Abstract: There is disclosed a method of carrying out an aqueous emulsion copolymerization to provide an alkali-soluble anionic copolymer having thickening characteristics while minimizing plating and grit problems in which the aqueous emulsion copolymerization of monoethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising from 15% to 50% by weight of carboxyl-functional monomer, at least about 10% by weight of monomer, preferably a urethane monomer, having surfactant characteristics, and the balance of the monomers being selected to provide a water insoluble copolymer, is carried out in the presence of a salt of an aromatic sulfonic acid, such as sodium styrene sulfonate, in an amount of from about 0.1% up to about 6.0%, by weight.

Abstract: Nonionic associative thickeners suitable for use in aqueous coating compositions comprise an aqueous solution polymer of (a) from about 40 percent to about 98 percent, preferably from 60 to 95 percent, by weight of a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer such as acrylamide, N,N-dimethyl acrylamide, vinyl pyrrolidone, hydroxyethyl acrylate and mixtures thereof; and (b) from about 2 percent to about 60 percent, preferably from 5 to 40 percent, by weight of a nonionic urethane monomer which is the urethane reaction product of a monohydric nonionic surfactant with a monoethylenically unsaturated monoisocyanate.

Abstract: An aqueous emulsion copolymer of monoethylenically unsaturated monomers which provide a copolymer having a glass transition temperature below 20.degree. C., is modified to include from about 0.3% to about 10% of a monoethylenically unsaturated copolymerizable polyether containing a chain of from about 6 to about 150 C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 oxyalkylene groups, the terminal hydroxy group provided by said chain of oxyalkylene groups being capped with a monofunctional hydrophobic group. These polyethers improve the brush drag of paints made with the emulsion copolymers, and in some instances the leveling is simultaneously improved.

Abstract: A thermosetting latex paint is disclosed which cures to provide better gloss and gloss retention of ultraviolet exposure. This latex paint comprises water having suspended therein copolymer particles of aqueous emulsion copolymerized monomers consisting essentially of monoethylenically unsaturated monomers including at least about 30% up to about 80% of vinyl acetate, the balance of the monomers in the copolymer including from 2% up to about 15% of monomers providing reactive hydrogen atoms, like hydroxyethyl methacrylate, to enable the copolymer to thermoset in the presence of a curing agent which reacts with the reactive hydrogen atoms of the copolymer, like hexamethoxymethyl melamine. The copolymer particles are suspended in the water by surfactant comprising at least 2% up to about 8%, based on total monomers, of an ethylene oxide adduct of an alkyl-substituted phenol having from 10-18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group with 5-14 moles of adducted ethylene oxide per mole of said substituted phenol.

Abstract: Alkali soluble thickeners are disclosed which are aqueous emulsion copolymers of:(A) about 20-70 weight percent of an alpha, beta-monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, typically methacrylic acid;(B) about 20-80 weight percent of a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer lacking surfactant capacity, typically ethyl acrylate;(C) about 0.5-60 weight percent of a nonionic urethane monomer which is the urethane reaction product of a monohydric nonionic surfactant with a monoethylenically unsaturated monoisocyanate, preferably one lacking ester groups like alpha, alpha-dimethyl-m-isopropenyl benzyl isocyanate; and(D) from 0 up to about 2 weight percent of a polyethylenically unsaturated monomer. These emulsion copolymers are solubilized in water with the aid of an alkali, like ammonium hydroxide. When the copolymers are added to latex paints and neutralized, the viscosity of the paint is increased, brush drag is increased, and the paint rheology is otherwise improved.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a novel water soluble conductive material which is capable of being polymerized by actinic radiation. More specifically, this invention involves the use of a radiation curable quaternary ammonium salt obtained by mixing at least one tertiary amine having acryloyl or methacryloyl unsaturation and at least one halide. When the water-soluble conductive material is subjected to actinic radiation sufficient to cause polymerization, it maintains its conductive character, but becomes essentially impervious to attack by water or solvent, and remains tack-free even at high relative humidity. When the water-soluble conductive material is polymerized by actinic radiation, it is not necessary to drive water off during cure and then rehumidify to obtain proper conductivity as is often necessary with the prior art coatings.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a novel water soluble conductive material which is capable of being polymerized by actinic radiation. More specifically, this invention involves the use of a radiation curable quaternary ammonium salt obtained by mixing at least one tertiary amine having acryloyl or methacryloyl unsaturation and at least one halide. When the water-soluble conductive material is subjected to actinic radiation sufficient to cause polymerization, it maintains its conductive character, but becomes essentially impervious to attack by water or solvent, and remains tack-free even at high relative humidity. When the water-soluble conductive material is polymerized by actinic radiation, it is not necessary to drive water off during cure and then rehumidify to obtain proper conductivity as is often necessary with the prior art coatings.