Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a coatings composition with an open time additive comprising the steps of a) contacting an aqueous dispersion of alkali swellable polymer particles with a rheology modifier and a binder to form a coatings composition with a VOC of less than 50 g/L; and b) neutralizing the alkali swellable particles with a non-volatile base after or upon contact with the rheology modifier and the binder to form swelled multi-staged polymer particles; wherein the alkali swellable polymer particles comprise a shell having a Tg of not greater than 25° C. and an acid functionalized core; and wherein the core-to-shell ratio is in the range of from 1:3.2 to 1:10. The composition arising from the process of the present invention is useful for improving open time, especially for low VOC coatings applications.

Abstract: A process for encapsulating TiO2 particles by polymerizing sodium styrene sulfonate with a redox initiator system; then polymerizing a first monomer mixture comprising at least 60 wt % acrylic monomers; then polymerizing a second monomer mixture comprising at least 40 wt % vinyl ester monomers.

Abstract: The present invention relates an aqueous dispersion of low Tg polymer encapsulating TiO2 particles and a process for preparing the dispersion. The encapsulating polymer is a (meth)acrylate polymer, a styrene-acrylate copolymer, or a vinyl acetate-(meth)acrylate copolymer, or a combination thereof, and the encapsulating polymer further contains units of sodium styrene sulfonate. The present invention provides encapsulated TiO2 particles with low gel that are film-forming at ambient temperatures, especially for coatings applications.

Abstract: A composition including a core-shell polymeric particle, the core including, when dry, at least one void and the shell including, as polymerized units, from 18% to 50%, by weight based on the weight of the shell, monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylamide, methacrylamide, and mixtures thereof is provided. Also provided is a composition including an organic medium and a core-shell polymeric particle, the core including, when dry, at least one void and the shell having a calculated shell-organic medium interaction parameter, XPS>1.15 and a method for providing opacity to a dry composition.

Abstract: A process for encapsulating TiO2 particles by polymerizing sodium styrene sulfonate with a redox initiator system; then polymerizing a first monomer mixture comprising at least 60 wt % acrylic monomers; then polymerizing a second monomer mixture comprising at least 40 wt % vinyl ester monomers.

Abstract: A coating containing pigment particles and a polymer matrix is provided. The coating contains pigment particles that have a scattering coefficient with a linear or quasi-linear relationship to the pigment volume concentration of those pigment particles. The coating has improved hiding and is useful as a protective coating or an aesthetic coating on an underlying substrate. Also provided are compositions useful for preparing the coating, including covalently bonded composite particles and aqueous dispersions containing composite particles. The composite particles each contain a pigment particle with a plurality of polymer particles attached by adsorption on the outer surface of the pigment particle or by covalent bonding to the pigment particle through a coupling agent. Methods to prepare the composite particles and coating compositions containing the composite particles are also provided.

Abstract: A coating containing pigment particles and a polymer matrix is provided. The coating contains pigment particles that have a scattering coefficient with a linear or quasi-linear relationship to the pigment volume concentration of those pigment particles. The coating has improved hiding and is useful as a protective coating or an aesthetic coating on an underlying substrate. Also provided are compositions useful for preparing the coating, including covalently bonded composite particles and aqueous dispersions containing composite particles. The composite particles each contain a pigment particle with a plurality of polymer particles attached by adsorption on the outer surface of the pigment particle or by covalent bonding to the pigment particle through a coupling agent. Methods to prepare the composite particles and coating compositions containing the composite particles are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates an aqueous dispersion of low Tg polymer encapsulating TiO2 particles and a process for preparing the dispersion. The encapsulating polymer is a (meth)acrylate polymer, a styrene-acrylate copolymer, or a vinyl acetate-(meth)acrylate copolymer, or a combination thereof, and the encapsulating polymer further contains units of sodium styrene sulfonate. The present invention provides encapsulated TiO2 particles with low gel that are film-forming at ambient temperatures, especially for coatings applications.

