Abstract: A system and method for applying a polymer surface treatment to carpets and other textiles is provided. The system and method include the use of a surfactant-free emulsion of a surface treatment polymer. The use of the surfactant-free emulsion of a surface treatment polymer reduces or eliminates the need to use pH adjusting agents and/or ionic salt solutions when applying surface treatment polymers to carpets or other textiles. By reducing the need to remove surfactants, emulsifiers, pH adjusting agents, and/or salts, the total volume of water used in treating carpets or other textiles is reduced.

Abstract: A surface treatment agent which is an aqueous emulsion containing: (a) a fluorine-free polymer including: (i) repeating units derived from a long-chain (meth)acrylate ester monomer represented by the formula: CH2?CA11-C(?O)—O-A12, wherein A11 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and A12 is a linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 10-30 carbon atoms; (b) a surface active agent including both of a nonionic surface active agent and an anionic surface active agent, wherein the amount of the anionic surface active agent is at least 22% by weight, based on the total of the nonionic surface active agent and the anionic surface active agent; and (c) a liquid medium comprising water.