A method of preparing a polymer dispersion comprising (i) contacting an aqueous dispersion of de-ionized acidic colloidal silica particles with a first mixture of monomers to form a combination; (ii) polymerizing such combination at an initial pH of from 2 to 5 to at least 90% in completion; and (iii) adding a second mixture of monomers at a rate substantially equal to the rate of consumption of such second mixture of monomers to continue and complete the polymerization. The present invention further provides a polymer dispersion made from the above method.

A fiber powder having a 50% particle diameter (d.sub.50) of 6 to 60 μm, characterized in that the fiber powder has a maximum particle diameter (d.sub.100) of 1,000 μm or less. It is preferred that a value ((d.sub.10.Math.d.sub.90)/d.sub.100) obtained by dividing by the maximum particle diameter (d.sub.100) a value which is obtained by multiplying a 10% particle diameter (d.sub.10) by a 90% particle diameter (d.sub.90) is 0.3 to 5.0, that the fiber powder has an extractable component content of 0.2 to 3.0% by weight based on the fiber weight, and that the fiber powder has a water content of 0.2 to 50% by weight. Further, it is preferred that the fiber powder is an organic material, or comprises a thermoplastic resin, and that the thermoplastic resin is a polyester resin or a polyamide resin.

A stable two-component waterborne coating composition comprising an epoxy component A comprising a waterborne epoxy resin, a polymeric dispersant, and pigments and/or extenders; and a component B comprising a curing agent; providing coatings made therefrom with improved anti-corrosion properties; and a method of preparing the coating composition.

The use of a sulfonated polyaryl ether ketone or of a sulfonated non-polymeric aryl ether ketone as a dispersant for a polyaryl ether ketone resin powder in an aqueous solution, and also to a corresponding composition, and to a process for preparing a semifinished product comprising a polyaryl ether ketone resin and reinforcing fibers.

A polymer material including a fluorinated component and a silicone component can exhibit improved performance, such as increased thermal stability. An article can include the polymer material. For example, a coated fabric including the polymer material can exhibit improved dielectric strength. A composition for forming the polymer material can include a dispersion comprising a fluorinated component and an emulsion comprising a reactive silicone component. In an embodiment, a single pass film formed from the composition can have an increased critical crack thickness. A method can include forming a polymer material from the composition.

Provided is a water-based quenching liquid composition which is slow in a cooling rate and is able to suppress quenching crack. The water-based quenching liquid composition is one containing water (A), a linear polyalkylene glycol compound (B), and a branched polyhydric alcohol alkylene oxide adduct (C), wherein the linear polyalkylene glycol compound (B) has a mass average molecular weight of 10,000 or more, and the branched polyhydric alcohol alkylene oxide adduct (C) is a mixed adduct of alkylene oxides having 2 to 3 carbon atoms and has a mass average molecular weight of 10,000 or more.

The present invention provides a composite resin composition capable of forming a film in which a cellulose nanofiber is dispersed uniformly in the resin. The present invention provides a composite resin composition containing an aqueous dispersion medium, a resin particle emulsified in the aqueous dispersion medium, and a cellulose nanofiber dispersed in the aqueous dispersion medium, wherein the resin particle contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a (meth)acrylic resin particle, a styrene-based resin particle, and a (meth)acrylonitrile-based resin particle, and when a sample obtained in such a way that a liquid obtained by diluting the composite resin composition with water in an amount that allows a non-volatile content of the composite resin composition to fall within a range of 0.01 to 0.1% by mass is dropped onto a base material for measurement and is dried is observed with an atomic force microscope, a structure such that the cellulose nanofiber is dispersed, and the resin particles cling in the form of particles to the cellulose nanofiber is observed.

The invention features a composition comprising a self-healing interpenetrating network hydrogel comprising a first network and a second network. The first network comprises covalent crosslinks and the second network comprises ionic or physical crosslinks. For example, the first network comprises a polyacrylamide polymer and second network comprises an alginate polymer.

The present invention provides a method that enables the use of an aqueous solution of a copolymer of vinyl alcohol and an alkali metal neutralized product of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or carboxymethyl cellulose or a salt thereof, as a binder for secondary batteries, without causing a significant viscosity increase even if stored in the state of an aqueous solution. More specifically, the present invention provides a composition in the form of an aqueous solution containing a copolymer of vinyl alcohol and an alkali metal neutralized product of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or carboxymethyl cellulose or a salt thereof, wherein when the viscosity of the composition after being diluted with water (25° C. or less) to a viscosity of 200±100 mPa.Math.s at room temperature (25° C.) and being adjusted to a temperature of 25° C. is defined as X.sup.a1 (Pa.Math.s), and the viscosity of the composition after being placed in an airtight container and being allowed to stand at 95° C. for 8 hours is defined as X.sup.b1 (Pa.Math.s), the change rate obtained by the following formula:

Change rate (%)=(X.sup.a1−X.sup.b1)/X.sup.b1×100

is 0 to 10%.

Method of preparing a dispersion of colloidal lignin particles by providing a solution of lignin in a mixture of an organic solvent for lignin and a non-solvent for lignin having a ratio of non-solvent to solvent; and increasing the ratio of the non-solvent to the solvent to produce an aqueous dispersion of colloidal lignin particles. The dispersions are stable and the colloidal lignin particles are useful for many applications such as rheology modifiers in three-dimensional printing of hydrogels, or in purification systems such as filters, and packed columns, and as flocculants.