Finely divided, cationic, aqueous polymer dispersions, method for the production thereof, and the use thereof The present invention relates to a finely divided, cationic, aqueous polymer dispersion which is obtainable by emulsion polymerisation of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in a continuous phase containing an aqueous liquid in which the emulsion polymerisation is carried out, in the presence of polymerisation initiators, of a combination of monomers comprising (a) from 0 to less than 60% by weight of at least one optionally substituted styrene, (b) from greater than 0 to 80% of at least one C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl acrylate and/or at least one C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl methacrylate, (c) from 0 to 10% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least one acid group, (d) from 5 to 20% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising a cationic group, and (e) from 0 to 50% by weight of at least one non-ionic ethylenically unsaturated monomer differing from (a), (b), (c), and (d), the sum of (a)+(b)+(c)+(d)+(e) being 100% by weight, and the aqueous liquid contains from 0 to 4% by weight based on the weight of the combination of monomers of at least one emulsifier, in which the emulsion polymerisation is carried out optionally in the presence of at least one terpene containing compound. Also claimed is a process or preparing the finely divided, cationic, aqueous polymer dispersion and the use of the finely divided, cationic, aqueous polymer dispersion for sizing paper, board and cardboard.

Finely divided, cationic, aqueous polymer dispersions, method for the production thereof, and the use thereof The present invention relates to a finely divided, cationic, aqueous polymer dispersion which is obtainable by emulsion polymerisation of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in a continuous phase containing an aqueous liquid in which the emulsion polymerisation is carried out, in the presence of polymerisation initiators, of a combination of monomers comprising (a) from 0 to less than 60% by weight of at least one optionally substituted styrene, (b) from greater than 0 to 80% of at least one C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl acrylate and/or at least one C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl methacrylate, (c) from 0 to 10% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least one acid group, (d) from 5 to 20% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising a cationic group, and (e) from 0 to 50% by weight of at least one non-ionic ethylenically unsaturated monomer differing from (a), (b), (c), and (d), the sum of (a)+(b)+(c)+(d)+(e) being 100% by weight, and the aqueous liquid contains from 0 to 4% by weight based on the weight of the combination of monomers of at least one emulsifier, in which the emulsion polymerisation is carried out optionally in the presence of at least one terpene containing compound. Also claimed is a process or preparing the finely divided, cationic, aqueous polymer dispersion and the use of the finely divided, cationic, aqueous polymer dispersion for sizing paper, board and cardboard.

An intermediate laminate product includes a first paper layer including lignocellulose fibres, and a dry coating layer applied to one surface of the first paper layer, the coating including expandable microspheres having an expansion temperature (T.sub.E), at least one polysaccharide, and a plasticizing additive which is capable of forming a thermoplastic blend with the polysaccharide. An expanded laminate structure includes the intermediate laminate product and a second paper layer comprising lignocellulose fibres, which is attached to the dry coating by heat lamination. A liquid packaging board includes the expanded laminate structure and a liquid barrier layer. A process for forming the expanded laminate structure includes applying a second paper layer to the coating of the intermediate product at a second temperature (T2), which is above the expansion temperature (T.sub.E) of the microspheres, whereby the microspheres expand, and at which the plasticizing additive causes plasticizing of the polysaccharide, to form a thermoplastic blend.

A method of producing a surface sizing composition, the method comprising: providing a metal salt having at least 3 valence electrons, wherein the metal salt is selected from the group of aluminium sulfate, aluminium chloride, aluminium nitrate, polyaluminium sulfate (PAS), polyaluminium chloride (PAC), and polyaluminium chloride sulfate (PACS), polyaluminium formiate, polyaluminium nitrate, and any combination thereof; providing an aqueous polymer dispersion, wherein the aqueous polymer dispersion is an aqueous polymer dispersion (A) and an aqueous prepolymer composition (B), wherein the aqueous polymer dispersion (A) is obtainable by free radical emulsion copolymerizing a first ethylenically unsaturated monomer blend, and wherein the aqueous prepolymer composition (B) is obtainable by free radical emulsion copolymerizing in a polymerization solvent comprising C1-6-carboxylic acid and C1-6-carboxylic acid anhydride, a second ethylenically unsaturated monomer blend; and mixing the metal salt and the aqueous polymer dispersion to provide a surface sizing composition to be used in papermaking.

