Abstract: The present invention is a multilayered composite comprising porous metal oxide particles that are covalently bonded by way of inorganic ether groups to one or more sites of a first polyhydroxyl-functionalized polymer. This first polymer is in turn covalently bonded by way of inorganic ether groups to one or more sites of a second polyhydroxyl-functionalized polymer. The multilayered composites can be prepared by contacting porous inorganic-oxide particles with a sufficient amount of OH-reactive crosslinking agent to form metal oxide particles imbibed with the crosslinking agent, and then contacting the inorganic-oxide particles with a solution of polyhydroxyl-functionalized polymer under reactive conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing an aqueous dispersion of a vinyl acetate polymer comprising the step of polymerizing vinyl acetate under emulsion polymerization conditions in the presence of a chain transfer agent which is a hypophosphite salt or X—R1—SH, where R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl group and X is sulfonate, hydroxyl, sulfate, phosphate, phosphonate, carboxylic acid or a salt thereof, or C1-C3-alkyl carboxylate. The process provides a way of lowering the viscosity of the vinyl acetate polymer at a given solids content.

Abstract: A latex polymer of multi-stage polymerization comprising a first stage polymer and a second stage polymer wherein the first stage polymer comprises a first portion of an acrylic monomer and a first portion of a phosphorus acid monomer, and the second stage polymer comprises a second portion of an acrylic monomer and a second portion of a phosphorus acid monomer. A process of making such latex polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of an associative thickener having a hydrophobic portion with a calculated log P in the range of from 2.7 to 4.8; and composite particles comprising phosphorus acid functionalized polymer particles adsorbed to the surfaces of TiO2 particles. The composition of the present invention provides formulators with flexibility in their use of low and mid shear rate thickeners to balance paint performance properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of an associative thickener having a hydrophobic portion with a calculated log P in the range of from 2.7 to 5.0; and composite particles comprising phosphorus acid functionalized polymer particles adsorbed to the surfaces of TiO2 particles; wherein the phosphorus acid functionalized polymer particles have a core-shell morphology wherein the core protuberates from the shell. The composition of the present invention provides formulators with flexibility in their use of low and mid shear rate thickeners to balance paint performance properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising a) a stable aqueous dispersion of inorganic pigment particles hydrophobically modified with covalently bonded polysiloxane or silyl groups; and b) a polymeric anionic dispersant; wherein the hydrophobically modified inorganic pigment particles have an average particle size in the range of from 200 nm to 10 ?m, and the solids content of the hydrophobically modified inorganic pigment particles is from 10 to 80 weight percent, based on the weight of inorganic pigment particles and water. The composition of the present invention provides a way to improve water resistance in coatings formulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable aqueous dispersion of multiphase amphoteric polymer particles comprising a crosslinked polymer phase comprising structural units of a phosphorus acid monomer, a carboxylic acid monomer, a multiethylenically unsaturated monomer, and an ethylenically unsaturated nonionic monomer; and a second polymer phase comprising a carboxylic acid monomer and an ethylenically unsaturated nonionic monomer. The present invention also relates to composites of the particles and pigment particles such as TiO2. The composition is useful for preparing dried coatings with improved hiding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process comprising the steps of a) contacting an aqueous dispersion of a TiO2 slurry containing adsorbing dispersant with an adsorbing latex to form a mixture, wherein the pH of the mixture of the TiO2 slurry and adsorbing latex are sufficiently high to inhibit interaction between the TiO2 and the adsorbing latex; then b) lowering the pH of the mixture of step a) sufficiently to promote interaction between the TiO2 and the adsorbing latex, thereby forming a composite. The process of the present invention provides for improved hiding and reduced grit for coatings compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coatings composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of polymer particles, pigment particles, and extender particles. The polymer particles comprise from 35 to 99.8 weight percent structural units of vinyl acetate and from 0.1 to 6 weight percent structural units of a phosphorus acid monomer or a salt thereof, and the coating composition has a pigment volume concentration in the range of from 25 up to the critical pigment volume concentration of the composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing an aqueous dispersion of polymer encapsulated TiO2 particles, comprising a multistage polymerization steps that includes a relatively large amount of low Tg first monomers and a relatively small amount of high Tg second monomers that comprise a relatively high concentration of an acid monomer. The dispersion of encapsulated TiO2 particles shows significantly improved freeze-thaw stability as compared with prior art processes that do not include staging with the second monomers described herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable aqueous dispersion of polymer particles with structural units of a) a phosphorus acid monomer or a salt thereof; b) a carboxylic acid monomer or a sulfur acid monomer or a salt thereof or a combination thereof; c) a multiethylenically unsaturated monomer; and d) an acrylate monomer, wherein the polymer particles have a solids content in the range of 30 to 50 percent and a particle size of from 40 nm and 100 nm.

