Abstract: This invention is based upon the discovery that the characteristics of toner resins made by emulsion polymerization can be improved by utilizing amino acid soaps. Such amino acid soaps are typically salts of alkyl sarcosinates, such as ammonium lauryl sarcosinate and sodium lauryl sarcosinate. Toner resins which are made utilizing such amino acid surfactants do not exhibit significant electrical charge effects from the residual level of amino acid soap in the resin compared to resins made using other soap types, such as rosin acid soaps, fatty acid soaps, and the like. They also generally contain a lower level of ash since salts do not need to be used in their coagulation. As a result of the low level of ash, the toner resin made from the amino acid soap exhibits excellent resistance to moisture sensitivity and adsorption.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a polymeric resin which contains repeat units which are derived from maleic anhydride in an emulsion polymerization process which comprises polymerizing a vinyl aromatic monomer and an alkyl acrylate monomer in an aqueous medium in the presence of a styrene-maleic anhydride seed polymer which is neutralized with a tertiary amine. Such polymers, which contain repeat units which are derived from a vinyl aromatic monomer, an alkyl acrylate monomer, and maleic anhydride, are particularly useful as electrostatic image developing toner resins. For instance, resins, which are comprised of repeat units which are derived from styrene, butyl acrylate, and maleic anhydride, are particularly useful as toner resins.

Abstract: A process for the emulsion copolymerization of functionalized monomers wherein the improvement comprises the use of methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) as a solvent and elevated soap levels in the polymerization.