Abstract: A process for the preparation of emulsion polymers comprising 70 to 95% by weight of a vinyl ester and 5 to 30% by weight ethylene, the polymerization being carried out in the presence of 2 to 8% by weight of a protective colloid consisting of a blend of 1 to 3 percent by weight of 80% hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol, 0 to 2 percent by weight of 88% hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol and 1 to 3 percent by weight of 96% hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol, the blend having an average level of hydrolysis of 85 to 88%.

Abstract: A beater saturation process for forming a nonwoven wet laid composite is provided which comprises the following steps:(I) providing an aqueous dispersion comprising:(a) 10 to 95% by weight of a water-dispersible, but water-insoluble fiber;(b) 0 to 80% by weight of a finely divided, substantially water-insoluble, non-fibrous, inorganic filler;(c) 5 to 50% by weight of an anionically charged emulsion polymer comprising 70 to 90% by weight of a vinyl ester of an alkanoic acid; 10 to 30% by weight ethylene, 0 to 70% by weight of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkyl acrylate, and 0 to 4% by weight of an anionic functional monomer,(II) colloidally destabilizing the resulting mixture to form a fibrous agglomerate in aqueous suspension;(III) distributing and draining the aqueous suspension on a porous substrate such as a wire to form a wet web; and(IV) drying the web.

Abstract: The free formaldehyde content of the emulsion polymer, the amount of emitted formaldehyde and, even more particularly, of the finished nonwoven or textile may be substantially reduced by the use of a particular initiator system comprising a hydrophobic hydroperoxide and ascorbic acid. Moreover, this reduction in formaldehyde levels is accompanied by an unexpected improvement in the tensile properties of the emulsion binders.

Abstract: Hair fixative carboxylated polymers are stabilized in an aqueous emulsion by neutralization with a cosmetically acceptable organic or inorganic base, require no organic solvent, no propellant when dispensed in non-aerosol containers, and minimal organic propellant when dispensed in aerosol containers.

Abstract: A woodworking adhesive composition prepared by a two stage emulsion polymerization procedure wherein the first stage comprises the step of emulsion polymerizing vinyl acetate with 0.1 to 6% by weight of a post-crosslinking monomer in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol to produce a polyvinyl alcohol stabilized copolymer having a Tg within the range of +10.degree. to +40.degree. C. and containing no pre-crosslinking monomers and the second stage comprises the step of emulsion polymerizing methyl methacrylate to produce a methyl methacrylate homo- or copolymer containing at least 75% by weight methyl methacrylate and having a Tg within the range of +50.degree. to +120.degree. C., further characterized in that the ratio of the polymer produced in the first stage to the polymer produced in the second stage is within the range of 10:1 to 10:6 and wherein the first stage polymer and second stage monomer mixture are not equilibrated prior to the second stage polymerization.

Abstract: Water resistant emulsions for woodworking adhesives may be prepared using an emulsion polymer, the polymer being prepared in the presence of 1 to 2.5% by weight of 88% hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol and 1 to 4% by weight of 95-99.5% (or above) hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: A woodworking adhesive composition prepared by a two stage emulsion polymerization procedure wherein the first stage comprises the step of emulsion polymerizing vinyl acetate with 0.1 to 6% by weight of a post-crosslinking monomer in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol to produce a polyvinyl alcohol stabilized copolymer having a Tg within the range of +10.degree. to +40.degree. C. and containing no pre-crosslinking monomers and the second stage comprises the step of emulsion polymerizing methyl methacrylate to produce a methyl methacrylate homo- or copolymer containing at least 75% by weight methyl methacrylate and having a Tg within the range of +50.degree. to +120.degree. C., further characterized in that the ratio of the polymer produced in the first stage to the polymer produced in the second stage is within the range of 10:1 to 10:6 and wherein the first stage polymer and second stage monomer mixture are not equilibrated prior to the second stage polymerization.

Abstract: Formaldehyde free crosslinking emulsion polymers are prepared by the addition of N-(2,2-dialkoxy-1-hydroxy)ethyl acrylamide to a vinyl ester based polymer. The resultant emulsions can be used as binders for nonwovens or fiberfill or as woodworking adhesives.

Abstract: Various novel acetal- and aldehyde-containing monomers are prepared. They can be polymerized and copolymerized by conventional polymerization techniques. The polymers contain repeating units derived from one or more ethylenically or allylically unsaturated monomers containing an acetal group or aldehyde group and optionally one or more repeating units derived from ethylenically or allylically unsaturated monomers other than the acetal-containing or aldehyde-containing monomer such as ethylene, vinyl acetate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate or acrylic acid. Aqueous emulsions of polymers containing the acetal-containing monomers and a hydroxy-containing monomer are useful as binders for nonwoven fabrics.

Abstract: Formaldehyde free crosslinking emulsion polymers are prepared by the addition of N-(2,2-dialkoxy-1-hydroxy)ethyl acrylamide to a vinyl ester based polymer. The resultant emulsions can be used as binders for nonwovens or fiberfill or as woodworking adhesives.

