Abstract: Process for the preparation of aqueous dispersions of (co)polymerizates using a polymer with cationic functionality, optionally accompanied by the use of conventional additives, the polymer with cationic functionality being obtained by (co)polymerization in an aqueous medium of olefinically unsaturated (co)monomers, in which at least one (co)monomer has a cationic functionality, further (co)monomers are added and polymerization takes place in the presence of suitable initiators, wherein the polymers and/or (co)monomers are so chosen and the process is so controlled that a (co)polymerizate particle with heterogeneous morphology is formed and the dispersed (co)polymerizate obtained has a glass transition temperature Tg of more than about 50° C. The invention also relates to a process in which the polymer with cationic functionality is formed in situ in the presence of a seed. Redispersible powders and the use thereof are also described.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive adhesive which is prepared by emulsion polymerizing an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and 0.01 to 2 pphm of a sterically hindered alkoxylated silane monomer. The silane crosslinks during film formation to provide the adhesive with increased shear strength without the disadvantage of decreased loop tack. The sterically hindered alkoxylated silane monomer has the structure R1—Si—(OR2)n(R3)3−n wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkylene, arylene, and aralkylene group; R2 is independently a sterically hindered alkyl group having 3 to 10 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain configuration; R3 is a monovalent alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and n is an integer of from 1 to 3.

Abstract: A method to prevent the backstaining of denim during a stonewashing process comprising treating the denim with a solution or dispersion of a hydrophobically modified polymer having a hydrophilic backbone and at least one hydrophobic moiety, wherein said hydrophilic backbone is prepared from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of ethylenically unsaturated hydrophilic monomer selected from the group consisting of amide, ether, alcohol, aldehyde, anhydride, ketone and ester; polymerizable hydrophilic cyclic monomer; non-ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable hydrophilic monomer which is selected from the group consisting of glycerol and other polyhydric alcohols; and combinations thereof, wherein said hydrophilic backbone is optionally substituted with one or more amino, amine, amide, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphonate, hydroxy, carboxyl or oxide groups; wherein said hydrophobic moiety is prepared from at least one hydrophobic monomer or a chain transfer agent, said hydrophobic monomer is selec

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for treating a material to impart wrinkle reduction and temporary crease resistance thereto, and improve feel. The method involves: applying to said material a solution of a treatment composition in an amount effective to impart temporary crease and stain resistance, said fabric treatment composition comprising a hydroxy urea or hydroxy amide compound; and allowing said treatment composition to dry at ambient temperature, wherein said hydroxy urea compound comprises one urea and at least one hydroxyl group and said hydroxy amide compound comprises at least one amide group and at least one hydroxyl group. The material treatment is useful in reducing wrinkles in clothing, improving the feel of fabrics, and increasing the moisture adsorbence and retention in natural and synthetic fabrics.

Abstract: A powder detergent composition which is effective for removing and dispersing organic non-polar and polar soils from fabrics in wash liquors. The powder detergent composition comprises a polymer having a hydrophilic backbone and at least one hydrophobic moiety. The hydrophilic backbone is prepared from a monomer selected from ethylenically unsaturated hydrophilic monomers, polymerizable hydrophilic cyclic monomers, and non-ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable hydrophilic monomers selected from glycerol and other polyhydric alcohols. The hydrophobic moiety is prepared from a monomer selected from siloxanes, saturated or unsaturated alkyl and hydrophobic alkoxygroups, aryl and aryl-alkyl groups. The polymers also boost the cleaning performance of hard surface and dishware detergent compositions.

Abstract: A thickened aqueous fabric softener composition comprising at least one surfactant and a polymeric rheology modifier, wherein said polymeric rheology modifier is the polymerization product of (i) an alkyl ester of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid; (ii) a monomer selected from the group consisting of a vinyl-substituted heterocyclic compound containing at least one nitrogen or sulfur atom, (meth)acrylamide, a mono- or di-alkylamino alkyl(meth)acrylate, and a mono or di-alkylamino alkyl(meth)acrylamide; and (iii) an associative monomer. The polymeric rheology modifier does not require a make down step to slurry or disperse it into a fabric softener composition. The thickened fabric softener compositions do not affect rewettability, nor do they build up on cloth in multi-cycle washing. In addition, the thickened fabric softener compositions provide softening and reduce the formation of wrinkles.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for applying an aqueous polymer dispersion to a substrate involving forming a viscosity of from 10 to 5,000 m·Pas, and applying the dispersion to a substrate at a pressure of from 100 to 1500 psi. The method is useful with porous substrates, and especially in non-woven materials. The process provides a precise means of coating a polymer dispersion on the surface of a substrate, or with controlled penetration into the substrate.

