Eastman Chemical Company

James Russell Salisbury

Mark Dwight Clark

James Wayne Taylor

Hieu D Phan

Glen Dennis Shields

This invention provides the preparation of water-dispersible polyester/acrylic hybrids via a two-stage emulsion polymerization process. For example, methacrylic acid and/or 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate are copolymerized with styrene/acrylic monomers to yield a relatively hydrophilic and hydro-plasticized first stage. Subsequent additions of hydrophobic monomers to this first stage 'seed' results in an inversion of the latex such that the more hydrophilic first stage is at the particle surface. This results not only in improved stability of the resulting latex without the use of additional surfactants, as evidenced by the production of reduced amounts of coagulum, while it also offers relatively low minimum filming temperatures due to the hydroplasticization of the shell of the particle. Furthermore, the use of the water-dispersible polyester results in extremely fine latex particle sizes which can significantly enhance coating properties such as film gloss and clarity.

Small particle size polyester/acrylic hybrid latexes

This invention provides latex compositions prepared using, for example, both acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate (AAEM) and t-butylaminoethyl methacrylate (t-BAMA) which when applied to a pre-coated substrate, possess out-standing wet adhesion when compared to waterborne polymers containing either AAEM or t-butylaminoethyl methacrylate alone. The latex compositions of this invention continue to exhibit superior wet adhesion after storage at room temperature for one year. The latex compositions are thus particularly useful in coating compositions, especially coating bare or previously-coated metals, paper, plastics, wood, textiles, and in adhesives.

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Kingsport, TN, United States of America

James Russell Salisbury