METHOD OF INCORPORATING ETHYLENE COPOLYMERS INTO LATEX

摘要

Provided is a method for preparing a latex composition, comprising providing an ethylene copolymer comprising copolymerized units of ethylene and copolymerized units of at least one polar comonomer; dissolving the ethylene copolymer with one or more latex monomers to prepare a solution; mixing the solution with water; optionally adding a surfactant or protectant colloid to form an aqueous emulsion; and polymerizing the latex monomer in the emulsion to form a latex composition comprising the ethylene copolymer and a latex polymer. Further provided are the emulsion polymerization product and the mini-emulsion polymerization product of at least one ethylene copolymer substantially dissolved in at least one latex monomer, such as an acrylic, styrene or vinyl monomer. Finally, formulated products comprising or produced from the emulsion or mini-emulsion polymerization product and articles comprising or produced from the formulated products are provided.

主权项

1. A method for preparing a latex composition, said method comprising the steps of:
(1) providing at least one ethylene copolymer comprising copolymerized units of ethylene and copolymerized units of at least one polar comonomer, wherein the polar comonomer comprises one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of a vinyl ester; an α,β-unsaturated monocarboxylic acid or its derivative; an α,β-unsaturated dicarboxylic acid or its derivative; an epoxide-containing monomer; and carbon monoxide; wherein the ethylene copolymer contains 2 to 80 weight % of copolymerized units of the polar comonomer(s) and a complementary amount of copolymerized ethylene, based on the total weight of the ethylene copolymer; or wherein the ethylene copolymer is an ionomer of the ethylene copolymer comprising acid moieties, wherein at least a portion of the carboxylic acid groups are neutralized to form carboxylate groups having counterions, said counterions comprising monovalent or divalent metal cations; (2) mixing the ethylene copolymer(s) with one or more latex monomers selected from the group consisting of:
(i) a carboxyl functional monomer;(ii) a hydroxyl functional monomer;(iii) an epoxy functional monomer;(iv) an amino functional monomer;(v) an alkyl acrylate or an alkyl methacrylate;(vi) a polymerizable aromatic monomer;(vii) a vinyl monomer; and(viii) a diene monomer;to form a solution of the ethylene copolymer(s) in the latex monomer(s); (3) mixing the solution with water; (4) optionally adding a surfactant or protectant colloid to the combined solution and water; (5) agitating the mixture of the water and the solution to form an aqueous emulsion; and (6) polymerizing the latex monomer(s) in the aqueous emulsion to form the latex composition, said latex composition comprising a latex polymer that is the product of polymerizing the latex monomer(s).