Abstract: Natural feel polymers exhibit an advantageous blend of flexibility and a strong affinity to natural fibers imparting a natural feel when applied to keratin-based fibers, e.g. hair, skin, or textiles, e.g. cotton, wool, and are water-soluble and water-resistant. The polymers include repeat units of a monomer (e.g. ?-olefin) maleic anhydride alkyl half-ester or full acid, maleamic acid and maleimide, which are derivatized with a polyether amine.

Abstract: Personal care compositions, particularly hair care products, include a polymer mixture made from (A) a derivatized polymer of maleic anhydride having defined repeat units of a monomer (e.g. ?-olefin) maleic anhydride alkyl half-ester or full acid, maleamic acid and maleimide, and (B) a compound or polymer having a carboxylic acid functionality. These compositions exhibit excellent high humidity curl retention properties, as well as an advantageous blend of toughness and cohesiveness, and a strong affinity to natural fibers such as keratin-based fibers, e.g. hair, skin, or textiles, such as cotton or wool; and they are also water-soluble and water-resistant.

Abstract: Personal care products, particularly hair care products, are made herein by mixing (A) a polymer having defined repeat units of a monomer (e.g. ?-olefin) maleic anhydride alkyl half-ester or full acid, maleamic acid and maleimide, which is derivatized with an amine, and (B) a compound or polymer having a carboxylic acid functionality. These products exhibit excellent high humidity curl retention properties, as well as an advantageous blend of toughness and cohesiveness, and a strong affinity to natural fibers, when applied to keratin-based fibers, e.g. hair, skin, or textiles, e.g. cotton, wool; and also they are water-soluble and water-resistant.

Abstract: Personal care compositions, particularly hair care products, include a polymer mixture made from (A) a derivatized polymer of maleic anhydride having defined repeat units of a monomer (e.g. &agr;-olefin) maleic anhydride alkyl half-ester or full acid, maleamic acid and maleimide, and (B) a compound or polymer having a carboxylic acid functionality. These compositions exhibit excellent high humidity curl retention properties, as well as an advantageous blend of toughness and cohesiveness, and a strong affinity to natural fibers such as keratin-based fibers, e.g. hair, skin, or textiles, such as cotton or wool; and they are also water-soluble and water-resistant.

Abstract: What is described herein is a tough yet flexible polymer which is polyvinyl alcohol grafted with a water or alcohol soluble monomer. The grafted polymer has strong holding properties and high humidity resistance, which are particularly suitable for use in hair styling and skin care products. The grafted polymer preferably is made in a solvent such as water, alcohol and water-alcohol mixtures, in the presence of an initiator.

Abstract: Personal care products, particularly hair care products, are made herein by mixing (A) a polymer having defined repeat units of a monomer (e.g. &agr;-olefin) maleic anhydride alkyl half-ester or full acid, maleamic acid and maleimide, which is derivatized with an amine, and (B) a compound or polymer having a carboxylic acid functionality. These products exhibit excellent high humidity curl retention properties, as well as an advantageous blend of toughness and cohesiveness, and a strong affinity to natural fibers, when applied to keratin-based fibers, e.g. hair, skin, or textiles, e.g. cotton, wool; and also they are water-soluble and water-resistant.

Abstract: Natural feel polymers exhibit an advantageous blend of flexibility and a strong affinity to natural fibers imparting a natural feel when applied to keratin-based fibers, e.g. hair, skin, or textiles, e.g. cotton, wool, and are water-soluble and water-resistant. The polymers include repeat units of a monomer (e.g. &agr;-olefin) maleic anhydride alkyl half-ester or full acid, maleamic acid and maleimide, which are derivatized with a polyether amine.

Abstract: An innovative-type hair spray concentrate of defined Brookfield viscosity and solids content which is capable of delivering reduced VOC spray particles of acceptable quality under the Innovative Product Clause Regulations in combination with a suitable restricter valve and actuator system. The concentrate includes a fixative which is the half-ester of a copolymer of maleic anhydride and methyl vinyl ether having a weight average molecular weight of about 40,000 to about 70,000, which provides advantageous physical and use performance properties.

Abstract: A hair spray composition of 80% or less VOC includes a fixative which is the half-ester of a copolymer of maleic anhydride and methyl vinyl ether having advantageous physical and performance properties even at low fixative levels. The copolymer is made by polymerizing the monomers at a selected temperature in the presence of a predetermined amount of a polymerization initiator whose decomposition fragments are soluble in hydroalcoholic solutions containing high levels of water. The composition is clear and without precipitate formation, has a low weight average molecular weight and a narrow molecular weight distribution or polydispersity, affording a low solution viscosity. The composition also forms a spray pattern of small particle size, providing clear, hard fixative films with superior adhesion to the hair of the user, an advantageous high humidity curl retention (hold), and low tack and dry times, in both pump and aerosol products.

Abstract: A process for making a C.sub.1 -C.sub.22 dialkyl ester of a copolymer of a monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, anhydride or mono-C.sub.1 -C.sub.22 alkyl ester thereof, and a vinyl monomer, such as a C.sub.1 -C.sub.30 alkyl vinyl ether, which comprises reacting said copolymer with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.22 alcohol in the presence of an esterification catalyst.

Abstract: A web severing apparatus is described which is operative between support rollers and a web wind-up roll employed in a web winding machine. The web severing apparatus consists of a retractable beam which is guided on axial ends of the support rollers. The beam has at its upper end a pivotably arranged mounting on which a web tear-off blade is screwed. The mounting further supports at a small distance away from the web tearing blade, a web holding element having a web contacting surface to clamp the web firmly on the roller when the web tear-off blade is so positioned relative to the web contacting surface that a narrow gap is formed between the web tearing edge of the blade and the web. When the web wind-up roll is then pushed out over one of the support rollers, the web is pulled against the web tear-off blade and is severed. With such web severing apparatus, the surface of the support roller opposite the blade and the web tear blade are protected from damage.