Abstract: Disclosed are voided latex particles, useful as opacifying agents for coating compositions containing organic solvents. The particles have a hollow interior, which substantially maintains its integrity after the particles are placed in contact with an organic solvent at 25° C. for 30 days. The particles also have a hydrophilic polymeric interior shell surrounding the hollow interior that is swellable with an aqueous swelling solution. The particles have first and second polymeric intermediate shells, surrounding the interior shell, formed from polymers that are different from each other and different from the interior shell polymer. Finally, the particles have an outer polymeric shell, surrounding the interior shells, which is formed from up to 100% by weight, as polymerized units, of methyl methacrylate. The interior shells and the outer shell each have a Tg greater than 60° C. Also disclosed is a multi-stage emulsion process for making the particles.

Abstract: Disclosed are voided latex particles, useful as opacifying agents for coating compositions containing organic solvents. The particles have a hollow interior, which substantially maintains its integrity after the particles are placed in contact with an organic solvent at 25° C. for 30 days. The particles also have a hydrophilic polymeric interior shell surrounding the hollow interior that is swellable with an aqueous swelling solution. The particles have first and second polymeric intermediate shells, surrounding the interior shell, formed from polymers that are different from each other and different from the interior shell polymer. Finally, the particles have an outer polymeric shell, surrounding the interior shells, which is formed from up to 100% by weight, as polymerized units, of methyl methacrylate. The interior shells and the outer shell each have a Tg greater than 60° C. Also disclosed is a multi-stage emulsion process for making the particles.

Abstract: A thermal insulating additive, product formed therefrom, and method of making the same, wherein the thermal insulating additive comprises a plurality of hollow polymeric particles having an average particle size up to about 0.3 micrometers. The hollow polymeric particles exhibit a mechanical strength in a compression test up to about 420 psi and a thermal conductivity that is less than 0.150 W/m-k. The hollow polymeric particles are individually formed as an alkaline swellable core that is at least partially encapsulated with two or more shell layers; the alkaline swellable core prior to swelling exhibits an average particle size that is less than about 50 nanometers.

Abstract: A process for forming voided latex particles is improved by combining swelling and polymerization of an outer shell into a single step. The process includes contacting multi-stage emulsion polymer particles comprising a core, at least one intermediate shell, with a swelling agent, and polymerizing an outer shell after said contacting with swelling agent wherein the core and the at least one intermediate shell are contacted with swelling agent in the presence of less than 0.5% monomer based on the weight of the multi-stage emulsion polymer particles, and substantially all of the swelling occurs during polymerization of the outer shell.

Abstract: Disclosed are voided latex particles, useful as opacifying agents for coating compositions containing organic solvents. The particles have a hollow interior, which substantially maintains its integrity after the particles are placed in contact with an organic solvent at 25° C. for 30 days. The particles also have a hydrophilic polymeric interior shell surrounding the hollow interior that is swellable with an aqueous swelling solution. The particles have first and second polymeric intermediate shells, surrounding the interior shell, formed from polymers that are different from each other and different from the interior shell polymer. Finally, the particles have an outer polymeric shell, surrounding the interior shells, which is formed from up to 100% by weight, as polymerized units, of methyl methacrylate. The interior shells and the outer shell each have a Tg greater than 60° C. Also disclosed is a multi-stage emulsion process for making the particles.

Abstract: A method of forming latex composite polymer particles produces hydrolysis resistant, composite polymer particles that can be used in aqueous latex compositions. Each of the latex composite polymer particles includes a first phase comprising a vinyl ester oligomer or polymer; optionally, an intermediate phase; and at least one second phase comprising an acrylic oligomer or polymer, a styrene oligomer or polymer, an acrylic-styrene copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The second phase and/or the intermediate phase at least partially encapsulates the first phase. The intermediate and second phases are more hydrophobic than the first phase. Optionally, the first phase, the second phase, and/or the intermediate phase may further comprise a cross-linking agent.

Abstract: Latex emulsions and a process of making the same that incorporates voided latex particles having a core with a hydrophilic component; at least one intermediate shell with, as polymerized units, one or more hydrophilic monoethylenically unsaturated monomer, one or more nonionic monoethylenically unsaturated monomer, or mixtures thereof; an outer shell formed of a polymer having a Tg of at least 60? C; and a surface treatment applied to the outer shell in which a plurality of silicone oligomers with reactive functional groups are cross-linked with one another in order to provide a cross-linked outer surface. The core and the at least one intermediate shell are contacted with a swelling agent in the presence of less than 0.5% monomer based on the overall weight of the voided latex particles. In addition, one or more of the core, the intermediate shell, or the outer shell includes a surfactant.

Abstract: A latex comprising a urethane linkage and having a high solids content and a low viscosity is described herein. Also described is a process for making the urethane linkage-containing latex wherein urethane linkage formation and emulsion polymerization take place in the same processing step.

Abstract: A latex product composition that includes an anionically-stabilized latex and one or more water soluble, polymers or polymeric adducts that have a backbone with a plurality of amine functional groups and hydroxyl functional groups. The polymers or polymeric adducts may be an addition product formed from at least one multifunctional amine compound reacted with one or more polyfunctional epoxy compounds, one or more monofunctional epoxy compounds, or a combination thereof. The amine compound and the one or more epoxy compounds are reacted to form polymers or polymeric adducts with the molar equivalent ratio of 1.3 to 3.8 amine functional group per epoxy functional group. The addition product may be present in about 0.1 to 15.0 wt. % and the at least one volatile base compound is present in about 1.0 wt. % to 10.0 wt. % based on the weight of the particles present in the anionically-stabilized latex.

