Polymeric pigments and method for preparation thereof

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of base is in the range from about 0.05 to about 10 weight percent of total monomer.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein the initial portion of monomer constitutes from about 80 to about 95 weight percent of total monomer.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the base is ammonia.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of base is in the range from about 0.2 to about 7 weight percent of total monomer.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein total monomer comprises at least 45 weight percent of a monovinylidene carbocyclic aromatic monomer.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 wherein the monovinylidene carbocylic aromatic monomer is styrene.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 wherein (1) total monomer polymerizes to form a copolymer which is non-film forming at ambient temperature comprising from about 45 to about 99.5 weight percent polymerizable hard monomer selected from the group consisting of monovinylidene carbocyclic aromatic monomer, esters of Alpha , Beta -ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids which polymerize to form non-film forming polymers, Alpha , Beta -ethylenically unsaturated esters of non-polymerizable carboxylic acids which polymerize to form non-film forming polymers, Alpha , Beta -ethylenically unsaturated nitriles, other vinyl monomers which polymerize to form non-film forming polymers and mixtures of said hard monomers; up to about 45 weight percent of an emulsion polymerizable soft monomer selected from the group consisting of conjugated aliphatic dienes, alkyl acrylates, unsaturated esters of saturated carboxylic acids, esters and half esters of Alpha , Beta ethylenically unsaturated polycarboxylic acids, other vinyl monomers which polymerize to form film forming polymers, and mixtures of said soft monomers; and from about 0.5 to about 10 weight percent of at least one Alpha , Beta -ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and (2) the base is selected from the group consisting of ammonia gas, aqueous solutions of ammonia, alkali metal hydroxides and alkaline earth metal hydroxides, alkyl and alkanol amines.

Claim 10

The method according to claim 1 wherein total monomer polymerizes to form a non-film forming copolymer comprising from about 50 to about 99 weight percent of monovinylidene carbocyclic aromatic monomer; from about 0 to about 49 weight percent of emulsion polymerizable, Alpha , Beta -ethylenically unsaturated nitrile and from about 1 to about 5 weight percent of emulsion polymerizable, Alpha , Beta -ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid.

Claim 11

An aqueous dispersion of non-film forming polymeric particles having an average diameter in the range from about 0.3 to about 1.0 micrometer with no more than about 5 weight percent of said particles having diameters outside of said range, said dispersion being prepared by the method of claim 1.

Claim 12

The aqueous dispersion according to claim 10 wherein the polymeric particles comprise a copolymer of from about 50 to about 99 weight percent of monovinylidene carbocyclic aromatic monomer; from about 0 to about 49 weight percent of emulsion polymerizable Alpha , Beta -ethylenically unsaturated nitrile and from about 1 to about 5 weight percent of emulsion polymerizable Alpha , Beta -ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid wherein the copolymer is non-film forming at 140*F or less.

Claim 13

An aqueous paper coating composition adapted to a paper coating process for printing comprising a binder and a pigment wherein at least a portion of the total pigment is in the form of discrete, non-film forming polymeric particles having an average diameter in the range of from about 0.3 to about 1.0 micrometer, with no more than 5 weight percent of said particles having diameters outside of said range, said particles being formed by the method of claim 1, said coating composition containing from about 1.3 to about 11.5 volume parts of binder per 38.8 volume parts of pigment, said portion of polymeric particles being sufficient in said coating composition to produce a coating having improved properties, said particles being insoluble in water and the binder.

Claim 14

A coated paper comprising a paper substrate having intimately adhered thereto an improved coating comprising a binder and a pigment, at least a portion of said total pigment being in the form of discrete, non-film forming polymeric particles having an average diameter in the range of from about 0.3 to about 1.0 micrometer, with no more than 5 weight percent of said particles having diameters outside of said range, said particles being formed by the method of claim 1, the volume ratio of binder to pigment being in the range from about 1.3 to about 11.5 volume parts of binder to 38.8 volume pArts of pigment, said portion of polymeric particles being sufficient in said coating to impart improved properties.

Claim 15

The method of claim 1 wherein the initial portion constitutes from about 35 to about 95 weight percent of total monomer.

Claim 16

The method of claim 1 wherein the initial portion constitutes from about 80 to about 95 weight percent of total monomer.