Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of nanoparticle/polyurethane composites is made by forming a mixture of nanoparticles and a continuous mass of a polyurethane prepolymer in the substantial absence of water and dispersing the mixture so made in aqueous medium. Alternatively, a polyurethane prepolymer or a mixture of nanoparticles and a continuous mass of a polyurethane prepolymer is dispersed into an aqueous dispersion of nanoparticles.

Abstract: A novel method of preparing an aqueous dispersion of non-uniform polyurethane particles which comprises (a) preparing at least two isocyanate-terminated polyurethane prepolymers having different hydrophilicities; (b) preparing a uniform mixture of said prepolymers; and (c) dispersing the mixed prepolymers in an aqueous medium. The resulting dispersion of the prepolymers may optionally be chain extended. This method enables the preparation of core-shell particles as well as particles of other morphologies, including “raspberry”, interpenetrating network, “salt-and-pepper”, “ice-cream cone” and particles of gradient composition. Similarly, an aqueous dispersion of two different polyurethane polymers may be obtained by first preparing at least two different isocyanate-terminated polyurethane prepolymers, preparing a uniform mixture of such prepolymers and thereafter dispersing the mixture in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of nanoparticle/polyurethane composites is made by forming a mixture of nanoparticles and a continuous mass of a polyurethane prepolymer in the substantial absence of water and dispersing the mixture so made in aqueous medium. Alternatively, a polyurethane prepolymer or a mixture of nanoparticles and a continuous mass of a polyurethane prepolymer is dispersed into an aqueous dispersion of nanoparticles.

Abstract: Vinyl polymers formed by bulk or solution polymerization techniques are combined with nanoparticles to produce aqueous dispersions of nanoparticle/vinyl polymer composites.

Abstract: An anti-static polymer composition comprises a thermoformable, moldable, hybrid urethane-vinyl polymer composition which exhibits relatively low surface and volume resistivities and good toughness. The hybrid polymer composition can be made without volatile organic compounds such as solvents, neutralizing amines, or both.

Abstract: A water activated adhesive system is described that is particularly suited for applying non-paper polymeric labels to surfaces which have low moisture permeability. The adhesive system is characterized by a dry non-tacky surface that becomes tacky in less than one second when contacted with a water-based activator. While it is a water activated adhesive, it is also characterized after aging bonded to a substrate by resistance to adhesive failure during 72 hours of immersion in ice/water mixture. The adhesive is beneficial to allow use of existing paper labeling equipment with polymeric labels.

Abstract: A breathable polyurethane having an upright moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of more than about 500 gms/m2/24 hr comprises: (a) poly(alkylene oxide) side-chain units in an amount comprising about 12 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of said polyurethane, wherein (i) alkylene oxide groups in said poly(alkylene oxide) side-chain units have from 2 to 10 carbon atoms and are unsubstituted, substituted, or both unsubstituted and substituted, (ii) at least about 50 wt. % of said alkylene oxide groups are ethylene oxide, and (iii) said amount of said side-chain units is (i) at least about 30 wt. % when the molecular weight of said side-chain units is less than about 600 grams/mole, (ii) at least about 15 wt. % when the molecular weight of said side-chain units is from about 600 to about 1,000 grams/mole, and at least about 12 wt. % when the molecular weight of said side-chain units is more than about 1,000 grams/mole, and (b) poly(ethylene oxide) main-chain units in an amount comprising less than about 25 wt.

Abstract: This invention relates to latex polymers and blends of such latex polymers used to produce gloves, coatings, binders for papers and nonwovens, and other articles having superior electrostatic dissipative properties. Such articles have a surface resistivity value below 1×1011 ohms/square per square, a static decay time of less than 1 second, or both.

Abstract: An anti-static polymer composition comprises a thermoformable, moldable, hybrid urethane-vinyl polymer composition which exhibits relatively low surface and volume resistivities and good toughness. The hybrid polymer composition can be made without volatile organic compounds such as solvents, neutralizing amines, or both.

Abstract: This invention relates to latex polymers and blends of such latex polymers used to produce articles having superior electrostatic dissipative properties. The polymers and blends comprise one or more (1) polymers, in latex, or dispersion form, of (a) at least one reactive macromer of at least one alkylene oxide having at least one functional group capable of free-radical transformation, (b) optionally, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least one carboxylic acid group, and (c) optionally, one or more free radically polymerizable comonomers, and (2) one or more other polymer latexes or dispersions of such polymers as natural rubber, conjugated-diene-containing polymers, hydrogenated styrene-butadiene triblock copolymers, chlorosulfonated polyethylenes, ethylene copolymers, acrylic and/or methacrylic ester copolymers, vinyl chloride copolymers, vinylidene chloride copolymers, polyisobutylenes, polyurethanes, polyureas, and poly-urethane-urea)s.

