Amphoteric acrylic ester based latexes

Claim 2

An aqueous amphoteric latex formed by reacting a base polymer latex containing (I) up to about 55 weight percent solids comprised of: (a) from about 65 to about 90 weight percent of acrylic esters and/or methacrylic esters of the formula: ##STR3## wherein R is hydrogen or methyl and R' is aryl or alkyl of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; (b) from about 10 to about 35 weight percent acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid; (c) from 0 to about 25 weight percent of pH neutral monomers capable of polymerizing with acrylic esters and/or methacrylic esters; and (d) from about 0.5 to about 2 weight percent of a chain transfer agent, wherein the weight percents of components (a), (b), (c) and (d) are based upon the total weight of monomers in the base polymer; and (II) at least about 45 weight percent water; with from about 25 to about 75 mole percent, based on the number of moles of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid in the base polymer, of an alkylene imine of the formula: ##STR4## wherein R" is hydrogen or linear or branched alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms.

Claim 3

The latex of claim 1 wherein the base polymer latex comprises up to about 45 weight percent solids.

Claim 4

The latex of claim 1 wherein from about 75 to about 85 weight percent, of acrylic esters and/or methacrylic esters are employed, based on the total weight of monomers in the base polymer.

Claim 5

The latex of claim 1 wherein from about 15 to 25 weight percent of methacrylic acid and/or acrylic acid is employed, based on the total weight of monomers in the base polymer.

Claim 6

The latex of claim 1 wherein about 1 weight percent of a chain transfer agent is employed, based on the total weight of monomers in the base polymer.

Claim 7

The latex of claim 1 wherein the alkylene imine is one of ethylene imine and propylene imine.

Claim 8

The latex of claim 1 wherein the alkylene imine is present in an amount of from about 40 to about 60 mole percent based on the number of moles of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid employed.

Claim 9

The latex of claim 1 wherein the alkylene amine is present in an amount of about 50 mole percent, based on the number of moles of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid employed.

Claim 10

An aqueous amphoteric latex formed by reacting a base polymer latex containing (I) up to about 55 weight percent solids comprised of: (a) from about 75 to about 85 weight percent of acrylic esters and/or methacrylic esters of the formula: ##STR5## wherein R is hydrogen or methyl and R' is alkyl of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, (b) from about 15 to about 25 weight percent acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid, (c) from 0 to about 25 weight percent of pH neutral monomers capable of polymerizing with acrylic esters and/or methacrylic esters; and (d) about 1 weight percent of a chain transfer agent, wherein the weight percents of components (a), (b), (c) and (d) above are based upon the total weight of monomers in the base polymer; and (II) at least 45 weight percent water; with about 50 mole percent of ethylene imine or propylene imine, based on the number of moles of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid employed.

Claim 11

An aqueous amphoteric latex formed by reacting a base polymer latex containing (I) up to about 55 weight percent solids comprised of: (a) from about 75 to about 85 weight percent of acrylic esters and/or methacrylic esters of the formula: ##STR5## wherein R is hydrogen or methyl and R' is alkyl of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, (b) from about 15 to about 25 weight percent acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid, (c) from 0 to about 25 weight percent of pH neutral monomers capable of polymerizing with acrylic esters and/or methacrylic esters; and (d) about 1 weight percent of a chain transfer agent, wherein the weight percents of components (a), (b), (c) and (d) above are based upon the total weight of monomers in the base polymer; and (II) at least 45 weight percent water; with about 50 mole percent of ethylene imine or propylene imine, based on the number of moles of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid employed.

Claim 12

A process for the production of aqueous amphoteric latexes comprising reacting a base polymer latex comprising (I) up to about 55 weight percent solids comprised of: (a) from about 65 to about 90 weight percent of acrylic esters and/or methacrylic esters of the formula: ##STR6## wherein R is hydrogen or methyl and R' is aryl or alkyl of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; (b) from about 10 to about 35 weight percent acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid; (c) from 0 to about 25 weight percent of pH neutral monomers capable of polymerizing with acrylic esters and/or methacrylic esters; and (d) from about 0.5 to about 2 weight percent of a chain transfer agent, wherein the weight percents of components (a), (b), (c) and (d) are based upon the total weight of monomers in the base polymer; and (II) at least about 45 weight percent water; with from about 25 to about 75 mole percent, based on the number of moles of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid in the base polymer, of an alkylene imine of the formula: ##STR7## wherein R" is hydrogen or linear or branched alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms.

Claim 13

A process for the production of aqueous amphoteric latexes comprising reacting a base polymer latex comprising (I) up to about 55 weight percent solids comprised of: (a) from about 65 to about 90 weight percent of acrylic esters and/or methacrylic esters of the formula: ##STR6## wherein R is hydrogen or methyl and R' is aryl or alkyl of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; (b) from about 10 to about 35 weight percent acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid; (c) from 0 to about 25 weight percent of pH neutral monomers capable of polymerizing with acrylic esters and/or methacrylic esters; and (d) from about 0.5 to about 2 weight percent of a chain transfer agent, wherein the weight percents of components (a), (b), (c) and (d) are based upon the total weight of monomers in the base polymer; and (II) at least about 45 weight percent water; with from about 25 to about 75 mole percent, based on the number of moles of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid in the base polymer, of an alkylene imine of the formula: ##STR7## wherein R" is hydrogen or linear or branched alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms.