The present invention relates to a process for preparing a coatings composition with an open time additive comprising the steps of a) contacting an aqueous dispersion of alkali swellable polymer particles with a rheology modifier and a binder to form a coatings composition with a VOC of less than 50 g/L; and b) neutralizing the alkali swellable particles with a non-volatile base after or upon contact with the rheology modifier and the binder to form swelled multi-staged polymer particles; wherein the alkali swellable polymer particles comprise a shell having a T.sub.g of not greater than 25 C. and an acid functionalized core; and wherein the core-to-shell ratio is in the range of from 1:3.2 to 1:10. The composition arising from the process of the present invention is useful for improving open time, especially for low VOC coatings applications.

In another aspect the present invention relates to the preparation of the coatings composition with an open time additive comprising the steps of a) contacting the open time additive with a rheology modifier and a binder to form a coatings composition with a VOC of less than 50 g/L, then b) neutralizing the open time additive to form swelled multi-staged polymer particles, wherein the coatings composition with the open time additive exhibits less than a 50% increase in viscosity than the coating composition without the open time additive.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a coatings composition with an open time additive comprising the steps of a) contacting an aqueous dispersion of alkali swellable polymer particles with a rheology modifier and a binder to form a coatings composition with a VOC of less than 50 g/L; and b) neutralizing the alkali swellable particles with a non-volatile base after or upon contact with the rheology modifier and the binder to form swelled multi-staged polymer particles; wherein the alkali swellable polymer particles comprise a shell having a T.sub.g of not greater than 25 C. and an acid functionalized core; and wherein the core-to-shell ratio is in the range of from 1:3.2 to 1:10. The composition arising from the process of the present invention is useful for improving open time, especially for low VOC coatings applications.

In another aspect the present invention relates to the preparation of the coatings composition with an open time additive comprising the steps of a) contacting the open time additive with a rheology modifier and a binder to form a coatings composition with a VOC of less than 50 g/L, then b) neutralizing the open time additive to form swelled multi-staged polymer particles, wherein the coatings composition with the open time additive exhibits less than a 50% increase in viscosity than the coating composition without the open time additive.

The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising a copolymer derived from polymerizing a hydrophobic monomer and/or a gas-phase monomer in the presence of a solid grade oligomer. In some embodiments, the hydrophobic monomer includes styrene and butadiene. In some embodiments, the copolymer is derived from polymerizing a gas-phase monomer. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making the disclosed compositions. The compositions disclosed herein can be used in a variety of applications including, but not limited to, asphalt compositions, paints, coatings, paper binding and coating compositions, foams, or adhesives.

The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising a copolymer derived from polymerizing a hydrophobic monomer and/or a gas-phase monomer in the presence of a solid grade oligomer. In some embodiments, the hydrophobic monomer includes styrene and butadiene. In some embodiments, the copolymer is derived from polymerizing a gas-phase monomer. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making the disclosed compositions. The compositions disclosed herein can be used in a variety of applications including, but not limited to, asphalt compositions, paints, coatings, paper binding and coating compositions, foams, or adhesives.

A binder composition for a secondary battery which includes a copolymer binder including at least one unit selected from (A) a unit derived from a vinyl-based monomer, (B) a unit derived from a conjugated diene-based monomer or a conjugated diene-based polymer, (C) a unit derived from a (meth)acrylic acid ester-based monomer, and (D) a unit derived from a water-soluble polymer, wherein the copolymer binder has a wet modulus of 0.02 MPa or more, and a negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery which include the same.

A binder composition for a secondary battery which includes a copolymer binder including at least one unit selected from (A) a unit derived from a vinyl-based monomer, (B) a unit derived from a conjugated diene-based monomer or a conjugated diene-based polymer, (C) a unit derived from a (meth)acrylic acid ester-based monomer, and (D) a unit derived from a water-soluble polymer, wherein the copolymer binder has a wet modulus of 0.02 MPa or more, and a negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery which include the same.

A polymer composition comprising star macromolecules is provided. Each star macromolecule has a core and five or more arms, wherein the number of arms within a star macromolecule varies across the composition of star molecules. The arms on a star are covalently attached to the core of the star; each arm comprises one or more (co)polymer segments; and at least one arm and/or at least one segment exhibits a different solubility from at least one other arm or one other segment, respectively, in a reference liquid of interest.

There is provided a water-absorbent resin that exhibits both high water absorbency and high water-discharge capacity. The water-absorbent resin of the present invention is a water-absorbent resin comprising a polymer of a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer, wherein when a cross-sectional image of the water-absorbent resin is observed using X-ray computed tomography, the water-absorbent resin has a ratio of the area of cavity portions (cavity area ratio) in the cross-sectional image of 5% or more, as calculated according to Equation (I):

cavity area ratio [%]={total cross-sectional area of cavity portions (B) in the water-absorbent resin/(total cross-sectional area of resin portions (A) in the water-absorbent resin+total cross-sectional area of cavity portions (B) in the water-absorbent resin)}100(I).

There is provided a water-absorbent resin that exhibits both high water absorbency and high water-discharge capacity. The water-absorbent resin of the present invention is a water-absorbent resin comprising a polymer of a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer, wherein when a cross-sectional image of the water-absorbent resin is observed using X-ray computed tomography, the water-absorbent resin has a ratio of the area of cavity portions (cavity area ratio) in the cross-sectional image of 5% or more, as calculated according to Equation (I):

cavity area ratio [%]={total cross-sectional area of cavity portions (B) in the water-absorbent resin/(total cross-sectional area of resin portions (A) in the water-absorbent resin+total cross-sectional area of cavity portions (B) in the water-absorbent resin)}100(I).

The present invention relates to an aqueous dispersion of neutralized multistage polymer particles comprising an alkali metal base or a high boiling point amine salt of a carboxylic acid functionalized first stage, and a low T.sub.g second stage (shell). The dispersion is useful as an open time additive.