Patent ID: 7160944

Claim:
A process for making an aqueous emulsion of polyolefin which comprises: a) providing a mixture of: (1) at least one first polyolefin component possessing carboxylic acid functionality and having a weight average molecular weight of at least about 30,000; (2) at least one emulsification facilitating component comprising a second polyolefin component having a weight average molecular weight less than that of the first polyolefin component; (3) at least one surfactant in an aqueous emulsion-forming amount; and, (4) water in an aqueous emulsion-forming amount; b) heating the mixture of step (a) to a temperature which is at or above the melting point of the first polyolefin component; and, c) neutralizing the carboxylic acid functionality of the first polyolefin component while the first polyolefin component is at or above its melting point thereby providing an aqueous emulsion of the first polyolefin component.