The present invention relates to a thermally printable paper article with an elastomeric underlayer, which imparts improved printing performance.

The present invention relates to a thermally printable paper article with an elastomeric underlayer, which imparts improved printing performance.

An enhanced paper for printing, including a substrate, an ablation resistant coating applied to the substrate, wherein the enhanced paper is ablation resistant so that it is not damaged by a light beam that illuminates enhanced paper with a fluence that ablates ink or toner but would damage standard printing paper that is made from cellulose fiber and is non-ablation resistant; and wherein the enhanced paper has physical properties of the standard printing paper for printing with laser printers and ink printers.

An enhanced paper for printing, including a substrate, an ablation resistant coating applied to the substrate, wherein the enhanced paper is ablation resistant so that it is not damaged by a light beam that illuminates enhanced paper with a fluence that ablates ink or toner but would damage standard printing paper that is made from cellulose fiber and is non-ablation resistant; and wherein the enhanced paper has physical properties of the standard printing paper for printing with laser printers and ink printers.

To provide a method for producing an aqueous liquid containing a vinyl polymer, of which the production efficiency is high, without lowering the yield of the vinyl polymer.

When removing a hydrophilic organic solvent from a mixed liquid comprising a vinyl polymer, the hydrophilic organic solvent and water to produce an aqueous liquid containing the vinyl polymer, a liquid phase and a gas phase are formed in a closed container, a part of the liquid of the liquid phase is formed into small droplets and brought into contact with the gas phase to vaporize the hydrophilic organic solvent, and the vaporized hydrophilic organic solvent is removed from the closed container. Specifically, for example, a closed container 10 having a liquid inlet 22, a gas outlet 30, a liquid outlet 21, a liquid inlet 22 and a liquid outlet 21 which are connected and having an external circulating system provided with means to control the temperature and the pressure of liquid, is filled with a mixed liquid 40 to form a liquid phase 50 and a gas phase 51, the mixed liquid 40 of the liquid phase 50 is circulated from the liquid outlet 21 to the external circulating system 20, and the temperature and the pressure of the mixed liquid 41 in the external circulating system 20 are controlled to conditions such that the hydrophilic organic solvent is easily vaporized in liquid droplets in the gas phase 51, followed by discharging the mixed liquid 41 in the form of the small droplets from the liquid inlet 22 to the gas phase 51 and draining the gas in the gas phase 51 from the gas outlet 30.

To provide a method for producing an aqueous liquid containing a vinyl polymer, of which the production efficiency is high, without lowering the yield of the vinyl polymer.

When removing a hydrophilic organic solvent from a mixed liquid comprising a vinyl polymer, the hydrophilic organic solvent and water to produce an aqueous liquid containing the vinyl polymer, a liquid phase and a gas phase are formed in a closed container, a part of the liquid of the liquid phase is formed into small droplets and brought into contact with the gas phase to vaporize the hydrophilic organic solvent, and the vaporized hydrophilic organic solvent is removed from the closed container. Specifically, for example, a closed container 10 having a liquid inlet 22, a gas outlet 30, a liquid outlet 21, a liquid inlet 22 and a liquid outlet 21 which are connected and having an external circulating system provided with means to control the temperature and the pressure of liquid, is filled with a mixed liquid 40 to form a liquid phase 50 and a gas phase 51, the mixed liquid 40 of the liquid phase 50 is circulated from the liquid outlet 21 to the external circulating system 20, and the temperature and the pressure of the mixed liquid 41 in the external circulating system 20 are controlled to conditions such that the hydrophilic organic solvent is easily vaporized in liquid droplets in the gas phase 51, followed by discharging the mixed liquid 41 in the form of the small droplets from the liquid inlet 22 to the gas phase 51 and draining the gas in the gas phase 51 from the gas outlet 30.