Abstract: The present invention provides aqueous urea formaldehyde resin (UF resin) compositions having a pH or 7.0 or more, preferably, 8.5 or more, and comprising the UF resin modified with from 2.5 to 15 wt. %, of at least one ammonia or volatile amine neutralized carboxylic acid group containing solution polymer or alkali soluble emulsion polymer modifier, based on total UF resin and polymer solids, wherein the polymer modifier is the reaction product of 30 to 100 wt. % of methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, maleic anhydride, a salt thereof, or mixtures thereof, wherein the solution polymer has a weight average molecular weight of from 2,000 to 16,000 and the alkali soluble emulsion copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of from 1,500 to 20,000. The compositions enable the provision of untreated glass mats having improved wet web strength to prevent mat breakage in process.

Abstract: The present invention provides aqueous urea formaldehyde resin (UF resin) compositions having a pH or 7.0 or more, preferably, 8.5 or more, and comprising the UF resin modified with from 2.5 to 15 wt. %, of at least one ammonia or volatile amine neutralized carboxylic acid group containing solution polymer or alkali soluble emulsion polymer modifier, based on total UF resin and polymer solids, wherein the polymer modifier is the reaction product of 30 to 100 wt. % of methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, maleic anhydride, a salt thereof, or mixtures thereof, wherein the solution polymer has a weight average molecular weight of from 2,000 to 16,000 and the alkali soluble emulsion copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of from 1,500 to 20,000. The compositions enable the provision of untreated glass mats having improved wet web strength to prevent mat breakage in process.

Abstract: The present invention provides wood adhesive binder compositions comprising a naturally occurring protein component, e.g. soy flour, and an oxazoline-functional group containing polymer or resin component, the two components in a solids weight ratio of from 60:40 to 98:2. As formulated, the compositions may comprise from 40 to 98 wt. % of the naturally occurring protein component, preferably, 50 wt. % or more. Preferably, the wood adhesive binder further comprises lignins or lignosulfonate. Where the wood adhesive binder compositions comprise lignins or lignosulfonates, they remain more fluid and workable at a higher pH such as, for example, 4.5 or more. Any of the compositions may be formulated with one or more in situ acid generator compound to insure more rapid cure on heating or pressing. The binder enables the provision of mechanically sound, low cost and biodegradable composites, such as, medium density fiberboard (MDF).

Abstract: An aqueous composition that contains an aqueous dispersion of a copolymer of (i) 95-98% by weight of one or more monoethylenically unsaturated monomer; and (ii) 2-5% by weight of a beta-dicarbonyl monomer or cyanocarbonyl monomer, which may be in the enamine form, whereby the beta-dicarbonyl monomer or cyanocarbonyl monomer (ii) is added by staged feed of the said monomer during the second half, by weight, of the feed of monomers (i); and a photoinitiator present in the range of 0.1-1% by weight based upon the total weight of copolymer.

Abstract: Polymers containing a high percentage of vinyl alcohol units are difficult to process into sheet, film, injection-molded objects, or fibers. Such melt-processing is greatly enhanced by admixing certain core/shell copolymers having either a rubbery, crosslinked core mainly formed from polymerization of butadiene and/or of an alkyl acrylate, or a non-cross-linked core derived mainly of units derived from an alkyl acrylate, and an outer shell mainly formed from polymerization of methyl methacrylate. Such copolymers do not require the presence of functional groups capable of reaction with the hydroxyl groups of the poly(vinyl alcohol) to impart the improved processing.

Abstract: A rapidly-crystallizing modified poly(ethylene terephthalate) contains an acrylic core/shell impact modifier, a small amount of a polycarbonate, and a small amount of a copolymer of ethylene with a vinyl or vinylidene monomer containing ester groups. Improved mold release and lessened plate-out are observed over other additive combinations.