Abstract: An isotropic liquid detergent composition comprising at least one surfactant and from about 0.1 to about 75 weight percent, based on the total weight of the liquid detergent composition, of a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer having pendant acid functionality and a terminal fragment of a chain transfer agent, wherein the polymer is the polymerization product of a ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer and a C1 to C24 chain transfer agent. Unexpectedly, these polymers are compatible in isotropic liquid detergent formulations. When these polymers are used in a laundering process, they remove soil from textiles, inhibit soil redeposition onto textiles, and function as cobuilders by complexing metal ions present in hard water such as calcium and magnesium which otherwise may complex with the surfactants of a liquid detergent rendering the surfactants water-insoluble.

Abstract: A powder detergent composition which exhibits improved soil suspending properties on organic non-polar and polar soils in wash liquors. The powder detergent comprises a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer having pendant acid functionality and a terminal fragment of a chain transfer agent, wherein the polymer is the polymerization product of a ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer and a C1 to C24 chain transfer agent. The polymers also boost the cleaning performance of hard surface and dishware detergent compositions.

Abstract: A colloid composition is presented which contains an amphiphilic star polymer having potentially crosslinkable sites on the polymer backbone. The potentially crosslinkable site is either a sterically hindered silane monomer or an acetoacetoxy-containing monomer. When the crosslinkable site is a sterically hindered silane monomer the star polymer also contains an internal catalyst, and when the crosslinkable site is an acetoacetoxy group the colliod composition also contains a non-polymeric polyfunctional amine. The star polymer can be either a random or heteroarm star polymer. The colloid composition is useful in the formation and stabilization of emulsion polymers, as a replacement for surfactants currently used for this purpose. Emulsion polymers formulated with the colloid composition are especially useful for one-part coatings such as paints and adhesives.

Abstract: A cleaning composition is presented for removing an adhesive from hard substrates. The cleaning solution contains 25 to 98 percent by weight of water, 5 to 74 percent by weight of a chaotropic agent, and 0.001 to 10 percent by weight of at least one surfactant. The cleaning composition is especially effective in removing aqueous-based resin adhesives from machine parts.

Abstract: A low color or colorless polymaleate as determined by a Gardner color number of 8 or less, said polymaleate is prepared by aqueous solution polymerization of 70 to 99.9 weight percent of maleic acid, 0.1 to 30 weight percent of an allylic sulfonate monomer, and 0.5 to 50 &mgr;m, based on the moles of monomer, of a polyvalent transition metal ion selected from group consisting of Group IVA, VA, VIA, VIIA, VIIIA, IB, IIB, and combinations thereof, wherein the weight percents are based on the total weight of monomer, provided that 10 to 60 mole percent of the carboxylic acid groups on the maleic acid are neutralized prior to polymerization. The low color or colorless polymaleates provide permanent press properties to textiles treated therewith and increases the resistance of such textiles to laundering abrasion. The polymaleates also may be used in cleaning compositions to disperse and suspend soils.

Abstract: A carpet back coating composition which is an aqueous emulsion polymerization product of ethylene, vinyl acetate, and a ethylenically unsaturated hydroxy-functional monomer to form an emulsion copolymer which is combined with a crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of multifunctional aziridine, multifunctional isocyanate, and multifunctional epoxide. Carpets prepared with the carpet back coating compositions exhibit improved wet strength. The improvement in wet strength is achieved by means of crosslinking reactions which do not generate volatile organic compounds as by-products.

