Abstract: The present invention provides aqueous amphiphilic emulsion copolymer compositions comprising one or more aqueous phase copolymer, a residue of one or more hydrophilic chain transfer agent, and a residue of one or more hydrophobic chain transfer agent, as well as methods of making such copolymers in water or an aqueous liquid by copolymerizing a monomer component of from 20 to 80 wt. %, based on the weight of the monomer component, of a hydrophilic group-containing monomer and the remainder of a copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer or prepolymer in the presence of a mixed chain transfer agent component comprising a hydrophilic chain transfer agent, such as 3-mercaptopropionic acid, and a hydrophobic chain transfer agent, such as N-dodecyl mercaptan. The aqueous amphiphilic emulsion copolymers of the present invention are storage stable and exhibit excellent viscosity control even in high solids compositions, e.g. from 50 to 80 wt. % of the composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides aqueous matte coating compositions comprising a binder component B) and a polymeric duller component A) composed of particles of one or more multi-stage copolymer or single stage crosslinked (co)polymer, e.g. crosslinked t-butyl (meth)acrylate, the duller component particles A) having an average diameter of 1-20 ?m. Components A) and B) are compatible. Preferably, the duller component A) is acrylic; more preferably, components A) and B) are acrylic. The aqueous compositions provide matte coatings having haptic or feel (soft touch) properties, film and appearance properties, including burnish resistance and low color loss.

Abstract: An oligomeric composition containing oligomers and at least one stabilizing component is provided. An aqueous dispersion composition containing the oligomeric composition is useful for treating tanned leather to provide leather with increased softness or strength. Also provided are a method of treating tanned leather using the composition and an article containing the treated leather.

Abstract: A golf tee is composed of a tubular member of rubber, having an open upper end of size suitable to support a golf ball and four uniformly spaced longitudinal slits extending from the upper end toward the lower end. A smaller opening at the lower end receives a conventional golf tee, which is used as an anchor.

Abstract: The present invention provides aqueous amphiphilic emulsion copolymer compositions comprising one or more aqueous phase copolymer, a residue of one or more hydrophilic chain transfer agent, and a residue of one or more hydrophobic chain transfer agent, as well as methods of making such copolymers in water or an aqueous liquid by copolymerizing a monomer component of from 20 to 80 wt. %, based on the weight of the monomer component, of a hydrophilic group-containing monomer and the remainder of a copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer or prepolymer in the presence of a mixed chain transfer agent component comprising a hydrophilic chain transfer agent, such as 3-mercaptopropionic acid, and a hydrophobic chain transfer agent, such as N-dodecyl mercaptan. The aqueous amphiphilic emulsion copolymers of the present invention are storage stable and exhibit excellent viscosity control even in high solids compositions, e.g. from 50 to 80 wt. % of the composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides aqueous matte coating compositions comprising a binder component B) and a polymeric duller component A) composed of particles of one or more multi-stage copolymer or single stage crosslinked (co)polymer, e.g. crosslinked t-butyl (meth)acrylate, the duller component particles A) having an average diameter of 1-20 ?m. Components A) and B) are compatible. Preferably, the duller component A) is acrylic; more preferably, components A) and B) are acrylic. The aqueous compositions provide matte coatings having haptic or feel (soft touch) properties, film and appearance properties, including burnish resistance and low color loss.

Abstract: Provided are improved coatings, polymeric dispersions, and polymeric composites, which include crosslinked polymeric nanoparticles (hereafter “PNPs”). Also provided are methods for forming improved coatings, polymeric dispersions, and polymeric composites, which include PNPs. The PNPs have polymerized units of at least one multi-ethylenically-unsaturated monomer have a mean diameter of from 1 to 50 nanometers. PNPs having polymerized units of at least one multi-ethylenically-unsaturated monomer and at least one surface-active monomer are also provided.

Abstract: A pigment dispersant including 80-97% by weight, based on the weight of thepigment dispersant, of a first polymer comprising as copolymerized units 15-75% by weight, based on the first polymer weight, ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid-functional monomer, the polymer having a Mw from 4,000 to 16,000, and the polymer having a Tg greater than 70° C.; and 3-20% by weight, based on the weight of the pigment dispersant, of a poly(ethylene oxide/propylene oxide) block second polymer having an Mw from 3,000 to 20,000 and an HLB value of 16 to 32 is provided. And the invention relates to a method for dispersing a pigment in an aqueous medium using the pigment dispersant, an aqueous pigment dispersion including the pigment dispersant, and an aqueous ink including the pigment dispersion.