Abstract: The present invention is a polymeric bead composition. More particularly the present invention is directed to a new polymeric bead composition formed by suspension polymerization processes from a phosphorous acid containing monomers.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for preparing a multistage polymer by contacting under emulsion polymerization conditions an acrylic monomer, a sulfur acid monomer, and a phosphorous acid monomer as described herein. The multistage polymer is useful as a binder for coatings compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising a stable aqueous dispersion of large acrylic based polymer particles and small acrylic based polymer particles wherein the large polymer particles comprise structural units of a phosphorus acid monomer or a salt thereof; and wherein the small polymer particles comprise a substantial absence of structural units of any phosphorus acid monomer and salts thereof. The bimodal dispersion of the present invention provides a way of making a high solids adsorbing latex with high hiding efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention is a composition comprising a stable aqueous dispersion of polymer particles comprising structural units of a nonionic monoethylenically unsaturated monomer; 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphonic acid (MEP) or a salt thereof; and a sulfur acid monomer or carboxylic acid monomer or a combination thereof or a salt thereof, as well as a composite comprising the polymer particles adsorbed to the surface of a pigment particle such as TiO2. The composition and composite are prepared using the phosphorus acid monomer MEP, which can be prepared in high purity with low residual non-polymerizable phosphorus acid, thereby reducing the load of neutralizing agent required to achieve the targeted pH as compared with phophoethyl methacrylate (PEM).

Abstract: The present invention is a composition comprising a) a stable aqueous dispersion of polymer particles functionalized with structural units of itaconic acid or a salt thereof and; b) a water-soluble polymer functionalized with structural units of a sulfonic acid monomer or a salt thereof as well as a method comprising mixing the stable aqueous dispersion of the itaconic acid functionalized polymer particles with the sulfonic acid functionalized polymer, and TiO2. The composition of the present invention is useful a coatings formulation that provides surprisingly good hiding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising a bimorphological aqueous dispersion of first and second polymer particles, wherein the first polymer particles comprise a shell and a phosphorus acid functionalized protuberating core, and the second polymer particles do not comprise a protuberating core. The composition is useful for pigmented coatings formulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in situ method for preparing a bimorphological aqueous dispersion of first polymer particles with protuberating phosphorus acid cores and second polymer particles without protuberating cores. The method provides a more efficient way of making compositions for pigmented coating formulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing an aqueous dispersion of a vinyl acetate polymer comprising the step of polymerizing vinyl acetate under emulsion polymerization conditions in the presence of a chain transfer agent which is a hypophosphite salt or X—R1—SH, where R1 is a C1-C4 alkyl group and X is sulfonate, hydroxyl, sulfate, phosphate, phosphonate, carboxylic acid or a salt thereof, or C1-C3-alkyl carboxylate. The process provides a way of lowering the viscosity of the vinyl acetate polymer at a given solids content.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for preparing a multistage polymer by contacting under emulsion polymerization conditions an acrylic monomer, a sulfur acid monomer, and a phosphorous acid monomer as described herein. The multistage polymer is useful as a binder for coatings compositions.