A process is provided for the polymerization of fluoromonomer to an dispersion of fluoropolymer particles in an aqueous medium in a polymerization reactor, by (a) providing the aqueous medium in the reactor, (b) adding the fluoromonomer to the reactor, (c) adding initiator to the aqueous medium, the combination of steps (b) and (c) being carried out essentially free of hydrocarbon-containing surfactant and resulting in the kickoff of the polymerization of the fluoromonomer, and (d) metering hydrocarbon-containing surfactant into the aqueous medium after the kickoff of polymerization, e.g. after the concentration of the fluoropolymer in the aqueous medium is at least 0.6 wt %, the metering being at a rate reducing the telogenic activity of said surfactant while maintaining surface activity.

A POSS modified polyacrylate fluorine-free waterproofing agent includes following components: 1-10 wt % of a functionalized POSS monomer, 2-20 wt % of methyl methacrylate, 3-26 wt % of butyl acrylate, 1-10 wt % of a long-chain acrylate monomer, 0.5-3.5 wt % of an initiator, 0.5-4 wt % of a reactive cationic emulsifier, and 50-80 wt % of deionized water. A method of preparing a POSS modified polyacrylate fluorine-free waterproofing agent is also disclosed.

A POSS modified polyacrylate fluorine-free waterproofing agent includes following components: 1-10 wt % of a functionalized POSS monomer, 2-20 wt % of methyl methacrylate, 3-26 wt % of butyl acrylate, 1-10 wt % of a long-chain acrylate monomer, 0.5-3.5 wt % of an initiator, 0.5-4 wt % of a reactive cationic emulsifier, and 50-80 wt % of deionized water. A method of preparing a POSS modified polyacrylate fluorine-free waterproofing agent is also disclosed.

Finely divided, cationic, aqueous polymer dispersions, method for the production thereof, and the use thereof The present invention relates to a finely divided, cationic, aqueous polymer dispersion which is obtainable by emulsion polymerisation of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in a continuous phase containing an aqueous liquid in which the emulsion polymerisation is carried out, in the presence of polymerisation initiators, of a combination of monomers comprising (a) from 0 to less than 60% by weight of at least one optionally substituted styrene, (b) from greater than 0 to 80% of at least one C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl acrylate and/or at least one C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl methacrylate, (c) from 0 to 10% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least one acid group, (d) from 5 to 20% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising a cationic group, and (e) from 0 to 50% by weight of at least one non-ionic ethylenically unsaturated monomer differing from (a), (b), (c), and (d), the sum of (a)+(b)+(c)+(d)+(e) being 100% by weight, and the aqueous liquid contains from 0 to 4% by weight based on the weight of the combination of monomers of at least one emulsifier, in which the emulsion polymerisation is carried out optionally in the presence of at least one terpene containing compound. Also claimed is a process or preparing the finely divided, cationic, aqueous polymer dispersion and the use of the finely divided, cationic, aqueous polymer dispersion for sizing paper, board and cardboard.

Finely divided, cationic, aqueous polymer dispersions, method for the production thereof, and the use thereof The present invention relates to a finely divided, cationic, aqueous polymer dispersion which is obtainable by emulsion polymerisation of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in a continuous phase containing an aqueous liquid in which the emulsion polymerisation is carried out, in the presence of polymerisation initiators, of a combination of monomers comprising (a) from 0 to less than 60% by weight of at least one optionally substituted styrene, (b) from greater than 0 to 80% of at least one C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl acrylate and/or at least one C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl methacrylate, (c) from 0 to 10% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least one acid group, (d) from 5 to 20% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising a cationic group, and (e) from 0 to 50% by weight of at least one non-ionic ethylenically unsaturated monomer differing from (a), (b), (c), and (d), the sum of (a)+(b)+(c)+(d)+(e) being 100% by weight, and the aqueous liquid contains from 0 to 4% by weight based on the weight of the combination of monomers of at least one emulsifier, in which the emulsion polymerisation is carried out optionally in the presence of at least one terpene containing compound. Also claimed is a process or preparing the finely divided, cationic, aqueous polymer dispersion and the use of the finely divided, cationic, aqueous polymer dispersion for sizing paper, board and cardboard.

Water-dispersible or water-dispersed polymers are made by reacting (i) an unsaturated monomer containing one or more cyclic carbonate groups, or (ii) an unsaturated or saturated oligomer or polymer containing a plurality of cyclic carbonate groups, with a tertiary amine in the presence of an acid, or with an acid in the presence of a tertiary amine, or in the presence of an acid and a tertiary amine, to provide a water-dispersible or water-dispersed monomer, oligomer or polymer. When step a) provides a monomer or oligomer, the monomer or oligomer is reacted with one or more monomers in the presence of an initiator to provide a water-dispersible or water-dispersed polymer. When step a) provides a polymer, the polymer is optionally used to support emulsion polymerization of one or more unsaturated monomers in the presence of an initiator to provide a water-dispersible or water-dispersed further polymer.

Water-dispersible or water-dispersed polymers are made by reacting (i) an unsaturated monomer containing one or more cyclic carbonate groups, or (ii) an unsaturated or saturated oligomer or polymer containing a plurality of cyclic carbonate groups, with a tertiary amine in the presence of an acid, or with an acid in the presence of a tertiary amine, or in the presence of an acid and a tertiary amine, to provide a water-dispersible or water-dispersed monomer, oligomer or polymer. When step a) provides a monomer or oligomer, the monomer or oligomer is reacted with one or more monomers in the presence of an initiator to provide a water-dispersible or water-dispersed polymer. When step a) provides a polymer, the polymer is optionally used to support emulsion polymerization of one or more unsaturated monomers in the presence of an initiator to provide a water-dispersible or water-dispersed further polymer.

The present invention relates, in general terms, to hydrogels and their uses thereof. The hydrogels demonstrate toughness; i.e. the ability to absorb energy and plastically deform without fracturing. The present invention also relates to methods of fabricating hydrogels. In particular, the method of fabricating a tough hydrogel comprises polymerising a plurality of charged monomers in the presence of multivalent ions in order to form an ion impregnated hydrogel and exposing the ion impregnated hydrogel to heat in order to form the tough hydrogel.

The present invention relates, in general terms, to hydrogels and their uses thereof. The hydrogels demonstrate toughness; i.e. the ability to absorb energy and plastically deform without fracturing. The present invention also relates to methods of fabricating hydrogels. In particular, the method of fabricating a tough hydrogel comprises polymerising a plurality of charged monomers in the presence of multivalent ions in order to form an ion impregnated hydrogel and exposing the ion impregnated hydrogel to heat in order to form the tough hydrogel.

The present invention relates to an amide compound solution comprising an amide compound and a surfactant. More specifically, the invention relates to an amide compound solution comprising amide compound, and 2.7˜20 mg of a cationic surfactant per 1 kg of the amide compound or 0.01˜10 mg of a C15˜C20 carboxylic acid or its salt as an anionic surfactant per 1 kg of the amide compound. The present invention provides an amide compound solution which is manufactured using a biocatalyst and which has a low level of foaming, and thereby improving the operability and yield when manufacturing an amide compound-based polymer.