The invention relates to a heterogeneous, co-continuous copolymer composition of vinylidene fluoride and at least one other comonomer. Preferred comonomers are hexafluoropropylene and perfluoroalkylvinyl ether. The co-continuous morphology is provide by first forming a first phase polymer, then adding one or more comonomers before half of the original monomer stream has been added, and at an effective level to cause phase separation of the copolymer. The co-continuous morphology provides a means for incorporating a high level of comonomer into the copolymer with little or no adverse effect on the melting temperature. The morphology also provides the copolymer composition with a unique combination of properties, including a high melting point, good flexibility and good low temperature impact resistance. The unique properties of the polymer make it useful in end-use application where those properties provide performance advantages, such as in the wire and cable market, and in oil and gas applications.

The invention relates to a heterogeneous, co-continuous copolymer composition of vinylidene fluoride and at least one other comonomer. Preferred comonomers are hexafluoropropylene and perfluoroalkylvinyl ether. The co-continuous morphology is provide by first forming a first phase polymer, then adding one or more comonomers before half of the original monomer stream has been added, and at an effective level to cause phase separation of the copolymer. The co-continuous morphology provides a means for incorporating a high level of comonomer into the copolymer with little or no adverse effect on the melting temperature. The morphology also provides the copolymer composition with a unique combination of properties, including a high melting point, good flexibility and good low temperature impact resistance. The unique properties of the polymer make it useful in end-use application where those properties provide performance advantages, such as in the wire and cable market, and in oil and gas applications.

An aqueous dispersion free of fluorochemicals comprising (A) at least one copolymer obtained by polymerization of the following monomers a) at least one fluorine-free (meth)acrylate ester of a C.sup.16-C.sup.18 alcohol, b) at least one fluorine-free (meth)acrylate ester of a C.sup.18-C.sup.22 alcohol, c) at least one monomer selected from the group of vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride, and, optionally, d) at least one monomer selected from the group of 2-hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate and 3-chloro-2-hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate, (B) at least one component selected from the group of a paraffin wax, (C) at least one surfactant, and (D) water, wherein the monomers a) and b) of copolymer (A) are distinct, and the copolymer (A) does not contain any polymerized units of styrene or -methylstyrene, is useful for the finishing of natural and synthetic textile fabrics to endow the said fabrics with excellent water repellent properties.

An aqueous dispersion free of fluorochemicals comprising (A) at least one copolymer obtained by polymerization of the following monomers a) at least one fluorine-free (meth)acrylate ester of a C.sup.16-C.sup.18 alcohol, b) at least one fluorine-free (meth)acrylate ester of a C.sup.18-C.sup.22 alcohol, c) at least one monomer selected from the group of vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride, and, optionally, d) at least one monomer selected from the group of 2-hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate and 3-chloro-2-hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate, (B) at least one component selected from the group of a paraffin wax, (C) at least one surfactant, and (D) water, wherein the monomers a) and b) of copolymer (A) are distinct, and the copolymer (A) does not contain any polymerized units of styrene or -methylstyrene, is useful for the finishing of natural and synthetic textile fabrics to endow the said fabrics with excellent water repellent properties.

Provided is a monolayer film containing a vinylidene chloride-based copolymer composition containing a vinyl chloride comonomer-containing first polyvinylidene chloride copolymer (PVDC-VC); and a methyl acrylate comonomer-containing second polyvinylidene chloride copolymer (PVDC-MA), A crystallinity of the vinylidene chloride-based copolymer composition is 25 to 45%, Also provided is a container including the same, and a method for producing a monolayer film

Provided is a monolayer film containing a vinylidene chloride-based copolymer composition containing a vinyl chloride comonomer-containing first polyvinylidene chloride copolymer (PVDC-VC); and a methyl acrylate comonomer-containing second polyvinylidene chloride copolymer (PVDC-MA), A crystallinity of the vinylidene chloride-based copolymer composition is 25 to 45%, Also provided is a container including the same, and a method for producing a monolayer film

Heat-expandable microspheres having an expansion temperature which can be decreased by a simple means without changing the polymerizable monomer and its ratio and/or changing the blowing agent and its ratio, and applications thereof. The heat-expandable microspheres are composed of a thermoplastic resin shell and a core material encapsulated therein. The core material contains a thermally-vaporizable blowing agent which imparts a swelling degree of less than 5% as defined by the following formula (I) and a component (A) which imparts a swelling degree of 5 to 30% as defined by the following formula (I), wherein an amount of the component (A) ranges from 0.0001 to 30 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the blowing agent:
Swelling degree (%)={(M.sub.2M.sub.1)/M.sub.1}100(I)
wherein M.sub.2 and M.sub.1 are as defined herein.

Heat-expandable microspheres having an expansion temperature which can be decreased by a simple means without changing the polymerizable monomer and its ratio and/or changing the blowing agent and its ratio, and applications thereof. The heat-expandable microspheres are composed of a thermoplastic resin shell and a core material encapsulated therein. The core material contains a thermally-vaporizable blowing agent which imparts a swelling degree of less than 5% as defined by the following formula (I) and a component (A) which imparts a swelling degree of 5 to 30% as defined by the following formula (I), wherein an amount of the component (A) ranges from 0.0001 to 30 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the blowing agent:
Swelling degree (%)={(M.sub.2M.sub.1)/M.sub.1}100(I)
wherein M.sub.2 and M.sub.1 are as defined herein.

A surface treatment agent containing: (A) a water repellent oil repellent polymer having a repeating unit derived from at least one water repellent oil repellent monomer selected from (A1) fluorine-containing monomers and (A2) non-fluorine monomers having a hydrocarbon group with 7-40 carbon atoms; (B) a silicone polymer represented by formula R.sup.53.sub.3SiO[Si(R.sup.51).sub.2O].sub.a[Si(R.sup.51)(R.sup.52)O].sub.bSiR.sup.53.sub.3 (wherein each R.sup.51 group independently represents hydrogen, alkyl having 1-20 carbon atoms, aryl having 6-20 carbon atoms or alkoxy having 1-4 carbon atoms; each R.sup.52 independently represents a saturated hydrocarbon group having 23-40 carbon atoms; each R.sup.53 independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1-20 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6-20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1-4 carbon atoms or a saturated hydrocarbon group having 23-40 carbon atoms; a represents an integer of 0 or more; b represents an integer of 1 or more; and (a+b) is 10-200); and (C) a liquid medium.

A surface treatment agent containing: (A) a water repellent oil repellent polymer having a repeating unit derived from at least one water repellent oil repellent monomer selected from (A1) fluorine-containing monomers and (A2) non-fluorine monomers having a hydrocarbon group with 7-40 carbon atoms; (B) a silicone polymer represented by formula R.sup.53.sub.3SiO[Si(R.sup.51).sub.2O].sub.a[Si(R.sup.51)(R.sup.52)O].sub.bSiR.sup.53.sub.3 (wherein each R.sup.51 group independently represents hydrogen, alkyl having 1-20 carbon atoms, aryl having 6-20 carbon atoms or alkoxy having 1-4 carbon atoms; each R.sup.52 independently represents a saturated hydrocarbon group having 23-40 carbon atoms; each R.sup.53 independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1-20 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6-20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1-4 carbon atoms or a saturated hydrocarbon group having 23-40 carbon atoms; a represents an integer of 0 or more; b represents an integer of 1 or more; and (a+b) is 10-200); and (C) a liquid medium.