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 opaque polymers functionalized with phosphorus acid groups, composites of TiO2 particles and the opaque polymers, and methods for their preparation. The composites are useful in coatings formulations and have been shown to exhibit improved hiding benefits in coated substrates over compositions containing non-functionalized opaque polymer and TiO2.

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 composition comprising a) a stable aqueous dispersion of polymer particles functionalized with structural units of a phosphorus acid monomer 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 phosphorus acid functionalized polymer particles with the sulfonic acid functionalized polymer, and TiO2. The composition of the present invention is useful as a coatings formulation that provides improved hiding over phosphorus acid functionalized binders that do not include the water-soluble polymer. Alternatively, the same hiding benefit is seen at lower phosphorus acid concentration when the sulfonic acid functionalized polymer is present.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising and a method for preparing a stable aqueous dispersion of polymer particles comprising structural units of vinyl acetate and a phosphorous acid monomer. The composition of the present invention provides vinyl acetate/phosphorus acid based polymer particles that improve hiding efficiency in pigmented coatings formulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process comprising contacting a stable aqueous dispersion of pre-formed polymer particles with a monomer emulsion under emulsion polymerization conditions to form a stable aqueous dispersion of pre-formed particles protuberating from polymer particles arising from the polymerization of the monomer emulsion; these multistage polymer particles show exceptional compatibility with pigment particles. In another aspect, the present invention is a composition relating to the pre-formed particles.

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 present invention is also a composition comprising a nonionic surfactant and a stable aqueous dispersion of polymer particles comprising structural units of butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, a sodium vinylbenzenesulfonate, and phosphoethyl methacrylate; wherein the polymer particles have a Tg of less than 10° C. The composition of the present invention is useful as a binder for coatings compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process comprising contacting methyl methacrylate or styrene; a C1-C10-alkyl acrylate; and a polymerizable carboxylic acid monomer with a stable aqueous dispersion of first polymer particles, under emulsion polymerization conditions, to form a stable aqueous dispersion of second polymer particles. The first polymer particles have a Tg in the range of from ?30° C. to 30° C., and the monomers have a calculated Tg in the range of 50° C. to 120° C. The present invention also relates to the dispersion of second polymer particles, which is useful as a binder to improve freeze-thaw stability in a coatings formulation.

Abstract: An aqueous coating composition including a) a composite particle including an opacifying pigment particle such as, for example, TiO2 and, disposed thereon, a plurality of particles of a first polymer, the first polymer being a select P-acid containing emulsion polymer and b) from 7% to 25% by weight, based on the total weight of polymer in the aqueous coating composition, of a select second polymer is provided. A method for forming the aqueous coating composition, a method for forming a dried coating therefrom, and the coating so formed are also provided.

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 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 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 composition of a stable aqueous dispersion of polymer particles comprising structural units of a) vinyl acetate; b) a vinyl ester of a branched carboxylic acid monomer; and c) a phosphorus acid monomer. The composition of the present invention provides vinyl ester/phosphorus acid based polymer particles that improve hiding efficiency in pigmented coatings formulations.

Abstract: The present invention is a composition comprising a) a stable aqueous dispersion of polymer particles functionalized with structural units of a phosphorus acid monomer 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 phosphorus acid functionalized polymer particles with the sulfonic acid functionalized polymer, and TiO2. The composition of the present invention is useful as a coatings formulation that provides improved hiding over phosphorus acid functionalized binders that do not include the water-soluble polymer. Alternatively, the same hiding benefit is seen at lower phosphorus acid concentration when the sulfonic acid functionalized polymer is present.

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 process for preparing a multistage phosphorus acid functionalized latex polymer comprising the steps of: a) contacting a first acrylic monomer with a first phosphorus acid monomer under emulsion polymerization conditions to form a first stage polymer; then b) contacting the first stage polymer with a second acrylic monomer and a second phosphorus acid monomer under emulsion polymerization conditions to form the latex polymer. The latex polymer is useful as an absorbing polymer for pigment particles used, for example, in coatings formulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising and a method for preparing a stable aqueous dispersion of polymer particles comprising structural units of vinyl acetate and a phosphorous acid monomer. The composition of the present invention provides vinyl acetate/phosphorus acid based polymer particles that improve hiding efficiency in pigmented coatings formulations.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for making a polymeric bead by suspension polymerization processes from a phosphoric acid monoester.

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 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.