The University of Southern Mississippi

Corey L King

Shelby Freland Thames

Rajan Hariharan

Kamlesh Gopichand Panjnani

Zhiyu Wang

Elizabeth H Brister

Novel latex or emulsion compositions containing internally plasticizing and crosslinkable monomers derived from traditional semi-drying or non-drying oils are disclosed and claimed. The monomers are ethylenically unsaturated esters of long-chain olefinic compounds. Preferred embodiments include latex formed from acrylate or methacrylate esters of hydroxy fatty acid esters derived from castor oil or lesquerella oil. A process for the synthesis of the latex composition is also disclosed, which involves (a) an esterification reaction of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or its derivatives with a substituted hydroxy long-chain olefinic compound; (b) subsequent polymerization of the so formed ethylenically unsaturated ester of a long-chain olefinic compound in an aqueous phase with at least one other copolymerizable monomer; and (c) blending so formed polymer with at least one drier and a surfactant to form the novel latex or emulsion compositions. These compositions form films at low minimum film forming temperatures (MFT) ranging from &minus;5 to 10&deg; C. and cure to above ambient glass transition (T ) polymers without the use of traditional organic cosolvents which contribute to environmental pollution via volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions. These compositions are therefore useful in waterborne coatings, contact and pressure sensitive adhesives, and inks.

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Hattiesburg, MS, United States of America

Corey L King