Abstract: Waterborne vinyl acetate-acrylic, “vinyl acrylic” emulsion copolymers which can be used in architectural coatings and impart stain resistance to such coatings are provided. The vinyl acrylic emulsion copolymer particles in the emulsion may contain one or more particle size modes, each with a respective narrow particle size distribution. The vinyl acrylic emulsion copolymers contain as a comonomer an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and also contain a hydrolyzable silane comonomer. The hydrolyzable silane may be present as a comonomer in the vinyl acrylic copolymer and/or may be added to the vinyl acrylic emulsion copolymer emulsion in the form of a hydrolyzable silane that may have a reactive group that is capable of reacting with the vinyl acrylic copolymer.

Abstract: Multi-stage polymeric particles are prepared as a water-borne emulsion, including a first-formed lower Tg soft stage and a second-formed higher Tg hard stage. The polymeric particles include, in both stages: one or more free radical polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomers; 0 to 3 wt % of free radical polymerizable surfactant monomer; 0 to 4 wt % of free radical poly-merizable monomer having a beta dicarbonyl functionality; 0 to 2 wt % of monomer selected from acrylamide, diacetone acrylamide, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylates, and hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylates and mixtures thereof; 0-1.9 wt % of free radical polymerizable polyethylenically unsaturated monomers; 0.1 to 1.9% of free radical polymerizable monomer containing phosphorus acid or a salt thereof in the first stage, and 0.1 to 5 wt % of a free radical polymerizable monomer containing phosphorus acid or salt thereof in the second stage.

Abstract: A high performance wall assembly receives an exterior covering of a building. The high performance wall assembly includes a frame assembly having a top member, a bottom member opposite the top member, and a plurality of vertical members. The vertical members are coupled to and extend between the top and bottom members. The high performance wall assembly also includes a rigid foam insulating panel coupled to the frame assembly. A structural foam layer is disposed on the plurality of vertical members and on the rigid foam insulating panel. The structural foam layer couples the rigid foam insulating panel to the frame assembly and couples the plurality of vertical members to the top and bottom members such that the high performance wall is free of fasteners.

Abstract: A high performance wall assembly receives an exterior covering of a building. The high performance wall assembly includes a frame assembly having a top member, a bottom member opposite the top member, and a plurality of vertical members. The vertical members are coupled to and extend between the top and bottom members. The high performance wall assembly also includes a rigid foam insulating panel coupled to the frame assembly. A structural foam layer is disposed on the plurality of vertical members and on the rigid foam insulating panel. The structural foam layer couples the rigid foam insulating panel to the frame assembly and couples the plurality of vertical members to the top and bottom members such that the high performance wall is free of fasteners.

Abstract: A high performance wall assembly receives an exterior covering of a building. The high performance wall assembly includes a frame assembly having a top member, a bottom member opposite the top member, and a plurality of vertical members. The vertical members are coupled to and extend between the top and bottom members. The high performance wall assembly also includes a rigid foam insulating panel coupled to the frame assembly. A structural foam layer is disposed on the plurality of vertical members and on the rigid foam insulating panel. The structural foam layer couples the rigid foam insulating panel to the frame assembly and couples the plurality of vertical members to the top and bottom members such that the high performance wall is free of fasteners.

Abstract: A prefabricated wall assembly receives an exterior covering of a building. The prefabricated wall assembly comprises a frame assembly and an outer foam layer. The outer foam layer is coupled to the frame assembly. The outer foam layer extends from the frame assembly to an exterior surface of the outer foam layer. The exterior surface of the outer foam layer is configured to receive the exterior covering of the building. The outer foam layer comprises a plurality of particles and a binder that define a plurality of pathways. The pathways extend vertically through the prefabricated wall assembly from the top member to the bottom member of the frame assembly for allowing airflow and drainage between the frame assembly and the exterior covering.

Abstract: A prefabricated wall assembly receives an exterior covering of a building. The prefabricated wall assembly includes a frame assembly and an insulating foam layer. The frame assembly includes a top member, a bottom member opposite the top member, and a plurality of vertical members coupled to and extending between the top and bottom members. The frame assembly also has an interior side and an exterior side opposite the interior side. The insulating foam layer is disposed between the plurality of vertical members of the frame assembly and also extends from the exterior side of the frame assembly terminating in a plurality of integral ribs. An exterior surface of the insulating foam layer is presented between the plurality of ribs. The ribs space the exterior covering from the exterior surface of the insulating foam layer for allowing airflow and drainage between the prefabricated wall assembly and the exterior covering.

Abstract: A prefabricated wall assembly receives an exterior covering of a building. The prefabricated wall assembly comprises a frame assembly and an outer foam layer. The outer foam layer is coupled to the frame assembly. The outer foam layer extends from the frame assembly to an exterior surface of the outer foam layer. The exterior surface of the outer foam layer is configured to receive the exterior covering of the building. The outer foam layer comprises a plurality of particles and a binder that define a plurality of pathways. The pathways extend vertically through the prefabricated wall assembly from the top member to the bottom member of the frame assembly for allowing airflow and drainage between the frame assembly and the exterior covering.

Abstract: A high performance wall assembly receives an exterior covering of a building. The high performance wall assembly includes a frame assembly having a top member, a bottom member opposite the top member, and a plurality of vertical members. The vertical members are coupled to and extend between the top and bottom members. The high performance wall assembly also includes a rigid foam insulating panel coupled to the frame assembly. A structural foam layer is disposed on the plurality of vertical members and on the rigid foam insulating panel. The structural foam layer couples the rigid foam insulating panel to the frame assembly and couples the plurality of vertical members to the top and bottom members such that the high performance wall is free of fasteners.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for their application are described herein. The compositions include a plurality of particles having a density of 1000 kg/m3 or less (e.g., a pre-expanded polymer) and a binder. Also described herein is a method of applying the composition onto a surface. The method includes blowing a plurality of particles having a density of 1000 kg/m3 or less in at least one first stream and spraying a binder in at least one second stream onto a surface. Further provided is an apparatus for spraying the composition.