The present invention is directed to a coating composition or paint comprising a multistage latex with at least first and second stages, wherein the composition or paint is substantially free of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and capable of film formation even in the absence of coalescent agents. The base paint formulation is capable of being tinted at a point-of-sale (i.e. in-store) using a colorant composition of a type and quantity required to produce a paint of desired color and finish. The paints, show improved block resistance, scrub resistance and tack resistance. Rheological techniques as described herein may be used to determine tack resistance, print resistance, and other performance characteristics.

The present invention is directed to a coating composition or paint comprising a multistage latex with at least first and second stages, wherein the composition or paint is substantially free of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and capable of film formation even in the absence of coalescent agents. The base paint formulation is capable of being tinted at a point-of-sale (i.e. in-store) using a colorant composition of a type and quantity required to produce a paint of desired color and finish. The paints, show improved block resistance, scrub resistance and tack resistance. Rheological techniques as described herein may be used to determine tack resistance, print resistance, and other performance characteristics.

A fire retardant composition is disclosed. The composition includes polyvinyl chloride, a plasticizer, a brominated fire retardant additive, a fire retardant synergist, and a metal stabilizer. Cable separators formed of the fire retardant composition are also disclosed.

A fire retardant composition is disclosed. The composition includes polyvinyl chloride, a plasticizer, a brominated fire retardant additive, a fire retardant synergist, and a metal stabilizer. Cable separators formed of the fire retardant composition are also disclosed.

A composition comprising at least one fluoropolymer and at least one solvent, wherein the solvent comprises a branched, partially fluorinated ether and wherein the partially fluorinated ether corresponds to the formula:
C.sub.pF.sub.2p+1—O—C.sub.qH.sub.2q+1
wherein q is an integer from 1 to and 5 and p is an integer from 5 to 11; and wherein the fluoropolymer is a copolymer comprising at least 90% by weight (based on the total weight of the polymer, which is 100% by weight) of units derived from tetrafluoroethene (TFE) and one or more perfluorinated alkyl ethers selected from ethers corresponding to the general formula
R.sub.f—O—(CF.sub.2).sub.n—CF═CF.sub.2
wherein n is 1 in which case the ether is an allyl ether, or 0 in which case the ether is a vinyl ether and R.sub.f represents a perfluoroalkyl residue which may be interrupted once or more than once by an oxygen atom. Also provided are methods of preparing the compositions and methods for coating substrate with the compositions.

A composition comprising at least one fluoropolymer and at least one solvent, wherein the solvent comprises a branched, partially fluorinated ether and wherein the partially fluorinated ether corresponds to the formula:
C.sub.pF.sub.2p+1—O—C.sub.qH.sub.2q+1
wherein q is an integer from 1 to and 5 and p is an integer from 5 to 11; and wherein the fluoropolymer is a copolymer comprising at least 90% by weight (based on the total weight of the polymer, which is 100% by weight) of units derived from tetrafluoroethene (TFE) and one or more perfluorinated alkyl ethers selected from ethers corresponding to the general formula
R.sub.f—O—(CF.sub.2).sub.n—CF═CF.sub.2
wherein n is 1 in which case the ether is an allyl ether, or 0 in which case the ether is a vinyl ether and R.sub.f represents a perfluoroalkyl residue which may be interrupted once or more than once by an oxygen atom. Also provided are methods of preparing the compositions and methods for coating substrate with the compositions.

A surface-treating agent for vulcanized rubber, comprising, based on 100 parts by weight, as solid matters, of isocyanate group-containing 1,2-polybutadiene, an organic solvent solution containing 10 to 160 parts by weight of fluororesin particles and 2.5 to 20 parts by weight of a perfluoroalkyl group-containing oligomer-based, fluorine-containing surfactant as a dispersant. The surface-treating agent for vulcanized rubber improves the solution stability of the organic solvent solution, improves the further hardness of the entire coating film formed from the surface-treating agent, abrasion resistance, and product torque evaluation, and is effectively used as, for example, a coating agent for seal lip parts of oil seals.

A surface-treating agent for vulcanized rubber, comprising, based on 100 parts by weight, as solid matters, of isocyanate group-containing 1,2-polybutadiene, an organic solvent solution containing 10 to 160 parts by weight of fluororesin particles and 2.5 to 20 parts by weight of a perfluoroalkyl group-containing oligomer-based, fluorine-containing surfactant as a dispersant. The surface-treating agent for vulcanized rubber improves the solution stability of the organic solvent solution, improves the further hardness of the entire coating film formed from the surface-treating agent, abrasion resistance, and product torque evaluation, and is effectively used as, for example, a coating agent for seal lip parts of oil seals.

Treated, mesoporous aggregates comprising a plurality of coated particles that comprise an inorganic oxide core having a surface area of about 50 to about 500 square meters per gram and a shell or coating consisting of an array of fluoroalkyl molecular chains covalently bonded to the core at a density of at least one chain per square nanometer. The aggregates are formed by the chemical attachment of fluoroalkyl-alkylsilanes after exposure to an alkylamine and followed by an extraction to remove any unbound organic material. The dense packing of molecular chains in the fluoroalkyl shell combined with a mesoporous structure imparts a very low surface energy, a very high specific surface area, and surface texture over a wide range of length scales. Such features are highly desirable for the creation of, for example, superhydrophobic and superoleophobic surfaces, separation media, and release films.

Treated, mesoporous aggregates comprising a plurality of coated particles that comprise an inorganic oxide core having a surface area of about 50 to about 500 square meters per gram and a shell or coating consisting of an array of fluoroalkyl molecular chains covalently bonded to the core at a density of at least one chain per square nanometer. The aggregates are formed by the chemical attachment of fluoroalkyl-alkylsilanes after exposure to an alkylamine and followed by an extraction to remove any unbound organic material. The dense packing of molecular chains in the fluoroalkyl shell combined with a mesoporous structure imparts a very low surface energy, a very high specific surface area, and surface texture over a wide range of length scales. Such features are highly desirable for the creation of, for example, superhydrophobic and superoleophobic surfaces, separation media, and release films.