Abstract: A process for the emulsion polymerization of graft copolymers comprising the steps of: a) obtaining an unsaturated polymer containing terminal or pendant polymerizable functionalities; b) dissolving the resultant unsaturated polymer in an ethylenically unsaturated monomer in the presence of a surfactant in water to form an aqueous phase; c) microfluidizing the aqueous phase of (b) to a size of less than 0.5 u; and d) subsequently graft polymerizing a monomer with the unsaturated polymer in the microfluidized aqueous phase using free radical polymerization techniques; such that the graft polymerization reaction occurs within each micelle thereby resulting in uniform particles of the predetermined particle size.

Abstract: Latex caulk compositions comprising 30 to 80% filler and 20 to 70% by weight of an emulsion polymer prepared for the interpolymerization of 30 to 70 parts by weight of a vinyl ester of an alkanoic acid; 15 to 60 parts of an alkyl (C.sub.2 and C.sub.8) acrylate or dialkyl (C.sub.2 to C.sub.10) maleate; 10 to 30 parts ethylene; 1 to 5 parts olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid; 0 to 5 parts polyolefinically unsaturated monomer and 0 to 8 parts of a copolymerizable functional monomer containing hydroxyl, amide or methylol substituents, (to total 100 parts by weight).

Abstract: Carpet coating compositions are disclosed which comprise 40 to 80 percent by weight filler and 20 to 60 percent by weight of a latex binder, the binder comprising an emulsion polymer ofa) 40 to 80% by weight of a vinyl ester of an alkomoic acid, the acid having from 1 to 13 carbon atoms;b) 5 to 25% by weight of a copolymerizable comonomer having a Tg of at least 50.degree. C.; and;c) 10 to 30% ethylene.

Abstract: Adhesive compositions having a Tg of -45.degree. to -25.degree. C. suitable for application to plasticized polyvinuyl chloride comprising 25 to 40% by weight of a vinyl ester of a alkanoic acid; 10-30% by weight ethylene; 20 to 30% weight of di-2-ethylhexyl maleate or fumerate; 20 to 30% by weight of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate; and 1 to 10% by weight of a monocarboxylic acid.

Abstract: Heat resistant binders for flexible nonwoven products may be prepared using an emulsion polymer comprising 100 parts by weight of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl acrylate or methacrylate ester monomers, 0.5 to 5 parts of a hydroxyalkyl acrylate or methacrylate, 3 to 6 parts of a water soluble N-methylol containing comonomer and 0.1 to 5 parts of a multifunctional comonomer. The binders are useful in the formation of heat resistant flexible products for use in roofing, flooring and filtering materials.

Abstract: Heat resistance binders for flexible polyester webs may be prepared using an emulsion polymer,the polymer being prepared by a two-stage polymerization procedure wherein a first stage is prepared based on a relatively low Tg ethylene vinyl acetate polymer and a second stage higher Tg polymer thereby combining the advantageous flexibility and film forming properties of the ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer with the stiffness and heat resistance of the higher Tg copolymer.

Abstract: Adhesive compositions having a Tg of -45.degree. to -25.degree. C. suitable for application to plasticized polyvinyl chloride comprising 25 to 40% by weight of an vinyl ester of a alkanoic acid; 10-30% by weight ethylene; 20 to 30% by weight of di-2-ethylhexyl maleate or fumarate; 20 to 30% by weight of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate; and 1 to 10% by weight of a mono-carboxylic acid.

Abstract: Wet laminating adhesives capable of withstanding the stresses encountered during heat sealing operations are prepared from emulsion copolymers consisting essentially of 45 to 80% by weight of a vinyl ester of an alkanoic acid, 10 to 30% ethylene, 5 to 30% of dialkyl maleate, 0.5 to 2% of an N-methylol containing comonomer and 0.5 to 4% of an ethylenically unsaturated mono- or di-carboxylic acid. These specific emulsion copolymers are prepared utilizing standard emulsion polymerization procedures with hydroxyethylcellulose or polyvinyl alcohol as a protective colloid. The emulsion polymers thus produced provide superior wet laminating adhesive properties for use in substrates which are to be formed into microwavable packages or bags.

Abstract: Adhesive compositions having a Tg of -45.degree. to -25.degree. C. suitable for application to plasticized polyvinyl chloride comprising 25 to 40% by weight of a vinyl ester of a alkanoic acid; 10-30% by weight ethylene; 20 to 30% by weight of di-2-ethylhexyl maleate or fumarate; 20 to 30% by weight of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate; and 1 to 10% by weight of a monocarboxylic acid.

Abstract: Adhesive compositions having a Tg of -45.degree. to -25.degree. C. suitable for application to plasticized polyvinyl chloride comprising 30-70% by weight of a vinyl ester of a alkenoic acid; 10-30% by weight ethylene; 20-40% by weight of a di-2-ethylhexyl maleate or di-n-octyl maleate or the corresponding fumarate; and 1 to 10% by weight of a mono-carboxylic acid.