Abstract: A polymeric particle including a core, a first shell, and a second shell is provided: the core including, when dry, at least one void; the first shell polymer having a calculated glass transition temperature (“Tg”) greater than 50° C. and including, as polymerized units, from 15% to 60%, by weight based on the weight of the first shell, monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylamide, methacrylamide, and mixtures thereof; and from 0.3% to 10%, by weight based on the weight of the first shell polymer, multiethylenically unsaturated monomer; and the second shell polymer having a Tg of from ?60° C. to 50° C.; wherein the weight ratio of the second shell polymer to the total of all other structures of the polymeric particle is from 0.5:1 to 3:1. The particle provides binding functionality and, when dry, opacity and energy savings. A method for providing a polymeric particle and a method for providing opacity to a dry coating are also provided.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of polymeric particles and process for forming thereof is provided. The particles comprise a first polymer comprising, when dry, at least one void; and, substantially encapsulating the first polymer, at least one second polymer comprising, as polymerized units, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of polymeric particles, the particles including: from 5% to 80% by weight, based on the weight of the polymeric particles, of a first polymer including at least one copolymerized ethylenically unsaturated monomer; and, substantially encapsulating the first polymer, from 20% to 95% by weight, based on the weight of the polymeric particles, of a second polymer including at least one copolymerized ethylenically unsaturated monomer, the second polymer having a Tg of from ?40° C. to 30° C., wherein at least 90 weight % of the second polymer is formed by polymerization at a temperature of from 5° C. to 65° C. is provided. The invention also relates to a process for forming the aqueous dispersion of polymeric particles and an aqueous coating composition including the aqueous dispersion of polymer particles, a method for providing a coated substrate, and the coated substrate so provided.

Abstract: An aqueous polymer emulsion comprising water and swollen multi-stage polymer is provided. The swollen multi-stage polymer has low dry bulk density, as measured by centrifugation. To achieve the low dry bulk density, the polymer is highly swollen in such a way that it does not subsequently collapse. The polymer is useful in paint and paper coatings.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of polymeric particles and process for forming thereof is provided. The particles comprise a first polymer comprising, when dry, at least one void; and, substantially encapsulating the first polymer, at least one second polymer comprising, as polymerized units, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of polymeric particles and process for forming thereof is provided. The particles comprise a first polymer comprising, when dry, at least one void; and, substantially encapsulating the first polymer, at least one second polymer comprising, as polymerized units, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer.

Abstract: A polymeric particle including a core, a first shell, and a second shell is provided: the core including, when dry, at least one void; the first shell polymer having a calculated glass transition temperature (“Tg”) greater than 50° C. and including, as polymerized units, from 15% to 60%, by weight based on the weight of the first shell, monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylamide, methacrylamide, and mixtures thereof; and from 0.3% to 10%, by weight based on the weight of the first shell polymer, multiethylenically unsaturated monomer; and the second shell polymer having a Tg of from ?60° C. to 50° C.; wherein the weight ratio of the second shell polymer to the total of all other structures of the polymeric particle is from 0.5:1 to 3:1. The particle provides binding functionality and, when dry, opacity and energy savings. A method for providing a polymeric particle and a method for providing opacity to a dry coating are also provided.

Abstract: A coating containing pigment particles and a polymer matrix is provided. The coating contains pigment particles that have a scattering coefficient with a linear or quasi-linear relationship to the pigment volume concentration of those pigment particles. The coating has improved hiding and is useful as a protective coating or an aesthetic coating on an underlying substrate. Also provided are compositions useful for preparing the coating, including covalently bonded composite particles and aqueous dispersions containing composite particles. The composite particles each contain a pigment particle with a plurality of polymer particles attached by adsorption on the outer surface of the pigment particle or by covalent bonding to the pigment particle through a coupling agent. Methods to prepare the composite particles and coating compositions containing the composite particles are also provided.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of polymeric particles and process for forming thereof is provided. The particles comprise a first polymer comprising, as polymerized units, at least one monoethylenically unsaturated monomer and at least one multi-ethylenically unsaturated monomer and when dry, at least one void; and at least one second polymer, substantially encapsulating the first polymer, comprising, as polymerized units, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer.

Abstract: A composition including a core-shell polymeric particle, the core including, when dry, at least one void and the shell including, as polymerized units, from 18% to 50%, by weight based on the weight of the shell, monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylamide, methacrylamide, and mixtures thereof. is provided. Also provided is a composition including an organic medium and a core-shell polymeric particle, the core including, when dry, at least one void and the shell having a calculated shell-organic medium interaction parameter, XPS>1.15 and a method for providing opacity to a dry composition.

Abstract: A process for preparing multi-stage emulsion polymers is provided. The process is capable of producing multi-stage emulsion polymers having low dry-bulk density. These polymers are useful in coating compositions such as paints and paper coatings.

Abstract: An aqueous polymer emulsion comprising water and swollen multi-stage polymer is provided. The swollen multi-stage polymer has low dry bulk density, as measured by centrifugation. To achieve the low dry bulk density, the polymer is highly swollen in such a way that it does not subsequently collapse. The polymer is useful in paint and paper coatings.