Abstract: A breathable polyurethane having an upright moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of more than about 500 gms/m2/24 hr comprises:

Abstract: Waterborne polyurethane dispersions are prepared by reacting (1) at least one polyisocyanate; (2) at least one active hydrogen containing compound, such as a polyol or a polyamide; and (3) preferably also at least one water-dispersability enhancing compound having water-dispersion enhancing groups, in order to form an isocyanate terminated prepolymer. The prepolymer subsequently is (1) optionally neutralized by reaction with at least one neutralizing agent, (2) dispersed in water, and then (3) chain extended by reaction with at least one of water, inorganic or organic polyamine having an average of about 2 or more primary and/or secondary amine groups, or combinations thereof. At least one plasticizer is introduced into the reaction mixture at any time during prepolymer formation or before the prepolymer is dispersed in water. The plasitcizer substantially or completely replaces other organic diluents or solvents. Various types of plasticizers may be employed, including reactive plasticizers.

Abstract: An emulsion or suspension polymer comprising a vinyl chloride polymeric core and an acrylic ester-acrylonitrile polymeric shell is disclosed. The emulsion polymer is preferably prepared using a two-stage process. In the first stage, a vinyl chloride monomer is polymerized or copolymerized to form a first phase of a polymeric hard core having a relatively high chlorine content. In a second stage, the soft acrylic ester—acrylonitrile copolymer is made in situ in a reaction mixture comprising the first phase. The product provides both flame retardancy and low MFFT, and is useful in a variety of coating and binding applications.

Abstract: An emulsion or suspension polymer comprising a vinyl chloride polymeric core and an acrylic ester-acrylonitrile polymeric shell is disclosed. The emulsion polymer is preferably prepared using a two-stage process. In the first stage, a vinyl chloride monomer is polymerized or copolymerized to form a first phase of a polymeric hard core having a relatively high chlorine content. In a second stage, the soft acrylic ester-acrylonitrile copolymer is made in situ in a reaction mixture comprising the first phase. The product provides both flame retardancy and low MFFT, and is useful in a variety of coating and binding applications.

Abstract: Waterborne polyurethane dispersions are prepared by reacting (1) at least one polyisocyanate; (2) at least one active hydrogen containing compound, such as a polyol or a polyamide; and (3) optionally, at least one water-dispersability enhancing compound having water-dispersion enhancing groups, in order to form an isocyanate terminated prepolymer. The prepolymer subsequently is (1) optionally neutralized by reaction with at least one neutralizing agent, (2) dispersed in water, and then (3) chain extended by reaction with at least one of water, inorganic or organic polyamine having an average of about 2 or more primary and/or secondary amine groups, or combinations thereof. At least one plasticizer is introduced into the reaction mixture at any time during prepolymer formation or before the prepolymer is dispersed in water. The plasticizer substantially or completely replaces other organic diluents or solvents.

Abstract: An emulsion or suspension polymer comprising a vinyl chloride polymeric core and an acrylic ester-acrylonitrile polymeric shell is disclosed. The emulsion polymer is preferably prepared using a two-stage process. In the first stage, a vinyl chloride monomer is polymerized or copolymerized to form a first phase of a polymeric hard core having a relatively high chlorine content. In a second stage, the soft acrylic ester—acrylonitrile copolymer is made in situ in a reaction mixture comprising the first phase. The product provides both flame retardancy and low MFFT, and is useful in a variety of coating and binding applications.

Abstract: An emulsion polymer comprising as one of its components a graft copolymer of a residual aromatic monomer-free support resin polymer and a vinyl chloride (co)polymer is disclosed. The emulsion polymer is prepared using a two-stage process. In the first stage, a chasing monomer is reacted in the presence of a support resin polymer having at least one aromatic monomer to form an polymer which is free of residual monomer and has monomeric units derived from the aromatic monomer(s). In a second stage, the vinyl chloride emulsion (co)polymer is made in situ in a reaction mixture comprising the polymer which is free of residual monomer. An extensive grafting at the second stage yields a novel water dispersible graft copolymer containing both styrene and vinyl chloride.

Abstract: Aldehyde-telechelic polyisobutylenes free of other end groups such as alcohols, olefins, etc., are made by the hydroformylation of polyisobutylene having one or more olefinic end groups in the presence of a rhodium catalyst in combination with an organic phosphorus ligand. Very high conversions of olefin to aldehyde are obtained. Depending upon the number of aldehyde end groups per macromolecule, the telechelic polyisobutylene polymers can be utilized as precursors to form various types of block copolymers, e.g., AB, ABA, or radial block copolymers, with other polymers such as polyurethanes, polyesters, polyamines, and the like.

Abstract: Aldehyde-telechelic polyisobutylenes free of other end groups such as alcohols, olefins, etc., are made by the hydroformylation of polyisobutylene having one or more olefinic end groups in the presence of a rhodium catalyst in combination with an organic phosphorus ligand. Very high conversions of olefin to aldehyde are obtained. Depending upon the number of aldehyde end groups per macromolecule, the telechelic polyisobutylene polymers can be utilized as precursors to form various types of block copolymers, e.g., AB, ABA, or radial block copolymers, with other polymers such as polyurethanes, polyesters, polyamines, and the like.