Abstract: Fabric reinforcement for reinforcing alkaline cementitious matrix including warp yarns and weft yarns. To increase cohesive tensile strength of intersection points of the fabric the fabric has sufficient resinous coating over a substantial portion of the warp and weft yarns, before the fabric reinforcement is embedded within, or adhesively or mechanically bonded to the cementitious matrix, wherein the coating includes organic or inorganic adhesives/polymers, or the fabric has uncoated fabric modified by adhering fabric strands together where machine direction and cross-machine strands intersect, for example with cyanoacrylate or epoxy. Bond strength of the intersecting yarns of the fabric and the corresponding mechanical bond strength of the fabric to the cementitious matrix may also be enhanced by increasing roughness and/or surface area of the yarns and resulting fabric. Methods for making fabric, cementitious boards employing the fabric, and methods for making the cementitious board are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking a user's off-line commerce and merging that data with online activity are disclosed. The off-line transaction data is associated with off-line purchases of a user and includes identification information that can be used to identify the user. A scone or modified cookie is created that includes the off-line transaction data. Online activity can also be tracked and merged with the user's off-line commerce data.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a payment system for a commercial transaction. The payment system includes an account server that a consumer accesses using the consumer's mobile telephone number. The account server updates the consumer's account and the merchant's account according to the transaction. The account server sends a confirmation directly to the consumer's mobile telephone.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking a user's off-line commerce and merging that data with online activity are disclosed. The off-line transaction data is associated with off-line purchases of a user and includes identification information that can be used to identify the user. A scone or modified cookie is created that includes the off-line transaction data. Online activity can also be tracked and merged with the user's off-line commerce data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking a user's off-line commerce and merging that data with online activity are disclosed. The off-line transaction data is associated with off-line purchases of a user and includes identification information that can be used to identify the user. A scone or modified cookie is created that includes the off-line transaction data. Online activity can also be tracked and merged with the user's off-line commerce data.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to copolymers, which are polymerization products of: (i) a monomer having alpha-olefinic functionality; (ii) a monomer different from (i) having active hydrogen functionality; and (iii) a monomer different from (ii) having acrylic functionality. The molar ratio of the monomer (i) having alpha-olefinic functionality to the monomer (iii) having acrylic functionality is less than 1:1, and the conversion of the monomer (i) having alpha-olefinic functionality during polymerization is greater than 90%. When monomers having methacrylic functionality are used to prepare the copolymer, the molar ratio of the monomer (iii) having acrylic functionality to the monomers having methacrylic functionality is greater than 2:1. Also disclosed are curable film-forming compositions comprising the copolymers.

Abstract: Techniques for defining and customizing payment rules and automatically paying charges in accordance with the rules is described. A charge is settled and the charge is posted to an account, for example a credit card account, in the form of a settlement record. An automated payments engine compares the settlement record against payment conditions of one or more payment rules. If a payment condition is satisfied, the automated payments engine initiates a payment according to a payment method associated with the satisfied payment condition.

Abstract: A composition that includes a non-gelled copolymer that contains residues having structural units (I): where n is an integer from 1 to 10,000; R1 is linear or branched C1 to C4 alkyl; R2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, linear, cyclic or branched C2 to C20 alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl, and R3 is a group resulting from a post polymerization reaction selected from transesterification, transamidification and hydrolysis with a compound selected from hydroxy functional compounds and amine functional compounds. The composition may contain co-reactive functional groups and may be a thermosetting composition. A substrate may be coated with the thermosetting composition singly or as part of a multi-layer composite coating that includes a base coat layer and a substantially pigment free top coat layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a payment system for a commercial transaction. The payment system includes an account server that a consumer accesses using the consumer's mobile telephone number. The account server updates the consumer's account and the merchant's account according to the transaction. The account server sends a confirmation directly to the consumer's mobile telephone.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer that includes a first radically polymerizable low surface tension (meth)acrylate monomer and one or more other radically polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The copolymer has a polydispersity index of less than 2.5. The present invention further includes a controlled radical polymerization method to make the above described low surface tension containing copolymers. The method includes the steps of adding a first radically polymerizable low surface tension (meth)acrylate monomer and one or more other radically polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomers to a solution containing a suitable atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator.

Abstract: A controlled free radical polymerization process, which includes the steps of: adding a monofunctional iniferter compound to an oxygen-free solvent; heating the solution to a temperature sufficient to allow the iniferter compound to form two carbon centered radical residues; adding a first monomer composition comprising one or more monomers to the solution containing the radical containing residues; polymerizing the first monomer composition to form a quasi-living polymer; and optionally polymerizing a second monomer composition comprising one or more monomers, which are different than the first monomer composition. The resulting non-random copolymer having the general formula: ?-[-Ap-Bs-]t-? where A and B are different compositions of ethylenically unsaturated monomers; p is an integer from 1 to 1,000; s is an integer from 0 to 1,000; t is an integer from 1 to 100; and ? is a residue from the iniferter.

