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 present invention is directed to improved flexibilized, plasticized polyvinyl chloride films bonded with a substrate by means of an aqueous based pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive emulsion polymers. Conventional emulsion based pressure sensitive adhesives were comprised of a copolymer comprised of polymerized units of acrylic esters and ethylenically unsaturated monomers, the copolymer having a Tg of from −15 to −70° C. The improvement in the aqueous based, emulsion polymerized pressure sensitive adhesives resides in the incorporation of polymerized units of a vinyl C8-13 ester of a neo-acid into the adhesive. The vinyl ester is formed from a mixture of propylene oligomers and such vinyl ester is represented by the chemical formula: C8-13H7-27CO2CH═CH2. Preferably, the adhesive includes units of methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and a carboxylic acid selected from acrylic acid or methacrylic acid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved vinyl acetate ethylene pressure sensitive adhesive emulsion polymers. The improvement in the aqueous based, emulsion polymerized pressure sensitive adhesives resides in: a high ethylene content copolymer having a Tg of from −25 to −70° C.; a tensile storage modulus measured at one hertz and at a temperature of −20° C. embraced by the points on a plot of storage modulus and temperature of from 1 times 106 and the points 4 times 109 dynes/cm2 and less that 1 times 107 dynes/cm2 measured at 50° C.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved aqueous based pressure sensitive adhesive emulsion polymers. Conventional emulsion based pressure sensitive adhesives are comprised of a copolymer comprised of polymerized units of acrylic esters and ethylenically unsaturated monomers, the copolymer having a T.sub.g of from -15 to -70.degree. C. The improvement in the aqueous based, emulsion polymerized pressure sensitive adhesives resides in the incorporation of a vinyl C.sub.8-13 ester of a neo-acid into the copolymer present in the pressure sensitive adhesives. Such vinyl ester is formed from a mixture of propylene oligomers and such vinyl ester is represented by the chemical formula C.sub.8-13 H.sub.17-27 CO.sub.2 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved aqueous dispersions containing polyurethane/vinyl polymers. The improved aqueous dispersions comprise polymer particles of a urethane prepolymer having carboxyl functionality therein and a vinyl monomer polymerized thereon, which are shelf stable and self crosslinkable at a low temperature. The polyurethanes have pendant carboxyl functionality in quaternary form and pendant epoxide groups provided by glycidyl acrylates and/or methacrylates. When the aqueous dispersions are cast as film and the water is removed, crosslinking between the carboxyl group and the epoxide group occurs.

Abstract: Vinyl naphthenate monomer mixtures are prepared by transvinylation of naphthenic acid in the presence of a catalyst of a palladium carboxylate complexed with one or more aryl N-containing ligands and distilling the resulting vinyl naphthenate monomers in the presence of the catalyst at pot temperatures exceeding 80.degree. C. The catalyst is stable and can be re-used over several transvinylation reaction runs.

Abstract: An aqueous polymer composition comprising 10 to 40 wt % of a polymer in water, the polymer consisting essentially of 20-90 wt % .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, 10-80 wt % one or more softening monomers, the aqueous composition being adjusted to pH 4-6 with alkali metal hydroxide or alkaline earth metal hydroxide and further containing 0.1 to 3 wt % zirconium crosslinking salt. Such aqueous compositions can be applied to nonwoven and woven substrates to make superabsorbent products.

Abstract: This invention pertains to aqueous emulsions containing water insoluble, vinyl polymer particles containing polymerized Michael adduct units of N-vinylformamide and to emulsions of vinyl acetate polymers containing said Michael adducts. These latex dispersions are prepared by the emulsion polymerization of a Michael adduct of N-vinylformamide, optionally with other ethylenically unsaturated monomers, e.g., vinyl acetate.The Michael adducts of N-vinylformamide are represented by the formula: ##STR1## where R is H or CH.sub.3, X=CN, O=CR.sub.1, O=COR.sub.1 or other electron withdrawing group such as SO.sub.3 M, SO.sub.3 R.sub.1 and NO.sub.2 wherein R.sub.1 is a linear or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, arylalkyl, alkyloxy or aryl group containing between 1 and about 20 carbon atoms and substituted derivatives thereof and M is an ion.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved water-based polymeric dispersions having suitability for coatings and other applications which are based upon polymers having a plurality of acetoacetate functional groups and a crosslinkable component comprising a plurality of aromatic aldimine. The basic acetoacetate/benzaldimine containing system comprises an aqueous polymeric dispersion wherein the polymer has a plurality of acetoacetate groups and an effective amount of a curing agent having a plurality of benzaldimine functional groups. The improvement in providing for water-stable polymeric dispersions suitable for coatings and other applications comprises an aqueous dispersion comprising a polymeric component preferably derived from a plurality of polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer units having pendant araldimine or heterocyclic aldimine functionality. Acetoacetate containing monomers generally are used in forming the polymer and a preferred monomer acetoacetoxyethymethacrylate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved aqueous dispersions containing polyurethane/vinyl polymers and to a method for making such aqueous polyurethane-vinyl polymer dispersion. The aqueous dispersions comprise a urethane prepolymer having carboxyl functionality therein and a vinyl monomer polymerized therewith. The improvement in these dispersions resides in shelf-stability and self crosslinkability at low temperature with the polyurethanes having the carboxyl functionality in quaternary form and such dispersions containing polymer having pendant epoxide groups. When the aqueous dispersions are cast as a film and the water removed, crosslinking between the carboxyl group and epoxide group occurs.

