Patent ID: 7807765

Claim:
A composition comprising: a latex copolymer comprising polymerized units of a monomer X and a monomer Y; and, a polymerization initiator or the degradation products of the polymerization initiator; wherein the latex copolymer comprises >5 wt % of monomer X derived units; wherein the latex copolymer comprises <1,000 ppm residual monomer X; wherein monomer X is vinyl imidazole; wherein monomer Y is selected from carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid salts, carboxylic acid esters, organosulphuric acids, organosulphuric acid salts, sulphonic acids, sulphonic acid salts, phosphonic acids, phosphonic acid salts, vinyl esters, (meth)acrylamides, C 8 -C 20 aromatic monomers containing at least one exocyclic ethylenic unsaturation and combinations thereof; wherein the polymerization initiator is selected from 2,2′-Azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile); 2,2′-Azobis(2,4-dimethyl-valeronitrile); 2,2′-Azobisisobutyronitrile; 2,2′-Azobis(2-methyl-butyronitrile); 1,1′-Azobis(1-cyclo-hexanecarbonitrile); 2,2′-Azobis(2,4,4-trimethylpentane); 2,2′-Azobis(N,N′-dimethyleneisobutyramidine)dihydrochloride; 2,2′-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride; 4,4′-Azobis(4-cyanovaleriic acid) and combinations thereof; wherein the composition comprises greater than or equal to 25 wt % solids; and, wherein the composition has a pH of greater than or equal to 7.