Abstract: A blend comprising a paraffin wax emulsion and a polymer emulsion, wherein the polymer contains polymerized units of one or more C1-12 ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid and a vinyl ester of a C8-13 neo-acid. When the blend is applied as a coating to a substrate, such as a nonwoven web, a nonwoven absorbent pad, a nonwoven textile, or a textile fabric, and dried, it has a hydrostatic head barrier sufficient to prevent passage of aqueous fluids but allow passage of water vapor through it. A multi-layer material comprising at least one layer of a nonwoven web, an absorbent pad, or a textile, and at least one layer of the above described blend.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an improved nonwoven product comprising a nonwoven web of fibers bonded together with a sufficient amount of binder comprised of a polymer comprised of vinyl acetate, ethylene, and a crosslinking monomer to form a self-sustaining web. The improvement in the nonwoven product resides in the use of a polymer having a crystalline melting point (Tm) ranging from 35 to 90° C., preferably 50 to 80° C.; measured at a heat rate of 20° C./minute. The polymer should have a crystalline heat of fusion (Hf), which typically range from about 2 to about 50 joules per gram and a low glass transition temperature (Tg), e.g., from 10 to ?40° C., typically ?15 to ?35° C.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improvement in the wet tensile of a nonwoven web, whether the web is for a pre-moistened nonwoven wet wipe that is both safe to use and also flushes, disperses and finally biodegrades in appropriate environments or for a nonwoven web which requires high tensile strength when in contact with liquids. An improvement in the wet tensile of the nonwoven webs is achieved by incorporating a finite amount of poly(acrylic acid) into a polymeric binder system that is applied to the web.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an improvement in binders particularly suited for use in preparing nonwoven products and to the nonwoven products. The improved binders comprise a blend of a vinyl chloride (VCl) polymer emulsion and a self crosslinkable vinyl acetate-ethylene-N-methylolacrylamide (VAE-NMA) polymer emulsion. The blend of the VCl polymer emulsion and the VAE-NMA polymer emulsion can be applied to cellulose and cellulose/synthetic nonwoven substrates and cured in the absence of an acid catalyst to provide a self-sustaining web having excellent wet strength performance.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a process for forming a carton from paperboard stock comprising the steps: applying an aqueous based adhesive to select parts of a paperboard carton blank obtained from a paperboard feedstock; drying the aqueous based adhesive; folding the select parts of the adhesive coated carton blank onto cooperating parts of the paperboard blank; and, heat sealing the select and cooperating parts thereby forming the carton; wherein the aqueous based adhesive is comprised of a vinyl acetate/ethylene polymer formed by emulsion polymerization and having (a) a crystalline melting point (Tm) ranging from 35 to 110° C., preferably 50 to 90° C.; measured at a heat rate of 20° C./minute and, (b) a tensile storage modulus of at least 1×104 dynes/cm2 at 115° C. measured at 6.28 rad/sec.

Abstract: This invention is directed to aqueous-based ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) polymer emulsions suited for use in heat seal applications. The EVA polymers of this invention are produced by a relatively low-pressure process, i.e., less than 2000 psig, preferably from about 1000 to about 2000 psig. The aqueous-based EVA based polymer emulsions contain crystalline segments resulting from ethylene linkages and are prepared by emulsion polymerizing ethylene and vinyl acetate, preferably with a carboxylic monomer, in the presence of a stabilizing system containing surfactant or a cellulosic protective colloid in combination with surfactant.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an improvement in binders particularly suited for use in preparing nonwoven products and to the nonwoven products. The improved binders comprise a blend of emulsion polymerized ethylene-vinyl chloride (EVCl) polymer and an emulsion polymerized self crosslinkable vinyl acetate-ethylene-N-methylolacrylamide (VAE-NMA) polymer. The blends of the EVCl polymer emulsion and the VAE-NMA polymer emulsion can be applied to cellulose and cellulose/synthetic nonwoven substrates and cured in the absence of an acid catalyst to provide a self-sustaining web having excellent wet strength performance. The blends of EVCl and VAE-NMA polymers do not require an acid catalyst to facilitate cure.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an aqueous polymeric binder composition that is useful in improving the wet strength of pre-moistened wipes. The binder composition comprises a blend or mixture of two components. One component is a water dispersible polymer capable of binding together the fibers composing a nonwoven web. The other component is an aqueous solution or dispersion of a polymer comprised predominantly of self-crosslinking monomer(s).

Abstract: The invention relates to an improvement in a process for imparting barrier properties to porous substrates, such as, concrete, masonry products, and wood products. The process comprises the steps of: applying an aqueous based sealing composition comprising a polymeric resin to said porous substrate, evaporating the water and forming a water repellent coating of said polymeric resin on said porous substrate. The improvement comprises: deriving the polymeric resin from an aqueous based polymer emulsion comprising a polymer comprised of emulsion polymerized units of vinyl acetate and ethylene, preferably with a carboxylic acid monomer, the polymer containing amorphous and crystalline ethylene segments and having: (a) a crystalline melting point (Tm) ranging from 35 to 110° C., preferably 50 to 100° C.; measured at a heat rate of 20° C./minute; and, (b) a tensile storage modulus of at least 1×105 dynes/cm2 at 115° C. measured at 6.28 rad/sec.

Abstract: This invention is directed to formation of a creped nonwoven web. The creped web is formed in a creping process using a polymer emulsion binder formed in an alkylphenol ethoxylate-free surfactant system. The surfactant system comprises a combination of a specific active anionic surfactant (sodium laureth sulfate containing 1 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide) and a specific active nonionic surfactant (a secondary alcohol ethoxylate containing 7 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide or an ethoxylated branched primary alcohol containing 3 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide.

