Abstract: A composition that includes a non-gelled copolymer that includes one or more residues of a first polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a pendant amide, ester or carboxylic acid group. The nearest neighboring monomer residues of the majority of the first monomer residues along the copolymer molecule do not contain pendant carbonyl functional groups. The amide, ester or carboxylic acid group of the residues of the first monomer are the post polymerization transesterification, transamidification or hydrolysis reaction product of a C1-C4 alkyl ester group in the unreacted first monomer with a compound selected from amine functional compounds and hydroxy functional compounds. The reacted copolymer is substantially free of cyclical structures resulting from the transesterification, transamidification or hydrolysis reaction. The compositions may be thermosetting compositions useful in multi-layer composite coatings.

Abstract: A copolymer composition that includes a copolymer comprised of at least 30 mol % of residues having the following alternating residues from a donor monomer and from an acceptor monomer. The copolymer contains at least 15 mol % of an isobutylene type donor monomer and at least 15 mol % of an acrylic monomer as an acceptor monomer. The copolymer is substantially free of maleate or fumarate monomer segments and the copolymer composition is substantially free of Lewis acids and transition metals. Also disclosed is a thermosetting composition that includes a reactant comprising functional groups, a crosslinking agent having at least two functional groups that are reactive with the functional groups first reactant, and a copolymer flow control agent that includes the copolymer composition as well as substrates coated with the thermosetting composition.

Abstract: A method of making a copolymer composition containing a copolymer, which includes the steps of (a) providing a donor monomer composition that includes an isobutylene type monomer; (b) mixing the donor monomer composition with an ethylenically unsaturated monomer composition that includes one or more ethylenically unsaturated acceptor monomers, and is substantially free of maleate type monomers and fumarate type monomers, and (c) polymerizing the mixture resulting from step (b) in the presence of a free radical polymerization initiator. The polymerization is carried out in the substantial absence of Lewis acids and/or transition metals. The isobutylene type monomer is present at a molar excess of at least 10 mol % based on the molar concentration of monomers in the ethylenically unsaturated monomer composition. The ethylenically unsaturated acceptor monomers are present in an amount of at least 15 mol % of the total monomer composition.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition comprising a co-reactable solid, particulate mixture of (a) beta-hydroxyalkylamide crosslinking agent, e.g., bis(N,N-di-2-hydroxyethyl)adipamide, and (b) polycarboxylic acid functional polymer, is described. The polycarboxylic acid functional polymer is prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization and has well defined polymer chain architecture and polydispersity index of less than 2.5. The thermosetting compositions of the present invention have utility as powder coatings compositions.

Abstract: A pigment dispersion comprising pigment, an aqueous carrier selected from water and a mixture of water and at least one organic solvent, and a pigment dispersant is described. The pigment dispersant is prepared by controlled radical polymerization, e.g.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition comprising a co-reactable solid, particulate mixture of (a) beta-hydroxyalkylamide crosslinking agent, e.g., bis(N,N-di-2-hydroxyethyl)adipamide, and (b) polycarboxylic acid functional polymer, is described. The polycarboxylic acid functional polymer is prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization and has well defined polymer chain architecture and polydispersity index of less than 2.5. The thermosetting compositions of the present invention have utility as powder coatings compositions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for producing a copolymer and a copolymer product of the method. The copolymer is prepared by a controlled radical polymerization process, typically an atom transfer radical polymerization process, in which polymerizable alkene monomers are polymerized in the presence of a halogenated polyolefin macroinitiator. The copolymer product of this process is useful in a film-forming composition that adheres strongly to polyolefinic substrates and to which non-polyolefinic film-forming compositions strongly adhere. The copolymer can be applied to a substrate in an adhesion-promoting layer or can be incorporated into a film-forming composition, such as a primer, that contains additional resinous compounds.

Abstract: Improved processes for atom (or group) transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and novel polymers have been developed and are described. In certain embodiments, novel copolymers comprising a least one polymeric branch or polymeric block with a predominantly alternating monomer sequence are described. Novel copolymers comprising a least one polymeric branch or polymeric block with a gradient monomer structure are described. Additionally, novel copolymers comprising a least one polymeric branch or polymeric block with a predominantly periodic monomer sequence are also described. Novel copolymers having a water soluble backbone and at least two hydrophobic polymeric branches grafted to the water soluble backbone are also described.

Abstract: A copolymer composition that includes a copolymer comprised of at least 30 mol % of residues having the following alternating residues from a donor monomer and from an acceptor monomer. The copolymer contains at least 15 mol % of an isobutylene type donor monomer and at least 15 mol % of an acrylic monomer as an acceptor monomer. The copolymer is substantially free of maleate or fumarate monomer segments and the copolymer composition is substantially free of Lewis acids and transition metals. Also disclosed is a thermosetting composition that includes a reactant comprising functional groups, a crosslinking agent having at least two functional groups that are reactive with the functional groups first reactant, and a copolymer flow control agent that includes the copolymer composition as well as substrates coated with the thermosetting composition.

