An apparatus, kit, and methods for forming a bead between bead-forming blocks having internal bead-forming channels are provided. The bead-forming channels of adjacent bead-forming blocks are slidably engaged to manipulate a measured amount of modeling compound between the bead-forming blocks and within an internal space between the opposing channels. In one embodiment, the bead-forming blocks maintain orientation with respect to an axis of travel based on a block guide. Further, the measured amount of modeling compound is determined using an integrated measuring feature coupled to at least one of the pair of bead-forming blocks. The internal volume of an integrated measuring feature corresponds to a threshold amount of modeling compound for manipulating between the pair of blocks and forming a bead while contacting at least a portion of the mated bead-forming channels. In further aspects, a molded bead may be coated with a multicomponent bead-coating mixture. Multi-component bead-coating mixtures and methods of using thereof are provided.

The present invention relates to a dispersion for an aqueous spray formulation with controlled mechanical degradation, said dispersion comprising a polymer composition and at least one liquid phase, wherein said polymer composition is dispersed in said at least one liquid phase, wherein said polymer composition comprises one or more water-soluble polymers, wherein said at least one liquid phase is an oil phase and/or an aqueous phase, and wherein said at least one liquid phase comprises at least one non-ionic surfactant with a HLB of more than 0, preferably of more than 12. The invention moreover relates to a method for controlling the mechanical degradation of such a dispersion, wherein said method comprises the steps of: providing the polymer composition, preparing the at least one liquid phase by mixing the at least one non-ionic surfactant with said at least one liquid phase, and preparing the suspension by dispersing the polymer composition of step i) in the at least one liquid phase of step ii). The invention also relates to the use of the dispersion for controlling mechanical degradation of an aqueous spray formulation and to a method for preparing an aqueous spray formulation by mixing the dispersion and water in a weight ratio of between 1:50 to 1:1000.

A composition comprising the following components: A) a metal stearate; B) a secondary alcohol ethoxylate of the formula C.sub.12-14H.sub.25-29O [CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O].sub.xH, wherein x=7; C) a secondary alcohol ethoxylate of the formula C.sub.12-14H.sub.25-29O [CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O].sub.xH, C wherein x=20; D) octanoic acid; E) sodium lauryl sulfate; F) a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS); and G) water.

Described herein are an aqueous pigment paste including at least one color pigment (a) and at least one polymer (b) which is preparable by successive radical emulsion polymerization of three monomer mixtures (A), (B) and (C) of olefinically unsaturated monomers in water, an aqueous basecoat material which is preparable by admixing the pigment paste to at least one aqueous binder-containing component suitable for preparing the basecoat material, a method for producing a multicoat paint system using this basecoat material, and use of the polymer (b) for dispersing color pigments within an aqueous pigment paste.

Disclosed is an aqueous coating composition including at least one latex polymer derived from at least one monomer copolymerized or blended with a rhamnolipid and/or sophorolipid biosurfactant, which in one embodiment is a mono-rhamnolipid. Also provided is an aqueous architectural coating composition including at least one latex polymer derived from at least one monomer copolymerized or blended with a biosurfactant, at least one pigment, and water.

A waterborne sound and vibration damping composition including a waterborne emulsion polymer, the polymer having a calculated acid number of from 2 to 100; from 0.1% to 50%, solids based on emulsion polymer solids, of certain liquid compounds having a boiling point greater than 150 C.; and a solid filler at a level of from 25% to 85% PVC; wherein the waterborne damping composition has a water content of from 6% to 25% by weight is provided. A method for providing a coated substrate using the waterborne damping composition and a substrate so coated are also provided.

A water-based coating composition including: a polyol; a polyisocyanate; a hydrophobic curing catalyst which is made of an organometallic compound containing at least one metal atom selected from the group consisting of Sn, Bi, Zr, Ti, and Al and of which solubility in water under conditions of atmospheric pressure at 20 C. is 1 g/100 ml or less; and a nonionic surfactant of which an HLB value determined by a Griffin method is 10 to 15.

The present disclosure provides a series of block copolymers including a hydrophilic segment and a hydrophobic segment with varied chain length. The hydrophilic segment includes a segment represented by formula (1), and the hydrophobic segment includes a segment represented by formula (2). Formula (1) and formula (2) are defined as in the specification. The block copolymer can be used as a dispersant of a pigment dispersion composition, a metal oxide dispersion composition or a dye dispersion composition.

A composition comprising a first, synthetic gel and a second gel is useful for the preparation of waterborne multicolor paints.

Compositions, methods, and products that improve the adhesion of markings, for example, thermoplastic road markings, to substrates are disclosed. In some embodiments, such thermoplastic road markings include, but are not limited to, striping, solid lines, broken lines, and other traffic safety or informative markings placed on a substrate.