Provided are processes for upconcentrating fluoropolymer dispersions. Also provided are upconcentrated dispersions and substrates coated with such dispersions.

Provided are processes for upconcentrating fluoropolymer dispersions. Also provided are upconcentrated dispersions and substrates coated with such dispersions.

Provided are processes for upconcentrating fluoropolymer dispersions. Also provided are upconcentrated dispersions and substrates coated with such dispersions.

The present invention provides an aqueous dispersion of a low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which contains an easily removable surfactant, and has a good dispersion stability. Specifically, the present invention provides an aqueous dispersion of a low-molecular-weight PTFE comprising tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) units, or TFE units and modifying monomer units which are copolymerizable with the TFE units, wherein the aqueous dispersion contains from 70 to 9,000 ppm, based on the aqueous dispersion, of a fluorine-containing compound of the formula (1) below:
X(CF.sub.2).sub.mY(1)
where X is H or F; m is an integer from 3 to 5; and Y is SO.sub.3M, SO.sub.4M, SO.sub.3R, SO.sub.4R, COOM, PO.sub.3M.sub.2 or PO.sub.4M.sub.2, M being H, NH.sub.4 or an alkali metal, and R being an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbons, and the low-molecular-weight PTFE has an average primary particle size of from 100 to 350 nm.

The present invention provides an aqueous dispersion of a low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which contains an easily removable surfactant, and has a good dispersion stability. Specifically, the present invention provides an aqueous dispersion of a low-molecular-weight PTFE comprising tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) units, or TFE units and modifying monomer units which are copolymerizable with the TFE units, wherein the aqueous dispersion contains from 70 to 9,000 ppm, based on the aqueous dispersion, of a fluorine-containing compound of the formula (1) below:
X(CF.sub.2).sub.mY(1)
where X is H or F; m is an integer from 3 to 5; and Y is SO.sub.3M, SO.sub.4M, SO.sub.3R, SO.sub.4R, COOM, PO.sub.3M.sub.2 or PO.sub.4M.sub.2, M being H, NH.sub.4 or an alkali metal, and R being an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbons, and the low-molecular-weight PTFE has an average primary particle size of from 100 to 350 nm.

The present invention provides an aqueous dispersion of a low-molecular-weight polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which contains an easily removable surfactant, and has a good dispersion stability. Specifically, the present invention provides an aqueous dispersion of a low-molecular-weight PTFE comprising tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) units, or TFE units and modifying monomer units which are copolymerizable with the TFE units, wherein the aqueous dispersion contains from 70 to 9,000 ppm, based on the aqueous dispersion, of a fluorine-containing compound of the formula (1) below:
X(CF.sub.2).sub.mY(1)
where X is H or F; m is an integer from 3 to 5; and Y is SO.sub.3M, SO.sub.4M, SO.sub.3R, SO.sub.4R, COOM, PO.sub.3M.sub.2 or PO.sub.4M.sub.2, M being H, NH.sub.4 or an alkali metal, and R being an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbons, and the low-molecular-weight PTFE has an average primary particle size of from 100 to 350 nm.

The present invention provides methods and systems for continuous polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in a water-in-oil inverse emulsion under adiabatic conditions without the need for external cooling during the polymerization. The method comprises neutralizing a monomer composition comprising at least one acidic vinyl monomer with a base in an aqueous medium comprising water and water ice to form an aqueous monomer solution therefrom; homogenizing and degassing to form an inverse monomer emulsion; initiating polymerization; passing the inverse emulsion through a tube reactor without cooling, and flash evaporating a portion of the water from inverse emulsion to cool and concentrate the resulting polymer-containing inverse emulsion. During neutralization, the aqueous medium comprises an amount of water ice sufficient to maintain a temperature of 30 C. or less, and the polymerization is initiated by adding a free-radical polymerization initiator to the emulsion prior to passing the emulsion through the tube reactor.

The present invention provides methods and systems for continuous polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in a water-in-oil inverse emulsion under adiabatic conditions without the need for external cooling during the polymerization. The method comprises neutralizing a monomer composition comprising at least one acidic vinyl monomer with a base in an aqueous medium comprising water and water ice to form an aqueous monomer solution therefrom; homogenizing and degassing to form an inverse monomer emulsion; initiating polymerization; passing the inverse emulsion through a tube reactor without cooling, and flash evaporating a portion of the water from inverse emulsion to cool and concentrate the resulting polymer-containing inverse emulsion. During neutralization, the aqueous medium comprises an amount of water ice sufficient to maintain a temperature of 30 C. or less, and the polymerization is initiated by adding a free-radical polymerization initiator to the emulsion prior to passing the emulsion through the tube reactor.

This application relates to biodegradable graft polymers for use as dye transfer inhibitors especially in laundry applications.

The graft polymers of the invention comprise a polyalkylene oxide polymer as polymer backbone of the graft polymer and grafted side chains obtained from radically polymerizing at least one vinyl ester, at least one vinylimidazole-monomer or derivative thereof in amounts of more than 10 weight percent being based on the total weight of the graft polymer, and optionally at least one vinyl lactame in the presence of the polymer backbone.

The inventive graft polymers exhibit dye transfer inhibition properties; as they also are bio-degradable, they are useful polymers for laundry cleaning applications to prevent dye transfer.

The invention further relates to the production of such graft polymers.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of such a graft polymer within fabric and home care products, and the use of such graft polymers for inhibiting the dye transfer in laundry applications.

This invention also relates to fabric and home care products as such containing such a graft polymer.

This application relates to biodegradable graft polymers for use as dye transfer inhibitors especially in laundry applications.

The graft polymers of the invention comprise a polyalkylene oxide polymer as polymer backbone of the graft polymer and grafted side chains obtained from radically polymerizing at least one vinyl ester, at least one vinylimidazole-monomer or derivative thereof in amounts of more than 10 weight percent being based on the total weight of the graft polymer, and optionally at least one vinyl lactame in the presence of the polymer backbone.

The inventive graft polymers exhibit dye transfer inhibition properties; as they also are bio-degradable, they are useful polymers for laundry cleaning applications to prevent dye transfer.

The invention further relates to the production of such graft polymers.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of such a graft polymer within fabric and home care products, and the use of such graft polymers for inhibiting the dye transfer in laundry applications.

This invention also relates to fabric and home care products as such containing such a graft polymer.