The Dow Chemical Company

Kenneth E Springs

Malcolm F Finlayson

Michael E Rowland

John J Gathers

Stephen M Oliver

Walter L Vaughn

Brian H Schumann

Fibrous product is externally sized by applying to the material a basic aqueous dispersion of an interpolymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid comonomer. The preferred dispersions which have lower initial viscosities provide dispersion/starch dilute solutions with higher viscosities and improved external sizing effectiveness. Resulting fibrous products are adequately sized and exhibit excellent printability and strength properties.

Method for externally sizing fibrous materials

The present pertains to an improved method of internally sizing a cellulosic article and an improved internally sized cellulosic article where a water-dispersible, water- and alkali-insoluble internal sizing agent from an interpolymer of an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon monomer and an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid comonomer is applied to fiber stock or pulp slurry some amount of time subsequent to the instance of application of a retention aid. The invention also includes a novel internal sizing composition where the interpolymer is rendered water-dispersible by reaction with an inorganic neutralizing cationic compound. The improved method is particularly well suited for paper making wherein substantially improved sizing performance is obtainable. Internal sizing agents based on inorganic neutralizing cationic compounds such as, for example, potassium hydroxide, provide the surprising advantage of hard water resistance.

Internally sized articles and method for making same

Aqueous dispersions of ethylene/.alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic

Aqueous dispersions of ethylene/.alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid interpolymers (e.g., random ethylene/acrylic acid interpolymers) are formed using a mixture of bases at a concentration of at least about 0.2 equivalents of base per mole of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid. The dispersions have at least about 10 weight percent dispersed solids and not more than about 1 weight percent of the initial polymer in non-dispersed form. Preferred bases for use in forming the dispersions are ammonium hydroxide and/or alkali metal hydroxides. A mixture of ammonium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide is especially preferred for forming the dispersions with ethylene/acrylic acid interpolymers at an ammonium hydroxide:acrylic acid molar ratio of about 1:1 and a potassium hydroxide:acrylic acid molar ratio in the range of about 0.6-0.8:1. The dispersions are particularly useful in forming thin coatings of adhesive on substrates, such as paper and metal foil, using conventional techniques.

Method of preparing aqueous dispersions of

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Clute, TX, United States of America

Kenneth E Springs