Abstract: A method of making a copolymer composition containing a copolymer, which includes the steps of (a) providing a donor monomer composition that includes an isobutylene type monomer; (b) mixing the donor monomer composition with an ethylenically unsaturated monomer composition that includes one or more ethylenically unsaturated acceptor monomers, and is substantially free of maleate type monomers and fumarate type monomers, and (c) polymerizing the mixture resulting from step (b) in the presence of a free radical polymerization initiator. The polymerization is carried out in the substantial absence of Lewis acids and/or transition metals. The isobutylene type monomer is present at a molar excess of at least 10 mol % based on the molar concentration of monomers in the ethylenically unsaturated monomer composition. The ethylenically unsaturated acceptor monomers are present in an amount of at least 15 mol % of the total monomer composition.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition that includes an ungelled copolymer composition and a crosslinking agent. The ungelled copolymer composition includes a functional group-containing copolymer that includes segments of alternating residues derived from a donor monomer composition comprising an acceptor monomer composition. The donor monomer composition includes one or both of isobutylene and diisobutylene, and the acceptor monomer composition includes acrylic monomers and monomers containing functional groups. The ungelled copolymer composition is substantially free of transition metals and Lewis acids, and the copolymer is substantially free of maleate-type monomer residues and fumarate-type monomer residues. The crosslinking agent has at least two functional groups that are reactive with the functional groups of the copolymer. The thermosetting composition may be in liquid, powder, or dispersed form and may be applied by traditional or electrocoating methods.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition that includes a co-reactable solid, particulate mixture of a film forming material having functional groups and a crosslinking agent having at least two functional groups that are reactive with the functional groups in the film forming material. The crosslinking agent includes a copolymer having at least 30 mol % of alternating structural units of a residue from a donor monomer and a residue from one or more acrylic acceptor monomers. The thermosetting composition may coat a substrate by coalescing the composition to form a continuous film and curing the composition. The thermosetting composition may be included as part of a multi-component composite coating composition that includes an optional primer coat, a base coat deposited from a pigmented film-forming composition, and a transparent top coat applied over the base coat, where either the base coat, the transparent top coat, or both, are deposited from the thermosetting composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel compounds that can serve as highly efficient initiators for controlled radical (co)polymerization processes including atom transfer radical (co)polymerization processes. These compounds include di-(trimethylolpropane)-tetra-(2-haloisobutyrate) compounds. The present invention also is directed to controlled radical (co)polymerization processes in which novel (co)polymers are prepared using the novel compounds, as well as to the novel (co)polymer products of the process.

Abstract: A block copolymer including a block of residues of a low surface tension (meth)acrylate monomer; a block of residues of a monomer free of hydroxyl group and amine group residues; and, optionally, a third block of residues of a monomer free of hydroxyl groups and amine groups. The first, second and third blocks are made of different residues from each other and the block copolymer has a polydispersity index of less than 2.5. A controlled radical polymerization method is disclosed to make the low surface tension block copolymers. The method includes the steps of sequentially adding a first monomer composition that is free of hydroxyl groups and amine groups and a second monomer composition that includes the low surface tension monomer to a suitable atom transfer radical polymerization initiator and polymerizing the monomer compositions to form a block copolymer.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition that includes a first reactant having functional groups; a second reactant having functional groups coreactive with the functional groups of the first reactant; and a block copolymer flow control agent. The block copolymer includes a first block made up of residues of a radically polymerizable fluoroalkyl(meth)acrylate monomer, a second block made up of residues of a second radically polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and optionally a third block made up of residues of a third radically polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer. The first, second and third blocks are made of different residues from each other and the block copolymer has a polydispersity index of less than 2.5. Also disclosed is a method of coating a substrate including the steps of applying the present thermosetting composition to the substrate; coalescing the thermosetting composition to form a substantially continuous film; and curing said thermosetting composition by the application of heat.

Abstract: A block copolymer including a block of residues of a low surface tension (meth)acrylate monomer; a block of residues of a monomer free of hydroxyl group and amine group residues; and, optionally, a third block of residues of a monomer free of hydroxyl groups and amine groups. The first, second and third blocks are made of different residues from each other and the block copolymer has a polydispersity index of less than 2.5. A controlled radical polymerization method is disclosed to make the low surface tension block copolymers. The method includes the steps of sequentially adding a first monomer composition that is free of hydroxyl groups and amine groups and a second monomer composition that includes the low surface tension monomer to a suitable atom transfer radical polymerization initiator and polymerizing the monomer compositions to form a block copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for producing a copolymer and a copolymer product of the method. The copolymer is prepared by a controlled radical polymerization process, typically an atom transfer radical polymerization process, in which polymerizable alkene monomers are polymerized in the presence of a halogenated polyolefin macroinitiator. The copolymer product of this process is useful in a film-forming composition that adheres strongly to polyolefinic substrates and to which non-polyolefinic film-forming compositions strongly adhere. The copolymer can be applied to a substrate in an adhesion-promoting layer or can be incorporated into a film-forming composition, such as a primer, that contains additional resinous compounds.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition that includes a first reactant having functional groups; a second reactant having functional groups coreactive with the functional groups of the first reactant; and a block copolymer flow control agent. The block copolymer includes a first block made up of residues of a radically polymerizable fluoroalkyl (meth)acrylate monomer, a second block made up of residues of a second radically polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and optionally a third block made up of residues of a third radically polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer. The first, second and third blocks are made of different residues from each other and the block copolymer has a polydispersity index of less than 2.5. Also disclosed is a method of coating a substrate including the steps of applying the present thermosetting composition to the substrate; coalescing the thermosetting composition to form a substantially continuous film; and curing said thermosetting composition by the application of heat.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer that includes a first radically polymerizable low surface tension (meth)acrylate monomer and one or more other radically polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The copolymer has a polydispersity index of less than 2.5. The present invention further includes a controlled radical polymerization method to make the above described low surface tension containing copolymers. The method includes the steps of adding a first radically polymerizable low surface tension (meth)acrylate monomer and one or more other radically polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomers to a solution containing a suitable atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator.

Abstract: A process for ATRP polymerization and coupling of molecules by radical processes is provided, wherein improvements are provided by selection of various ligands, counterions, transition metal compounds and/or zero oxidation state transition metals to give improved control over molecular weight, molecular weight distribution and compositions of the products formed.