Abstract: A polymer useful as an inorganic pigment dispersant is provided. The polymer is derived from monomers consisting essentially of an ethylenically unsaturated aromatic monomer, an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid monomer, and an ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid monomer. The total amount of said ethylenically unsaturated acid monomers is sufficient to permit said polymer to associate with an inorganic pigment in an aqueous medium in a manner which disperses said inorganic pigment in said aqueous medium to form a stable aqueous dispersion of said inorganic pigment, and the amount of said ethylenically unsaturated aromatic monomer is sufficient to reduce the water sensitivity of a dried coating of a latex paint comprised of said stable aqueous dispersion of said inorganic pigment. A process of preparing a polymer useful as an inorganic pigment dispersant and a method of preparing an inorganic pigment dispersion useful in the preparation of latex paints are also provided.

Abstract: An effective production method for silane-treated clays having exceptional reinforcing effects with respect to rubber, and compositions using these silane-treated clays are offered. With the silane-treated clay production method, a functional silane is predispersed or emulsified in water by means of a surfactant in order to mix the functional silane with kaolin clay and thereby uniformly surface-treat the kaolin clay with the functional silane. The surfactant should preferably be a non-ionic surfactant with an HLB value in the range of 8-18. The silane-treated clay formed by surface-treating kaolin clay by means of these functional silanes characteristically contains low residual levels of the non-ionic surfactants. The functional silanes can be either vinyl or sulfur functional silanes. The silane treated clays are useful as fillers or extenders in rubber compositions, particularly those employing silicas and/or carbon blacks.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the invention provides a diol latex composition comprising: (a) latex polymer particles comprising a residue of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, wherein the latex polymer particles have a size below 1000 mn; (b) a surfactant; and (c) a continuous liquid phase comprising a diol component, wherein the diol component comprises from 60 to 100% by weight of the continuous phase, wherein the latex polymer particles are dispersed in the continuous phase.

Abstract: Thermosetting coating compositions, e.g., powder coating compositions, are provided and comprise: (a) a first reactant having functional groups, e.g., an epoxide functional (meth)acrylic polymer; (b) a second reactant having functional groups that are co-reactive with the functional groups of the first reactant, e.g., a carboxylic acid functional crosslinking agent; and (c) a polymeric flow control agent. The flow control agent is a block copolymer prepared by controlled radical polymerization and comprises: (i) a first block containing residues of at least one first ethylenically unsaturated radically polymerizable monomer that is free of hydroxy functionality; and (ii) a second block containing residues of at least one second ethylenically unsaturated radically polymerizable monomer that is free of hydroxy functionality. The second monomer of the flow control agent has a calculated Tg of at least 20° C. greater than that of the first monomer.

Abstract: A process for producing an aqueous emulsion having a solid content of 70% by weight or more, a viscosity of 5,000 mPa.s or less and containing an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having 10-40% by weight of ethylene unit and 90-60% of by weight of vinyl acetate unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyamide resin composition comprising a polyamide resin, a modified ethylene copolymer, an amide-based dispersant and an electroconductive material, said composition having not more than 1011 &OHgr;·cm of an intrinsic volume resistivity and not less than 30 KJ/m2 of an Izod impact strength measured according to ASTM D256.

Abstract: A thermoplastic resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of two or more thermoplastic resins and 0.1 to 100 parts by weight of a polyester having the specific structure, the polyester being added to the thermoplastic resins, wherein a glass transition temperature is not less than 50° C. and/or a deflection temperature under load is not less than 70° C. The present invention provides a high heat-resistant thermoplastic resin composition which is superior in mechanical physical properties and stress crack resistance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coating material comprising a binding agent with high transparency in the thermal infrared range; first, plate-shaped particles, which reflect in the wavelength range of thermal infrared, and/or first spherical particles which backscatter in the wavelength range of thermal infrared; and/or second spherical particles which, in the dry state, have and/or form a hollow space, and consist of a material which is transparent in the thermal infrared range; second particles which reflect and/or backscatter in the wavelength range of visible light from 0.35-0.7 &mgr;m, and are transparent in the wavelength range of thermal infrared, and/or polymer pigments which are transparent in the thermal infrared range and which, in the dry state, have and/or form a hollow space,; third spherical particles which are electrically conductive and hare a low absorption in the thermal infrared range; other admixtures known per se, that are usually used for coating.

Abstract: Incorporation of certain phosphorus compounds in conjunction with certain bases into a polyamide melt or a polyamide manufacturing polymerization process results in a polyamide having improved color properties.

Abstract: A polyamide resin composition comprising: from 30 to 70% by weight of a polyamide resin having a crystallization temperature not higher than 210° C.; and from 70 to 30% by weight of glass fiber having an average aspect ratio of from 10 to 20, and an average fiber diameter of from 15 to 30 &mgr;m. Also disclosed is a polyamide resin molded article comprising: from 30 to 70% by weight of a polyamide resin having a crystallization temperature not higher than 210° C.; and from 70 to 30% by weight of glass fiber having an average aspect ratio of from 9 to 18, and an average fiber diameter of from 15 to 30 &mgr;m.

