Abstract: An emulsion polymer comprising a hard nonelastomeric core, an elastomeric intermediate stage produced in the presence of the core and essentially composed of an acrylic ester and a crosslinking monomer which contains three or more acrylic or methacrylic groups in the molecule, and a hard nonelastomeric final stage produced in the presence of the elastomeric intermediate stage and crosslinked therewith, said polymer being useful as an impact strength modifying agent which, in admixture with a thermoplastic polymethyl methacrylate molding compound for example, yields molded articles exhibiting reduced susceptibility to stress whitening and improved impact strength.

Abstract: What are disclosed are a method for the reinforcement of a fibrous article with an aqueous dispersion of a resin, free of formaldehyde and acrylonitrile, comprising at least 40 weight percent of alkyl acrylates and/or methacrylates having at least 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl group; up to 57 weight percent of alkyl acrylates or methacrylates having not more than 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, or of styrene; less than 1 weight percent of acrylic acid or of methacrylic acid; and from 3 to 15 weight percent of a hydroxyalkyl ester of an unsaturated carboxylic acid, as well as reinforced fibrous articles made by this method and distinguished by high wet strength and by low loss of the resin binder on washing with boiling water.

Abstract: An aqueous artificial resin dispersion, comprising an aqueous phase and a water-insoluble disperse phase formed from particles containing a copolymer formed in substantial part from a water insoluble or slightly soluble first monomer, wherein the copolymer additionally is formed from a second monomer of the formula ##STR1## wherein R represents hydrogen or methyl, R' represents hydrogen or an alkyl radical with 1 to 12 C-atoms, R" represents an alkyl radical with 7 to 20 C-atoms, and M represents a proton, an alkali metal ion, or an ammonium ion, with the proviso that the aqueous phase is free of low molecular weight, ionic emulsifying agents. Such dispersions are particularly well suited for continuous emulsion polymerization because of the highly stable monomer emulsions formed by mixtures produced according to the invention.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a synthetic resin powder of latex particles having an average particle size between 1 micron and 5 microns, which particles can be partially or completely loosely aggregated to form larger particles, said synthetic resin being a cross-linked copolymer of 75 to 99.5 percent by weight of a monomer mixture of methyl methacrylate and isobutyl methacrylate in a weight ratio of 1:3 to 3:1, 0.5 to 10 percent by weight of a cross-linking comonomer having at least two polymerizable double bonds, and 0 to 24.5 percent by weight of a further different ethylenically-unsaturated comonomer copolymerizable therewith, a coating agent containing a binder dissolved or dispersed therein together with such a resin powder, and a method of coating using such a coating agent to give coatings wherein the presence of the resin powder prevents blocking of the coatings without undue loss of luster therein.