National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation

National Starch and Chemical Corporation

Milagros C Barron

John M Wilkerson, Iii

Daniel W Verstrat

Ronald L Swope

Charles G Ruffner

The present invention relates to acrylate-based rheology modifiers for use in aqueous compositions having pH of less than or equal to 9 and to the rheologically-modified aqueous compositions, which modifiers contain an emulsion which is prepared by single-stage emulsion polymerization of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkyl ester of acrylic acid and/or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl ester of methacrylic acid, a monomer chosen from a vinyl-substituted heterocyclic compound containing at least one of a nitrogen or sulfur atom, (meth)acrylamide, a mono- or di- (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkylamino (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl (meth)acrylate, a mono or di-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkylamino (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl (meth)acrylamide, and optionally cross-linking monomers and/or associative monomers, in the presence of water, a surfactant, a free-radical initiator and an alcohol selected from C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 linear or branched alcohols, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and glycerol, or mixtures thereof, and essentially in the absence of a polymeric colloidal stabilizer such as polyvinyl alcohol.

Rheology modifiers for use in aqueous compositions

The present invention relates to aqueous compositions having pH of less than or equal to about 11 and which contain a thickening amount of an acrylate-based rheology modifier, which modifier contains an emulsion which is prepared by single-stage emulsion polymerization of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkyl ester of acrylic acid and/or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl ester of methacrylic acid, a monomer chosen from a vinyl-substituted heterocyclic compound containing at least one of a nitrogen or sulfur atom, (meth)acrylamide, a mono- or di-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkylamino (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl (meth)acrylate, a mono or di-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkylamino (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl (meth)acrylamide, and optionally cross-linking monomers and/or associative monomers, in the presence of water, a first surfactant, a free-radical initiator and an alcohol selected from C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 linear or branched alcohols, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and glycerol, or mixtures thereof, and essentially in the absence of a polymeric colloidal stabilizer such as polyvinyl alcohol, and which compositions further contain an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of an acid and a second surfactant which may be the same as or different than the first surfactant.

Aqueous compositions thickened with acrylate-based polymeric rheology

Methods for reducing volatile organic chemical contents of carpet are disclosed which include fabricating the carpet from a plurality of yarn loops or tufts inserted into the backing of the carpet and then coating the backing with a coating composition which contain polymers characterized by an extremely low volatile organic chemical content. Accordingly, the coating compositions themselves contain reduced levels of volatile organic chemicals and, as such, the carpets coated therewith also contain reduced amounts of volatile organic chemicals.

Methods for reducing volatile organic chemical contents of carpets

Novel mono- and multi-functional non-ionic urethane monomers are prepared from surfactants comprising poly(ethylene oxide)(butylene oxide) copolymers, preferably C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy-terminated, monohydric, ethylene oxide/butylene oxide block polymers and monoethylenically unsaturated aliphatic isocyanates. When polymerized with, e.g. acrylic acid or alkyl acrylates, these monomers provide copolymers exhibiting greatly enhanced thickening efficiency.

Solutions, latexes and carpet coating compositions containing novel

Associative monomers

Associative monomers and polymers

A thickened aqueous copolymer solution useful for thickening and improving the properties of latex systems comprising a copolymer having as monomeric units: about 79-99 percent of a (meth)acrylic acid salt of sodium, potassium, or ammonium; about 0-20 percent of (meth)acrylic acid; about 0-20 percent of a lower alkyl ester of (meth)acrylic acid; about 1-21 percent of surfactant units selected from the urea reaction product of a monoethylenically unsaturated monoisocyanate with a nonionic surfactant having amine functionality; and about 0-1 percent of a copolymerizable polyethylenically unsatured monomer, said percentages being by weight based on the total weight of monomeric units in said copolymer.

Copolymers as thickeners and modifiers for latex systems

A thickened aqueous copolymer solution useful for thickening and improving the properties of latex systems comprising a copolymer having as monomeric units: about 79-99 percent of a (meth)acrylic acid salt of sodium, potassium, or ammonium; about 0-20 percent of (meth)acrylic acid; about 0--20 percent of a lower alkyl ester of (meth)acrylic acid; about 1-21 percent of surfactant units selected from the urea reaction product of a monoethylenically unsaturated monoisocyanate with a nonionic surfactant having amine functionality; and about 0-1 percent of a copolymerizable polyethylenically unsatured monomer, said percentages being by weight based on the total weight of monomeric units in said copolymer.

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Hixson, TN, United States of America

Milagros C Barron