Abstract: Biodegradable polymer blend compositions are provided which contain oligomeric esters. The oligoester compounds can compatibilize blends of two or more biodegradable polymers resulting in excellent ductility and reduced tendency to embrittlement of products produced from therefrom. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the blend composition comprises a PHA, polycaprolactone (PCL) and one or more oligomeric esters. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the blend composition comprises a PHA, polybutylenesuccinate-adipate (PBSUA), and one or more oligomeric esters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a quick set composition and a method for preparing the composition. The composition comprises an aqueous sol of a polymer having a backbone that contains pendant cationic groups and pendant acid groups. The sol is prepared by forming a solution of a polymer that contains pendant cationic groups and pendant acid groups in an aqueous-based solvent that contains water and a suitable organic solvent and removing a sufficient amount of the organic solvent from the solution to form a composition characterized by being reversibly dissolvable and reconstitutable by addition and removal of a suitable organic solvent. The composition of the present invention provides quick-set films that can be prepared in the absence additional surface active agents and with a substantial absence of organic solvents.

Abstract: A pigment dispersion useful for forming coating compositions containing dispersed pigment, a carrier liquid and an AB-block polymer dispersant (binder); the AB block polymer has a number average molecular weight of about 5,000-20,000 and contains 20-80% by weight of a polymeric A segment and correspondingly 80-20% by weight of a polymeric B segment; wherein the polymeric A segment of the block polymer is of polymerized glycidyl (meth)acrylate monomers reacted with an acid from the group of aromatic carboxylic acids or aliphatic carboxylic acids; and the B segment is of polymerized alkyl (meth)acrylate monomers having 1-12 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, hydroxy alkyl (meth)acrylate monomers having about 1-4 carbon atoms in the alkyl group; and wherein the weight ratio of pigment to binder in the dispersion is about 1/100-200/100.

Abstract: A rubber-modified styrene resin composition which can provide a molding having a good balance between surface gloss and impact resistance and a styrene resin composition and a molding thereof having good toughness and excellent adhesion, transparency, and moldability is formed from a styrene resin composition comprising (A) an epoxidized block copolymer of a styrene monomer with a conjugated diene compound, (B) a non-modified synthetic rubber and (C) a styrene polymer and a molded article thereof.

Abstract: A process for preparing addition polymers which contain carbamate units comprises reacting polyethyleneimines or addition polymers which contain vinylamine units of the formula where R1 is hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl, with haloformic esters, the carbamate-functionalized polyethyleneimine or vinylamine polymers thus obtainable being useful as retention, drainage and flocculation aids and as fixatives in papermaking, as protective colloids for the preparation of aqueous alkyldiketene dispersions and as dispersants for the preparation of aqueous filler slurries.

Abstract: A compounded and plasticized vinyl chloride polymer layer, optionally supported with a fabric, contains an outer adherent, stain resistant layer having durability and flexibility. The adherent, stain resistant layer is derived from a water-based polyester-amino resin composition. The stain resistant layer comprises the reaction product of said polyester, an acid catalyst, and an amino resin. The vinyl chloride layer may be printed or embossed or both printed and embossed, optionally printed again, before the outer layer is applied. A laminate formed from the polyvinyl chloride polymer layer and the stain resistant layer can also be embossed.

Abstract: The process of this invention can be utilized to stabilize tin-coupled rubbery polymers. This process involves adding a chelating diamine or a metal salt of a cyclic alcohol to the rubbery polymer after the tin coupling has been carried out. This invention more specifically discloses a process for improving the stability of a tin-coupled rubbery polymer which comprises adding a metal salt of a cyclic alcohol to the tin-coupled rubbery polymer subsequent to the time at which the tin-coupled rubbery polymer is coupled. The use of metal salts of cyclic alcohols does not lead to recycle stream contamination because they do not co-distill with hexane or form compounds during steam-stripping which co-distill with hexane. In other words, the boiling points of these metal salts of cyclic alcohols are very high, so they do not co-distill with hexane and contaminate recycle streams. Additionally, metal salts of cyclic alcohols are considered to be environmentally safe.

Abstract: A method is provided to hydrogenate a polymer containing ethylenic unsaturation comprising the steps of: providing a solution or suspension of the polymer containing ethylenice unsaturation with an amount of Group VIII metal alkoxide or carboxylate and metal alkyl hydrogenation catalyst effective to permit hydrogenation of the ethylenic unsaturation upon exposure to hydrogen; exposing the polymer solution or suspension to a hydrogen partial pressure for a time period sufficient to hydrogenate greater than about 90 percent of the ethylenic unsaturation; adding additional Group VIII metal alkoxide or carboxylate and metal alkyl hydrogenation catalyst to the polymer solution or suspension after greater than about 90 percent of the ethylenic unsaturation has been hydrogenated; mixing the hydrogenated polymer solution or suspension with the additional Group VIII metal alkoxide or carboxylate and metal alkyl hydrogenation catalyst with an aqueous solution of an acid; and separating a hydrogenated polymer solution o

Abstract: A flame retardant epoxy resin composition suitable for semiconductor encapsulation contains (A) a crystalline epoxy resin whose 30 wt % m-cresol solution has a viscosity of lower than 80 centipoise at 25° C., (B) a curing agent having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups, and (C) silica. The composition optionally contains (D) an organopolysiloxane, (E) an organic phosphine oxide, (F) an amide group-containing release agent, and/or (G) a silane coupling agent. The cured composition achieves flame retardance rating UL-94 V-0 without a need for flame retardants and remains stable at high temperature.

Abstract: Mannich (alk)acrylamide microparticles are produced at high solids contents without a significant increase in bulk viscosity by inverse microemulsion polymerization and provide superior dewatering characteristics.