Abstract: The following method is used to measure the adhesion of a polymer binder to a heated metal surface: A metal plate is attached to a heated (350° F.; 177° C.) platform and allowed to equilibrate to the temperature of the platform. A polymer emulsion binder is applied to a substrate, such as cotton fabric, and an end of the coated substrate is attached to a tensile measuring apparatus. The coated side of the coated substrate is pressed onto the heated metal plate; e.g., using a 3-lb lab roller. After a length of time to cause drying and/or partial cure of the binder (approximately 30 seconds), the metal plate and the tensile measuring device are separated at a given uniform speed. The amount of force needed to remove the substrate from the metal plate is recorded.

Abstract: This invention is directed to formation of a creped nonwoven web. The creped web is formed in a creping process using a polymer emulsion binder formed in an alkylphenol ethoxylate-free surfactant system. The surfactant system comprises a combination of a specific active anionic surfactant (sodium laureth sulfate containing 1 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide) and a specific active nonionic surfactant (a secondary alcohol ethoxylate containing 7 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide or an ethoxylated branched primary alcohol containing 3 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of preserving colloid-stabilized polymer emulsions against microbial attack and spoilage using selected cationic compounds. It is also directed to compositions containing colloid-stabilized polymer emulsions and cationic compounds that are resistant to contamination with biodeteriogenic microbes. It has been discovered that specific cationic compounds are particularly effective against biodeteriogenic microbes in preserving polymer emulsions that have been stabilized with protective colloids, such as poly(vinyl alcohol). Examples of suitable microbicidal cationic compounds are: substituted pyridinium salts, substituted guanidine salts, tetrasubstituted ammonium salts, and polymeric cationic compounds.

Abstract: A flexible setting type hydraulic joint compound and a method of forming flexible joints. The flexible joint compound of this invention primarily contains 2 to 20 parts by weight of an emulsion polymer having a Tg that is less than about ?40° C., and 22 to 44 parts by weight of total water, based on 100 parts by weight calcium sulfate hemihydrate filler. It can be applied to joints between two adjacent sheets of gypsum board to form a flexible joint that is resistant to cracking.

Abstract: This invention is directed to APE-free polymer binders formed by emulsion polymerization and having specific peel and cure properties. The APE-free polymeric binders have a peel value, when adhered to a heated metal surface, of 35% to 200% of the peel value shown by a standard APE-based polymer binder control (i.e., AIRFLEX® 105 vinyl acetate-ethylene polymer emulsion) and exhibit a cure profile such that at least 55% cure is achieved within 30 seconds at a temperature required for cure. Wet tensile strength is used as a measure of cure. The peel value is determined by a modified release and adhesion test. Binders having the peel and cure properties described herein can be considered for use in crepe processes, especially DRC processes.

Abstract: The present invention elates to a vinyl acetate based polymer latex composition obtained by emulsion polymerization of: (a) polyvinyl alcohol, (c) a monomer mixture comprising vinyl acetate, and (d) optionally one or more additional co-monomer(s), in presence of (c) 0.0001-0.05 wt. % of a chain transfer agent, based on total monomer weight, said vinyl acetate based polymer latex composition having a weight average particle size ≧400 nm and a higher shear thinning factor than the vinyl acetate based polymer latex composition (a), (b) and (d) obtained in the absence of the chain transfer agent (c). According to one embodiment, emulsion polymerization is carried out in presence of 0.001 to 0.05 wt. % of a chain transfer agent selected from the group consisting of aldehydes and chain transfer agents having a similar chain transfer constant with regard to vinyl acetate as the monomer. According to another embodiment, emulsion polymerization is carried out in presence of 0.0001 to 0.01 wt.

Abstract: The invention is the use of a glycolic acid adduct of sodium sulfite as the reducing agent in the redox couple for polymerization of vinyl acetate polymer based emulsions for nonwoven binders which contain formaldehyde, primarily from the self-crosslinking co-monomer N-methylolacrylamide.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an improvement in a process for preparing an aqueous emulsion of pressure-sensitive adhesive based upon acrylic esters having a good balance of adhesive and cohesive properties and to the resulting emulsion. In the basic process, a pressure-sensitive adhesive formulation comprised of at least one ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid is polymerized in the presence of water and an emulsifier thereby forming an emulsion polymerized pressure-sensitive adhesive. The improvement resides in effecting the polymerization of the pressure-sensitive adhesive formulation comprised of at least one ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid in the presence of from 5 to 30 percent by weight of a styrene containing polymer containing at least 80 percent by weight styrene.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the production of stable aqueous dispersions of vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymers, preferably at high solids, i.e., greater than 65 wt %, preferably >70% which are useful as adhesives. The vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer is comprised of polymerized units of vinyl acetate and ethylene in approximately 60-95 wt % and 5-40 wt % respectively. The copolymers are prepared by the emulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetate and ethylene monomers in the presence of a stabilizing system consisting essentially of (1) a poly(vinyl alcohol) which is 75-99+mole % hydrolyzed and has an average degree of polymerization ranging from 100-2200 and (2) a polyethylene glycol having a number average molecular weight of from 200 to 20,000.

Abstract: Water-borne paints having an ASTM 60° gloss value of at least 10 are formulated with a latex of a copolymer of vinyl acetate and ethylene or alkyl acrylate having a dry glass transition temperature (Tg) below 20° C. and a latex of a polymer of vinyl acetate having a dry Tg above room temperature but a Tg when wet below 23° C. so that it is film-forming from the latex at room temperature. These paints are suitable for service as satin, semi-gloss or high gloss coatings but preferably are used as semi-gloss paints. The addition of the higher Tg polymer of vinyl acetate to the lower Tg copolymer provides a paint free with low to no volatile organic content but exhibiting improved blocking resistance without significant reduction in gloss.