Abstract: A laundry article effective for inhibiting transfer of extraneous dyes and soil to articles in a wash liquor, said laundry article comprising a support matrix and a functionalized polyamine attached to or entrapped in the support matrix. The functionalized polyamine comprises the reaction product of (A) a cyano- or guanidino-containing compound and (B) a polyamine prepared from at least one monomeric amine. The laundry article inhibits dye transfer, soil redeposition, and provides color protection to fabrics in a wash liquor. In addition, the laundry article does not interfere with the removal of stains from fabrics washed in the presence of the laundry article. Furthermore, the laundry article containing the functionalized polyamines are economical and environmentally safe.

Abstract: In situ solvent free methods for making anhydride based graft copolymers which involve mixing an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, an anhydride monomer, either a monofunctional polyglycol having a hydroxyl or amine terminal group or a polyfunctional polyglycol having a weight average molecular weight of greater than 5,000 and at least one terminal hydroxyl group, and a free radical initiator to form a mixture. The mixture is heated to form a copolymer having repeat units derived from the ethylenically unsaturated monomer and anhydride monomer, and a copolymer grafted polyglycol comprising a main polyglycol backbone having copolymer side chains which are heated to form an anhydride based graft copolymer. The anhydride based graft copolymers are especially useful as soil release agents in detergent formulations.

Abstract: This invention involves skin cleaning products and tapes for removing keratotic plugs, dirt and other debris found on the skin and in skin pores and comprising a starch based remoistenable adhesive composition wherein the starch has from about 0 to 70% by weight amylose content and is converted to from about 30 WF to 20 DE.

Abstract: A water-soluble polyvinylpyrridinium derivative containing a quaternary nitrogen and an anionic moiety selected from a sulfonate and/or a carboxylate functionality, said polyvinylpyrridinium derivative having the structure wherein a is a repeating unit of 1 to 100; b is a repeating unit of 0 to 99; c is a repeating unit of 0 to 99; d is a repeating unit of 0 to 99; R is selected from the group consisting of (CR1R2)m1, benzene, and substituted benzene; Y is selected from the group consisting of (CR3R4)m2, benzene, and substituted benzene; substituted benzene is independently a benzene substituted with a group selected from the group consisting of amino moeity, nitro moiety, halogen moiety, and combinations thereof; Z is derived from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer; m1 and m2 are independently 0 to 10; M+ is independently a cation wherein M is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, ammonia, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, zinc, copper, organic amines, amino acids, and

Abstract: A controlled release bleach thickening composition comprising bleach, water, and 0.1 to 50 weight percent, based on the total weight of the controlled release bleach thickening composition, of at least one crosslinked carboxylated polymer which is prepared from 30 to 80 weight percent of at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrophilic monomer, from 20 to 70 weight percent of at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrophobic monomer, and from about 0.5 to about 10 weight percent of a degradable crosslinking monomer selected from the group consisting of a crosslinking monomer having at least two ethylenically unsaturated moieties, a crosslinking monomer having at least one ethylenically unsaturated moiety and at least one functional group capable of reacting with another functional group on a monomer to form a degradable crosslink, and combinations thereof. In the controlled release bleach thickening compositions, the solubility of the polymer is suppressed by crosslinking.

Abstract: The invention provides novel polyether hydroxycarboxylate copolymers which are effective sequestering agents. The polyether hydroxycarboxylate copolymer when used in a cleaning composition enhances or “builds” the cleaning efficiency of the surfactant by inactivating hardness ions. In addition, the polyether hydroxycarboxylate copolymers assist in cleaning by dispersing and suspending soils to prevent the redeposition of soils. The polyether hydroxycarboxylate copolymer has the structure wherein M+ is a cation wherein M is independently selected from hydrogen, ammonia, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, zinc, copper, organic amines, amino acids, and amino saccharides; R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; n is from about 2 to about 100; x1 and x2 are independently 0 or 1; a is from 0 to 99 mole percent; and b is from 100 to 1 mole percent, provided that (a+b) is 100 mole percent.

Abstract: A non-aqueous—organic-solvent-free coating composition having increased block resistance comprising an acrylic modified ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) polymer blend, wherein the acrylic polymer is prepared by emulsion polymerizing at least one ethylenically unsaturated non-carboxy functional monomer, from 0.01 to 2 pphm of a sterically hindered alkoxylated silane monomer, and at least one anionic surfactant, and the ethylene-vinyl acetate polymer is prepared by emulsion polymerizing ethylene and vinyl acetate.