traditionally possible. The water based colloidal adhesive is selected from the group consisting of biopolymer nanoparticles and formulations based thereon, polyvinyl acetate and formulations based thereon, polyvinyl alcohol blends and formulations based thereon, dextrins and formulations based thereon, polyacrylics and formulations based thereon, vinyl acetate-acrylic copolymers and formulations based thereon, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and formulations based thereon, vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymers and formulations based thereon, and other adhesives of similar characteristics, and blends of any of the former.

Abstract: Coating compositions comprising a pigment and starch dispersion of discrete crosslinked starch particles in an aqueous liquid. The dispersion may be used as coating color for paper. A preferred process of preparing the dispersion of starch particles comprises (a) obtaining a mixture of starch and an aqueous liquid; (b) processing the mixture using shear forces in the presence of a crosslinker in an extruder; and (c) injecting a hydroxylic liquid into the extruder and dispersing the mixture inside the extruder or outside the extruder or both inside and outside the extruder to obtain the dispersion.

Abstract: Starch dispersions comprising discrete particles of crosslinked cationic starch in an aqueous liquid can be used in papermaking. They can be used as a wet-end additive or in surface coating. The starch dispersions can be prepared by a process comprising: (a) obtaining a mixture of cationic starch and an aqueous liquid, (b) processing the mixture using shear forces in the presence of a crosslinker: and (c) adding and mixing in a hydroxylic liquid to obtain the starch dispersions.

Abstract: Environmentally friendly biopolymer adhesives are described, wherein the adhesives comprise biopolymer particles, more preferably starch microparticles, and most preferably starch nanoparticles, and their aqueous dispersions. Applications for the biopolymer particle adhesives are described, that are environmentally friendly alternatives to petroleum based synthetic adhesives. The biopolymer particle adhesives provide are biodegradable as well as repulpable, and thus provide bio-based recycling-friendly alternatives to synthetic adhesives derived from petroleum resources.

Abstract: Coating compositions comprising a pigment and starch dispersion of discrete crosslinked starch particles in an aqueous liquid. The dispersion may be used as coating color for paper. A preferred process of preparing the dispersion of starch particles comprises (a) obtaining a mixture of starch and an aqueous liquid; (b) processing the mixture using shear forces in the presence of a crosslinker in an extruder; and (c) injecting a hydroxylic liquid into the extruder and dispersing the mixture inside the extruder or outside the extruder or both inside and outside the extruder to obtain the dispersion.

Abstract: Coating compositions comprising a pigment and starch dispersion of discrete crosslinked starch particles in an aqueous liquid. The dispersion may be used as coating color for paper. A preferred process of preparing the dispersion of starch particles comprises (a) obtaining a mixture of starch and an aqueous liquid; (b) processing the mixture using shear forces in the presence of a crosslinker in an extruder; and (c) injecting a hydroxylic liquid into the extruder and dispersing the mixture inside the extruder or outside the extruder or both inside and outside the extruder to obtain the dispersion.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of starch particles in a two-phase system comprises at least the following steps: a) a preparation of a first phase comprising a dispersion of starch in water; b) preparation of a dispersion or emulsion of the first phase in a second liquid phase, with the proviso that the second phase is not water; c) cross-linking of the starch present in the first phase; d) separating the starch particles thus formed. According to a first aspect of the invention the second phase consists of a hydrophobic liquid and step b) consists in forming an oil-in-water emulsion, which is then inverted to a water-in-oil emulsion. According to a second aspect of the invention, the second phase consists of a water-miscible non-solvent for starch. Starch particles of very small particles size can be produced in a controlled manner by means of this method.

Abstract: A method of preparing a resin-fortified polymer emulsion is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises polymerizing at least one monomer in the presence of a surfactant, an initiator, a resin and sugar-based vinyl monomer under emulsion polymerization reaction conditions effective for initiating polymerization, wherein an emulsion polymerization product is formed that comprises a sugar-based vinyl monomer. A composition comprising resin-fortified emulsion polymer comprising a sugar-based vinyl monomer, a resin and at least one emulsion polymerizable monomer is also disclosed. An ink comprising a pigment and a resin-fortified polymer emulsion comprising a sugar-based vinyl monomer, a resin and at least one emulsion polymerizable monomer is also disclosed.

Abstract: Copolymers prepared from novel alkyl polyglycoside maleic acid esters and vinyl monomers are biodegradable and repulpable and are useful in adhesives, coatings, sizing agents, toners, retention aids and related polymer resins in paper and paperboard applications, in wood gluing, packaging and other applications.