Abstract: Fluoropolymers are disclosed. The fluoropolymers include (i) units derived from a fluoromonomer composition comprising chlorotrifluoroethylene, and (ii) units derived from at least one donor monomer composition. In the disclosed fluoropolymers, units (i) and (ii) are distributed along the fluoropolymer chain in a substantially alternating fashion. Also disclosed are thermosetting compositions containing such fluoropolymers, substrates coated with such compositions, methods for making such compositions, and methods for coating substrates with such compositions.

Abstract: Fluoropolymers are disclosed. The fluoropolymers include (i) units derived from a fluoromonomer having the formula F2C?CXY, where X is CF3 and Y is either F or CF3, and (ii) units derived from at least one donor monomer. In the disclosed fluoropolymers, units (i) and (ii) are distributed along the fluoropolymer chain in a substantially alternating fashion. Also disclosed are thermosetting compositions containing such fluoropolymers, substrates coated with such compositions, methods for making such compositions, and methods for coating substrates with such compositions.

Abstract: Coating compositions formed from at least one hydroxyl functional non-vinyl material comprising at least one alcoholic hydroxyl group blocked with a hydrolyzable silyl group, and at least one curing agent are provided by the present invention. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a coating composition formed from components comprising at least one carbamate functional material comprising at least one carbamate group blocked with a hydrolyzable silyl group, and at least one curing agent. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a coating composition formed from components comprising at least one carboxyl functional material comprising at least one carboxyl group blocked with a hydrolyzable silyl group, and at least one curing agent.

Abstract: Powder coating compositions having improved mar and scratch resistance are disclosed. The coatings generally comprise one or more particles that have been modified to render the particles more surface active. The improved resistance is achieved without affecting the appearance or mechanical performance of the coatings. Methods for using the coatings, and the substrates coated therewith, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition that includes an ungelled copolymer composition and a crosslinking agent. The ungelled copolymer composition includes a functional group-containing copolymer that includes segments of alternating residues derived from a donor monomer composition comprising an acceptor monomer composition. The donor monomer composition includes one or both of isobutylene and diisobutylene, and the acceptor monomer composition includes acrylic monomers and monomers containing functional groups. The ungelled copolymer composition is substantially free of transition metals and Lewis acids, and the copolymer is substantially free of maleate-type monomer residues and fumarate-type monomer residues. The crosslinking agent has at least two functional groups that are reactive with the functional groups of the copolymer. The thermosetting composition may be in liquid, powder, or dispersed form and may be applied by traditional or electrocoating methods.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition that includes an ungelled copolymer composition and a crosslinking agent. The ungelled copolymer composition includes a functional group-containing copolymer that includes segments of alternating residues derived from a donor monomer composition comprising an acceptor monomer composition. The donor monomer composition includes one or both of isobutylene and diisobutylene, and the acceptor monomer composition includes acrylic monomers and monomers containing functional groups. The ungelled copolymer composition is substantially free of transition metals and Lewis acids, and the copolymer is substantially free of maleate-type monomer residues and fumarate-type monomer residues. The crosslinking agent has at least two functional groups that are reactive with the functional groups of the copolymer. The thermosetting composition may be in liquid, powder, or dispersed form and may be applied by traditional or electrocoating methods.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition that includes a co-reactable solid, particulate mixture of a film forming material having functional groups and a crosslinking agent having at least two functional groups that are reactive with the functional groups in the film forming material. The crosslinking agent includes a copolymer having at least 30 mol % of alternating structural units of a residue from a donor monomer and a residue from one or more acrylic acceptor monomers. The thermosetting composition may coat a substrate by coalescing the composition to form a continuous film and curing the composition. The thermosetting composition may be included as part of a multi-component composite coating composition that includes an optional primer coat, a base coat deposited from a pigmented film-forming composition, and a transparent top coat applied over the base coat, where either the base coat, the transparent top coat, or both, are deposited from the thermosetting composition.

Abstract: A copolymer composition that includes a copolymer comprised of at least 30 mol % of residues having the following alternating residues from a donor monomer and from an acceptor monomer. The copolymer contains at least 15 mol % of an isobutylene type donor monomer and at least 15 mol % of an acrylic monomer as an acceptor monomer. The copolymer is substantially free of maleate or fumarate monomer segments and the copolymer composition is substantially free of Lewis acids and transition metals. Also disclosed is a thermosetting composition that includes a reactant comprising functional groups, a crosslinking agent having at least two functional groups that are reactive with the functional groups first reactant, and a copolymer flow control agent that includes the copolymer composition as well as substrates coated with the thermosetting composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for producing a copolymer and a copolymer product of the method. The copolymer is prepared by a controlled radical polymerization process, typically an atom transfer radical polymerization process, in which polymerizable alkene monomers are polymerized in the presence of a halogenated polyolefin macroinitiator. The copolymer product of this process is useful in a film-forming composition that adheres strongly to polyolefinic substrates and to which non-polyolefinic film-forming compositions strongly adhere. The copolymer can be applied to a substrate in an adhesion-promoting layer or can be incorporated into a film-forming composition, such as a primer, that contains additional resinous compounds.