Abstract: Polymer compositions which are useful to improve water repellency and durability in fiber, nonwoven, textile, and paper compositions are disclosed. A method of improving water repellency and durability in fiber, nonwoven, textile, and paper compositions is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are uniformly sized domains of liquid crystals, a method for forming the domains, and their performance in polymer dispersed liquid crystal displays. The method provides the ability to form discrete domains of liquid crystal surrounded by a polymer shell, also known as polymer encased liquid crystals, or PELCs. Further, the method provides for the ability to make PELCs that have uniformly sized particles. Displays made comprising uniformly sized PELCs demonstrate markedly improved electro-optical performance over displays made by conventional polymer dispersed liquid crystal processes.

Abstract: Polymer compositions which are useful to improve water repellency and durability in fiber, nonwoven, textile, and paper compositions are disclosed. A method of improving water repellency and durability in fiber, nonwoven, textile, and paper compositions is also disclosed.

Abstract: Polymer compositions which are useful to improve water repellency and durability in fiber, nonwoven, textile, and paper compositions are disclosed. A method of improving water repellency and durability in fiber, nonwoven, textile, and paper compositions is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing fluorinated emulsion polymers that reduces or eliminates the need for fluorinated surfactants comprising the steps of: a) providing a reaction mixture comprising water, surfactant, monomer mixture comprising at least one fluorinated monomer, at least one non-fluorinated monomer having high water solubility, and optionally at least one non-fluorinated monomer having low water solubility, macromolecular organic compound having a hydrophobic cavity; and b) polymerizing said monomer mixture.

Abstract: Polymer compositions which are useful to improve water repellency and durability in fiber, nonwoven, textile, and paper compositions are disclosed. A method of improving water repellency and durability in fiber, nonwoven, textile, and paper compositions is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the convenient preparation, purification, use and re-use of capillary electrochromatography columns that employ polymer gel materials as the separation media. The problems associated with employing crosslinked polymer gels is overcome through the use of physically entangled polymer gels, which comprise, as polymerized units: 1) 5% to 80% by weight of an ionizable monomer; 2) 0.1% to 50% by weight of a monomer containing a retentive ligand; and 3) 10% to 80% by weight of a nonionic monomer.

Abstract: Aqueous solutions of hydrophobically-modified alkali-soluble emulsion polymers which exhibit relatively low solution viscosity are disclosed. Such solutions are particularly useful for controlling the viscosity of aqueous systems to which the solutions are added.

Abstract: Polymer compositions which are useful in floor polish compositions as wax replacements are disclosed. The compositions provide improved repair properties in floor polishes and provide a non-slippery floor polish.

Abstract: Disclosed are uniformly sized domains of liquid crystals, a method for forming the domains, and their performance in polymer dispersed liquid crystal displays. The method provides the ability to form discrete domains of liquid crystal surrounded by a polymer shell, also known as polymer encased liquid crystals, or PELCs. Further, the method provides for the ability to make PELCs that have uniformly sized particles. Displays made comprising uniformly sized PELCs demonstrate markedly improved electro-optical performance over displays made by conventional polymer dispersed liquid crystal processes.

Abstract: Disclosed are uniformly sized domains of liquid crystals, a method for forming the domains, and their performance in polymer dispersed liquid crystal displays. The method provides the ability to form discrete domains of liquid crystal surrounded by a polymer shell, also known as polymer encased liquid crystals, or PELCs. Further, the method provides for the ability to make PELCs that have uniformly sized particles. Displays made comprising uniformly sized PELCs demonstrate markedly improved electro-optical performance over displays made by conventional polymer dispersed liquid crystal processes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing fluorinated emulsion polymers that reduces or eliminates the need for fluorinated surfactants comprising the steps of:a) providing a reaction mixture comprising water, surfactant, monomer mixture comprising at least one fluorinated monomer, at least one non-fluorinated monomer having high water solubility, and optionally at least one non-fluorinated monomer having low water solubility, macromolecular organic compound having a hydrophobic cavity; andb) polymerizing said monomer mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed are uniformly sized domains of liquid crystals, a method for forming the domains, and their performance in polymer dispersed liquid crystal displays. The method provides the ability to form discrete domains of liquid crystal surrounded by a polymer shell, also known as polymer encased liquid crystals, or PELCs. Further, the method provides for the ability to make PELCs that have uniformly sized particles. Displays made comprising uniformly sized PELCs demonstrate markedly improved electro-optical performance over displays made by conventional polymer dispersed liquid crystal processes.

Abstract: An aqueous polymerization method is disclosed for forming polymers containing, as polymerized units, at least one monomer having low water solubility, including the steps of:(1) complexing at least one monomer having low water solubility with a macromolecular organic compound having a hydrophobic cavity; and(2) polymerizing in an aqueous system from about 0.1% to about 100%, by weight of the monomer component, based on the total weight of the polymer, of the complexed monomer having low water solubility with from about 0% to about 99.9% by weight, based on the total weight of the polymer, of at least one monomer having high water solubility.The method is also useful for forming aqueous solution polymers having low water solubility.

Abstract: An aqueous polymerization method is disclosed for forming polymers containing, as polymerized units, at least one monomer having low water solubility, including the steps of:(1) complexing at least one monomer having low water solubility with a macromolecular organic compound having a hydrophobic cavity; and(2) polymerizing in an aqueous system from about 0.1% to about 100%, by weight of the monomer component, based on the total weight of the polymer, of the complexed monomer having low water solubility with from about 0% to about 99.9% by weight, based on the total weight of the polymer, of at least one monomer having high water solubility.The method is also useful for forming aqueous solution polymers having low water solubility.

Abstract: An aqueous polymerization method is disclosed for forming polymers containing, as polymerized units, at least one monomer having low water solubility, including the steps of:(1) complexing at least one monomer having low water solubility with a macromolecular organic compound having a hydrophobic cavity; and(2) polymerizing in an aqueous system from about 0.1% to about 100%, by weight of the monomer component, based on the total weight of the polymer, of the complexed monomer having low water solubility with from about 0% to about 99.9% by weight, based on the total weight of the polymer, of at least one monomer having high water solubility.The method is also useful for forming aqueous solution polymers having low water solubility.

Abstract: An improved method is provided for reversibly suppressing the viscosity of an aqueous solution containing a hydrophobically modified thickener by first complexing the hydrophobic moieties of the thickener with a methyl-.beta.-cyclodextrin and then decomplexing the methyl-.beta.-cyclodextrin from the thickener once the aqueous solution containing the thickener is added to the aqueous system which is intended to thicken.

Abstract: A process for preparing polymers having molecular weights below 5,000 and polydispersity below 2.5 is provided. The polymerization is conducted in supercritical carbon dioxide at temperatures of at least 200.degree. C. and pressures above 3,500 psi. The process can be continuous, semi-continuous, or batch. The polymers are useful as detergent additives, scale inhibitors, dispersants and crystal growth modifiers.

Abstract: A hydrophobically-modified thickener having at least one hydrophilic portion and at least two terminal hydrophobic portions wherein at least one of the hydrophobic portions contains a stable free radical and its preparation are disclosed. The presence of the stable free radical permits analysis by spin-labelling analytical techniques, such as, for example, electron spin resonance.