Abstract: An oligomeric composition containing oligomers and at least one stabilizing component is provided. An aqueous dispersion composition containing the oligomeric composition is useful for treating tanned leather to provide leather with increased softness or strength. Also provided are a method of treating tanned leather using the composition and an article containing the treated leather.

Abstract: Provided are improved coatings, polymeric dispersions, and polymeric composites, which include PNPs. Also provided are methods for forming improved coatings, polymeric dispersions, and polymeric composites, which include PNPs. The PNPs have polymerized units of at least one multi-ethylenically-unsaturated monomer have a mean diameter of from 1 to 50 nanometers. PNPs having polymerized units of at least one multi-ethylenically-unsaturated monomer and at least one surface-active monomer are also provided.

Abstract: An aqueous leather coating composition containing a multi-stage emulsion polymer having a stage of Tg<10° C. which contains a copolymerized carboxylic acid and which has been contacted with a divalent metal oxide, hydroxide, or carbonate and a polymer stage of Tg>20° C. which has been prepared in the presence of 1% to 15% by weight based on the weight of that stage of chain transfer agent is provided. Also, provided is a method for coating leather with the composition of this invention.

Abstract: A pigment dispersant including 80-97% by weight, based on the weight of the pigment dispersant, of a first polymer comprising as copolymerized units 15-75% by weight, based on the first polymer weight, ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid-functional monomer, the polymer having a Mw from 4,000 to 16,000, and the polymer having a Tg greater than 70° C.; and 3-20% by weight, based on the weight of the pigment dispersant, of a poly(ethylene oxide/propylene oxide) block second polymer having an Mw from 3,000 to 20,000 and an HLB value of 16 to 32 is provided. And the invention relates to a method for dispersing a pigment in an aqueous medium using the pigment dispersant, an aqueous pigment dispersion including the pigment dispersant, and an aqueous ink including the pigment dispersion.

Abstract: An aqueous leather coating composition containing a multi-stage emulsion polymer having a stage of Tg<10° C. which contains a copolymerized carboxylic acid and which has been contacted with a divalent metal oxide, hydroxide, or carbonate and a polymer stage of Tg>20° C. which has been prepared in the presence of 1% to 15% by weight based on the weight of that stage of chain transfer agent is provided. Also, provided is a method for coating leather with the composition of this invention.

Abstract: Aqueous emulsions of grafted polymer compositions are provided. The grafted component of these compositions has two or more polymeric substituents. The aqueous emulsions of grafted polymer compositions are particularly useful as cement modifiers.

Abstract: Redispersible polymer powders made by core-shell polymers having an alkali-soluble emulsion polymer shell and an aqueous-insoluble emulsion polymer core wherein the core and the shell polymers are chemically grafted by utilizing a polyfunctional compound. The core-shell polymers are produced by a two-stage sequential emulsion polymerization process in which an alkali-insoluble emulsion polymer core is polymerized in the presence of an alkali-solubilized emulsion polymer. When the core-shell polymer powders of this invention are employed as a cement modifier, improvements in the powder physical properties and cement mortar properties are realized.

Abstract: A process for preparing large dimension emulsion polymer particles and the polymer products of the process are disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention provides particles having a high aspect ratio, having a shape described by a long axis and an intersecting short axis. These particles range in shape from egg-like, through rod-like, up to extended filaments. In another embodiment, the invention relates to large, nearly spherical emulsion polymer particles.

Abstract: Multi-stage polymer process and composition having an alkali-insoluble emulsion polymer and an alkali-soluble polymer are produced by a two-stage sequential emulsion polymerization process. When the multi-stage polymers of this invention are utilized as cement modifiers, improvements in cement mortar physical properties are realized.

Abstract: Modified solution polymer compositions useful for films, coatings, caulks, adhesives, and mastics having advantitious properties such as low surface tack, short drying time, high tensile strength, and hardness, uses of such compositions, and processes for preparing them are disclosed.