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 invention provides a polymer comprising at least one vinyl ester; and at least one acrylic ester of a branched alcohol, wherein the branched alcohol is a branched C.sub.16-C.sub.32 alcohol. The invention also provides compositions comprising these polymers.

The invention relates to aqueous polymer dispersions comprising at least one polymer obtainable by the reaction of at least one monomer M1 of the general formula (I): H.sub.2CCHC(O)OR, wherein R is an unbranched alkyl chain comprising from 18 to 22 carbon atoms, and optionally at least one monomer M2. The invention relates moreover to a method for the preparing of such aqueous polymer dispersion and the use thereof as pour point depressant for crude oil, petroleum, and petroleum products.

The present invention relates to composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of microspheres and a class of a nonionic polyalkylene oxide of a distyryl or tristyryl phenol or an anionic polyalkylene oxide salt of a distyryl or tristyryl phenol and a process for preparing the composition. The microspheres have an average particle size in the range of from 1 m to 25 m, as well as a low coefficient of variation and low gel concentration; the composition is useful in coatings applications, especially where a matte finish is desired.

The present invention relates to composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of microspheres and a class of a nonionic polyalkylene oxide of a distyryl or tristyryl phenol or an anionic polyalkylene oxide salt of a distyryl or tristyryl phenol and a process for preparing the composition. The microspheres have an average particle size in the range of from 1 m to 25 m, as well as a low coefficient of variation and low gel concentration; the composition is useful in coatings applications, especially where a matte finish is desired.

An aqueous polymer composition comprising a multiethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monohydrazide and a keto-functionalized polymer, and an aqueous coating composition comprising such aqueous polymer composition and providing coatings with improved water resistance and alcohol resistance without compromising early block resistance.

Polymers are disclosed that incorporate portions of secondary or tertiary polyamide segments connected with polyisocyanates. These polymers have enhanced matting properties. The enhanced matting properties are from creating an inherently matt surface from the polymer without the use of any separate fine particle size matting additives. Conventional matting agents such as fine particle size silica usually results in loss of physical properties such as haze development and porosity in the coating from the matting agent. Composites and hybrids of these polymers and other polyamides, polyurethane with vinyl polymers (acrylates) are also disclosed and claimed.

Provided are a rubber composition for treads which achieves a balanced improvement in fuel economy, abrasion resistance, and wet grip performance while offering good processability, and a pneumatic tire formed from the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition for treads containing: a polybutadiene; and a terpene resin having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 40 C. to 90 C., the polybutadiene satisfying the following conditions (A), (B) and (C): (A) a ratio (Tcp/ML.sub.1+4, 100 C.) of 5% by mass toluene solution viscosity (Tcp) to Mooney viscosity (ML.sub.1+4, 100 C.) is 0.9 to 2.3; (B) a stress relaxation time (T80) is 10.0 to 40.0 seconds, which is a time required for torque to decay by 80%, where 100% represents torque at the end of a ML.sub.1+4, 100 C. measurement; and (C) a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) is 2.50 to 4.00.

A process including combining polystyrene and a first solvent to form a polystyrene solution; heating the polystyrene solution; adding a second solvent to the polystyrene solution with optional stirring whereby polystyrene microparticles are formed via microprecipitation; optionally, cooling the formed polystyrene microparticles in solution; and optionally, removing the first solvent and second solvent. A polystyrene microparticle formed by a microprecipitation process, wherein the polystyrene particle has a spherical morphology, a particle diameter of greater than about 10 micrometers, and a weight average molecular weight of from about 38,000 to about 200,000 Daltons. A method of selective laser sintering including providing polystyrene microparticles formed by a microprecipitation process; and exposing the microparticles to a laser to fuse the microparticles.

An electrode binder of a lithium ion secondary battery comprising an aqueous dispersion of: (a) a polyvinylidene binder; (b) a (meth)acrylic polymer dispersant; (c) a crosslinking agent comprising an aminoplast and/or a polycarbodiimide; and (d) an organic diluent. The (meth)acrylic polymer dispersant is prepared from a mixture of monomers comprising one or more carboxylic acid group-containing (meth)acrylic monomers and one or more hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylic monomers, and carboxylic acid groups on the (meth)acrylic polymer dispersant are at least partially neutralized with a base. The binder can be used in the assembly of electrodes of lithium ion secondary batteries.