Abstract: A method for preparing an acrylic polymer powder which is redispersible in water by atomizing an aqueous polymer dispersion containing a dispersing aid, the improvement which comprises employing an acrylic polymer containing 1-15 wt % olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid comonomer and an effective amount of a dispersing aid consisting essentially of polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: A method for preparing aqueous polymer emulsions in the presence of a poly[(vinyl alcohol)-co-(vinyl amine)] copolymer as a protective colloid and aqueous polymer emulsions containing a poly[(vinyl alcohol)-co-(vinyl amine)] copolymer.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising an aqueous emulsion of a copolymer consisting essentially of(a) 10-40 wt % vinyl acetate,(b) 5-30 wt % ethylene,(c) 5-50 wt % alkyl acrylate,(d) 5-40 wt % dialkyl maleate or fumarate,(e) 1-5 wt % hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate,(f) 0.1-1 wt % (meth)acrylamide, and(g) 1-5 wt % alpha,beta ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising a vinyl acetate/ethylene/acrylate copolymer emulsion containing 5 to 60 wt % tackifier resin, on a total solids basis.

Abstract: Vinyl acetate/ethylene (VAE) copolymer emulsions having extended shelf life which are particularly suited for use as binders of nonwoven substrates. The copolymer emulsions are prepared by incorporating 1 to 45 wt % tetramethylol glycoluril, based on the amount of vinyl acetate in the copolymer, into an aqueous dispersion of a copolymer consisting essentially of 60 to 94 wt % vinyl acetate, 5 to 30 wt % ethylene and 1 to 10 wt % of a crosslinkable comonomer. Suitable crosslinking monomers include N-acrylamidoglycolic acid and N-methylol acrylamide. Nonwoven products formed by depositing the emulsion onto a nonwoven substrate exhibit significantly improved resistance to organic solvents.

Abstract: A two stage polymerization process for preparing a vinyl acetate/ethylene emulsion copolymer containing a monomer which is normally incompatible with vinyl acetate. In the first stage the vinyl acetate and ethylene and, optionally, an active crosslinking comonomer and/or latent crosslinking comonomer are free radical polymerized in the presence of a stabilizing system to yield a first stage polymer emulsion. When the free vinyl acetate monomer content of the first stage emulsion is less than about 5%, the second stage polymerization begins by adding the incompatible monomer. Preferably, there is no cessation of the addition of the free radical source during the transition from the first stage to the second stage polymerization. No additional stabilizing system is added to the reaction in the second stage.Vinyl acetate/ethylene/incompatible comonomer/latent crosslinking comonomer copolymers prepared by the two stage polymerization process are suitably used as binders for making nonwoven products.

Abstract: A copolymer emulsion for bonding nonwoven products comprising an aqueous medium having colloidally dispersed therein a copolymer consisting essentially of vinyl acetate, 5-35 wt % ethylene and 2 to 10 wt % of an amide functional crosslinking comonomer which is N-methylolacrylamide or a compound of the formula R--NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --CH(OR').sub.2 where R is (meth)acryloyl, R' is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group and n is 3 or 4, the copolymer emulsion prepared in the presence of 0.1 to 1 wt % polyvinyl pyrrolidone, based on vinyl acetate in the copolymer. Such emulsion binder copolymers demonstrate improved solvent resistance.

Abstract: A copolymer emulsion for bonding nonwoven products comprising an aqueous medium having colloidally dispersed therein a copolymer consisting essentially of vinyl acetate, 5-35 wt % ethylene and 2 to 10 wt % of an amide functional crosslinking comonomer which is N-methylolacrylamide or a compound of the formula R--NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --CH(OR').sub.2 where R is (meth)acryloyl, R' is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group and n is 3 or 4, the copolymer emulsion prepared in the presence of 0.1 to 1 wt % polyvinyl pyrrolidone, based on vinyl acetate in the copolymer. Such emulsion binder copolymers demonstrate improved solvent resistance.

Abstract: In a process for preparing a nonwoven binder emulsion containing a crosslinkable vinyl acetate or vinyl acetate/ethylene copolymer prepared by polymerizing in an aqueous dispersion vinyl acetate or vinyl acetate and ethylene with a crosslinkable comonomer of formula IR--NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --CH(OR.sup.1).sub.2 (I)wherein R is a C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 olefinically unsaturated radical having functionality which renders the nitrogen atom electron deficient, the olefinic unsaturation functionality being polymerizable, R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group and n is 3 or 4, the method for improving the wet tensiles of such copolymer which comprises(1) polymerizing vinyl acetate in an aqueous dispersion reaction medium, optionally under an ethylene pressure,(2) commencing the addition of 0.

Abstract: Pressure-sensitive adhesives are formed of a diester of fumaric acid, preferably dibutyl fumarate; an alkyl acrylate, preferably 2-ethylhexylacrylate; an alkyl methacrylate, preferably methylmethacrylate; and, desirably, a crosslinkable carboxylic acid. The adhesives are preferably formed in two-stage, free-radical polymerization.