Abstract: A process for forming voided latex particles is improved by combining swelling and polymerization of an outer shell into a single step. The process includes contacting multi-stage emulsion polymer particles comprising a core, at least one intermediate shell, with a swelling agent, and polymerizing an outer shell after said contacting with swelling agent wherein the core and the at least one intermediate shell are contacted with swelling agent in the presence of less than 0.5% monomer based on the weight of the multi-stage emulsion polymer particles, and substantially all of the swelling occurs during polymerization of the outer shell.

Abstract: A thermal insulating additive, product formed therefrom, and method of making the same, wherein the thermal insulating additive comprises a plurality of hollow polymeric particles having an average particle size up to about 0.3 micrometers. The hollow polymeric particles exhibit a mechanical strength in a compression test up to about 420 psi and a thermal conductivity that is less than 0.150 W/m-k. The hollow polymeric particles are individually formed as an alkaline swellable core that is at least partially encapsulated with two or more shell layers; the alkaline swellable core prior to swelling exhibits an average particle size that is less than about 50 nanometers.

Abstract: A process for forming voided latex particles is improved by combining swelling and polymerization of an outer shell into a single step. The process includes contacting multi-stage emulsion polymer particles comprising a core, at least one intermediate shell, with a swelling agent, and polymerizing an outer shell after said contacting with swelling agent wherein the core and the at least one intermediate shell are contacted with swelling agent in the presence of less than 0.5% monomer based on the weight of the multi-stage emulsion polymer particles, and substantially all of the swelling occurs during polymerization of the outer shell.

Abstract: A process for forming voided latex particles is improved by combining swelling and polymerization of an outer shell into a single step. The process includes contacting multi-stage emulsion polymer particles comprising a core, at least one intermediate shell, with a swelling agent, and polymerizing an outer shell after said contacting with swelling agent wherein the core and the at least one intermediate shell are contacted with swelling agent in the presence of less than 0.5% monomer based on the weight of the multi-stage emulsion polymer particles, and substantially all of the swelling occurs during polymerization of the outer shell.

Abstract: A method of forming latex composite polymer particles produces hydrolysis resistant, composite polymer particles that can be used in aqueous latex compositions. Each of the latex composite polymer particles includes a first phase comprising a vinyl ester oligomer or polymer; optionally, an intermediate phase; and at least one second phase comprising an acrylic oligomer or polymer, a styrene oligomer or polymer, an acrylic-styrene copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The second phase and/or the intermediate phase at least partially encapsulates the first phase. The intermediate and second phases are more hydrophobic than the first phase. Optionally, the first phase, the second phase, and/or the intermediate phase may further comprise a cross-linking agent.

Abstract: A latex product composition that includes an anionically-stabilized latex and one or more water soluble, polymers or polymeric adducts that have a backbone with a plurality of amine functional groups and hydroxyl functional groups. The polymers or polymeric adducts may be an addition product formed from at least one multifunctional amine compound reacted with one or more polyfunctional epoxy compounds, one or more monofunctional epoxy compounds, or a combination thereof. The amine compound and the one or more epoxy compounds are reacted to form polymers or polymeric adducts with the molar equivalent ratio of 1.3 to 3.8 amine functional group per epoxy functional group. The addition product may be present in about 0.1 to 15.0 wt. % and the at least one volatile base compound is present in about 1.0 wt. % to 10.0 wt. % based on the weight of the particles present in the anionically-stabilized latex.

Abstract: A process for forming voided latex particles is improved by combining swelling and polymerization of an outer shell into a single step. The process includes contacting multi-stage emulsion polymer particles comprising a core, at least one intermediate shell, with a swelling agent, and polymerizing an outer shell after said contacting with swelling agent wherein the core and the at least one intermediate shell are contacted with swelling agent in the presence of less than 0.5% monomer based on the weight of the multi-stage emulsion polymer particles, and substantially all of the swelling occurs during polymerization of the outer shell.

Abstract: A process for forming voided latex particles is improved by combining swelling and polymerization of an outer shell into a single step. The process includes contacting multi-stage emulsion polymer particles comprising a core, at least one intermediate shell, with a swelling agent, and polymerizing an outer shell after said contacting with swelling agent wherein the core and the at least one intermediate shell are contacted with swelling agent in the presence of less than 0.5% monomer based on the weight of the multi-stage emulsion polymer particles, and substantially all of the swelling occurs during polymerization of the outer shell.

Abstract: A latex comprising a urethane linkage and having a high solids content and a low viscosity is described herein. Also described is a process for making the urethane linkage-containing latex wherein urethane linkage formation and emulsion polymerization take place in the same processing step.

Abstract: According to the present invention, aqueous multi-stage polymer dispersions comprising an acid-functional first polymer and an epoxy-functional second polymer, wherein 90 mole % or more of the said epoxy groups, based on the moles of epoxy groups in the monomer mixture used to form the second polymer, are retained in the aqueous dispersion after said dispersion is stored in a sealed container for 10 days at 60° C. Further, methods of making the aqueous multistage polymer dispersion comprise polymerizing the monomers used to make the second polymer in the presence of an aqueous dispersion of the first polymer. Preferably, the second polymer is formed in the presence of 0.3 wt. % or less, based on the total weight of the first polymer and the ingredients to form the second polymer, of one or more strong acid surfactant, and 3) 0.1 wt.

Abstract: A process for preparing crosslinked polymer particles at high solids levels (i.e., >40 wt %). Also provided is a method for predicting whether a selection of reaction conditions for preparing crosslinked polymer particles will exhibit a potential for forming a gel and a method for predicting whether a selection of reaction conditions will or will not result in the formation of a gel.