Patent GB-956799-A (GB)
Title: Copolymers and coating compositions thereof
IPC: C08L71/02
Filed: 1960-04-20
Abstract: Copolymers are made which comprise at least 50% by weight of units derived from methyl or ethyl acrylate and at least 3% by weight of units derived from ar-methyl or ar-isopropyl styrene. Also present in the copolymers may be units derived from other monomers, e.g. C1-C18 alcohol esters of methacrylic acid, C3-C18 alcohol esters of acrylic acid, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, styrene, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, acrylic, methacrylic and itaconic acids, acrylamide and methacrylamide and their N-methylol and N-methoxymethyl derivatives, beta-ureidoethyl, beta-dimethylaminoethyl and beta-hydroxyethyl acrylates and methacrylates, beta-ureidoisobutyl vinyl ether, beta-amionethyl vinyl ether and sulphide, vinyl pyridines and and beta-methacryloxy-acetamidoethyl-N,N1-ethyleneurea. Copolymers containing acid or amine groups may have such groups partly or wholly neutralized. Polymerization may be carried out in bulk solution, emulsion, or suspension with the aid of peroxy, azo and redox catalysts and, if desired, in the presence of a mercaptan regulator. In emulsion copolymerization there may be used anionic, cationic or non-ionic emulsifiers.  The resulting copolymers may be used in coating and pigmenting applications, either as such or in the form of solutions in organic solvents or aqueous emulsions. Mixtures of aqueous emulsions of two different copolymers may be used. Such coating compositions may contain pigments, e.g. carbon black, iron oxides, chrome yellows, titanium dioxide, lithopone, and powdered aluminium, bronze, brass, chromium or gold; thickeners, e.g. tragacanth, methyl cellulose polyvinyl acetate and a maleic anhydride/diisobutylene copolymer; thermosetting aminoplast condensates, e.g. condensation products of formaldehyde with urea, N, N1-ethyleneurea and melamine, and alkylated derivatives thereof; polyisocyanates, e.g. hexamethylene, toluene and p-phenylene diisocyanates; polyepoxides, e.g. those having the formulae: <FORM:0956799/C3/1> where x has an average value of 1 to 3, <FORM:0956799/C3/2> where y has an average value of 2 to 4, <FORM:0956799/C3/3> where m is an integer having a value of 2 to 4 and z has an average value of 1 to 5, glycol-bis-exodihydrodicyclopentadienyl ethers and ethoxyline resins; and plasticizers, e.g. diethyl phthalate. The compositions containing aminoplasts, polyisocyanates and polyepoxides may be thermoset by heating. The examples describe the emulsion copolymerization of: (1) vinyl toluene, ethyl acrylate and itaconic acid, with neutralization of the resulting copolymer; (2) vinyl toluene, ethyl acrylate, methacrylamide and methylol methacrylamide; (3) vinyl toluene ethyl acrylate and methacrylamide; (7) vinyl toluene or isopropyl styrene, ethyl acrylate, ethyl hexyl acrylate and itaconic acid; (9) vinyl toluene, methyl acrylate and itaconic acid; and (10) vinyl toluene, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and beta-methacry-loxyacetamidoethyl-N,N1-ethyleneurea.  Specifications 518,057 and 579,698 are referred to.ALSO:Surfaces of paper, leather, fabrics, wood, masonry and asbestos cement are coated with aqueous dispersions of copolymers derived from at least 50% of methyl or ethyl acrylate, at least 3% of ar-methyl or ar-isopropyl styrene and, if desired, other monomers. The coating compositions may additionally contain pigments, aminoplasts, polyepoxides and thickeners and may be applied by roller-coating, spraying or dipping.  In the examples: (1) (a) leather is coated with an aqueous dispersion of a neutralized copolymer of vinyl toluene, ethyl acrylate and itaconic acid, and (b) leather which has been based coated with a polyacrylic ester is coated with an aqueous dispersion of the same copolymer containing, in addition, dimethoxymethylpolymethylol melamine; (3) chipboard, kraft paper and wallpaper are coated with mixed aqueous dispersions of copolymers of vinyl toluene, ethyl acrylate and methacrylamide, and vinyl toluene, ethyl acrylate, methacrylamide and methylol acrylamide; (4) asbestos cement sheets are coated with (a) an aqueous dispersion of a copolymer of vinyl toluene ethyl acrylate and methacrylamide containing, additionally a resin-forming methoxymethylpolymethylolmelamine condensate, diethyl phthalate and triethylamine, and (b) mixed aqueous dispersions of two different copolymers of vinyl toluene, ethyl acrylate and methacrylamide; (8) a pile fabric having base fabric of cotton and a pile of viscose rayon and cellulose acetate is back-coated with an aqueous dispersion of a neutralized copolymer of vinyl toluene, ethyl acrylate and itaconic acid; (9) the process of (1) is repeated, except that in (a) the ethyl acrylate is replaced by methyl acrylate, and in (b) the melamine condensate is replaced by a polyepoxide; and (10) an aqueous dispersion containing a copolymer of vinyl toluene ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and betamethacryloxyacetamidoethyl-N,N1-ethyleneurea, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, diethylene glycol and dispersing agents is applied to wood surfaces, especially those primed with alkyd resin paint, and also to masonry surfaces.  After application the coatings are dried and, when the composition is one which is curable, cured by heating. Specifications 518,057 and 579,698 are referred to.ALSO:Textiles are dyed or agglutinated by means of aqueous dispersions of copolymers derived from at least 50% of methyl or ethyl acrylate, at least 3% of ar-methyl or ar-isopropyl styrene, and, if desired, other monomers. In examples: (5) cotton percale is dyed by padding with an aqueous dispersion of a neutralized copolymer of vinyl toluene, ethyl acrylate and itaconic acid containing copper phthalocyanine blue pigment, followed by drying and heating; (6) three superposed layers composed of non-woven cotton textile fabric are sprayed with an aqueous dispersion of a neutralized copolymer of vinyl toluene, ethyl acrylate and itaconic acid, and then heated at 140 DEG C. to bind the fibres in the fabric; and (7) cotton sheeting is dyed by applying thereto an aqueous dispersion of a neutralized copolymer of vinyl toluene, ethyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and itaconic acid containing copper phthalocyanine blue pigment, followed by drying and heating.  Specifications 518,057 and 579,698 are referred to.