Non-aqueous dispersions prepared with styrene polymer dispersion stabilizers

Claim 2

A non-aqueous dispersion of polymeric particles having an average particle size ranging from 0.1 to 10 microns in an organic dispersing liquid which is formed by the free radical initiated addition polymerization of 20 to 70 percent by weight of a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer component in 25 to 80 percent by weight of the dispersing liquid; the polymerization being conducted in the presence of 1 to 25 percent by weight of a dispersion stabilizer, the percentage by weight being based on total weight of polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer component, dispersing liquid and stabilizer, characterized in that the dispersion stabilizer is a styrene polymer and containing ethylenic unsaturation in only the terminal position.

Claim 3

The non-aqueous disperson of claim 1 in which the styrene polymer is prepared by anionic polymerization techniques.

Claim 4

The dispersion of claim 1 in which the polymer particles are crosslinked.

Claim 5

The dispersion of claim 3 in which the polymerizable monomer component contains a first and second ethylenically unsaturated monomer each having functionalities capable of crosslinking reaction with one another.

Claim 6

The dispersion of claim 4 wherein the pair of reactive functionalities of said ethylenically unsaturated monomers are acid and epoxide.

Claim 7

The dispersion of claim 4 wherein the pair of reactive functionalities of said ethylenically unsaturated monomer are isocyanate and hydroxyl.

Claim 8

The dispersion of claim 5 wherein the pair of ethylenically unsaturated monomers are methacrylic acid and glycidyl methacrylate.

Claim 9

The dispersion of claim 1 in which the organic liquid is an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon.

Claim 10

The dispersion of claim 1 in which the styrene polymer is a polymer selected from the class consisting of styrene, para-methylstyrene and para-t-butylstyrene including mixtures thereof.

Claim 11

The dispersion of claim 1 in which the styrene polymer has a molecular weight of at least 1000.

Claim 12

The dispersion of claim 10 in which the styrene polymer has a molecular weight in the range of 5,000 to 50,000.

Claim 13

The dispersion of claim 1 in which the styrene polymer has only one terminal ethylenically unsaturated group.

Claim 14

The dispersion of claim 1 in which the polymerizable monomer component contains polymerizable acrylate unsaturation and the dispersion stabilizer contains acrylate unsaturation.

Claim 15

A polymeric microparticle having an average particle size ranging from 0.1 to 10 microns which is prepared by free radical addition polymerization of 20 to 70 percent by weight of a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer component in 20 to 85 percent by weight of an organic dispersing liquid, said polymerization being conducted in the presence of 1 to 25 percent by weight of a dispersion stabilizer, the percentage by weight being based on total weight of polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer component, dispersing liquid and stabilizer, characterized in that the dispersion stabilizer is a styrene polymer containing ethylenic unsaturation is the terminal position only.

Claim 16

A polymeric microparticle having an average particle size ranging from 0.1 to 10 microns which is prepared by free radical addition polymerization of 20 to 70 percent by weight of a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer component in 20 to 85 percent by weight of an organic dispersing liquid, said polymerization being conducted in the presence of 1 to 25 percent by weight of a dispersion stabilizer, the percentage by weight being based on total weight of polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer component, dispersing liquid and stabilizer, characterized in that the dispersion stabilizer is a styrene polymer containing ethylenic unsaturation is the terminal position only.

Claim 17

The microparticles of claim 14 which are crosslinked.

Claim 18

The microparticles of claim 15 in which the polymerizable monomer component contains a first and second ethylenically unsaturated monomer each having functionalities capable of a crosslinking reaction with one another.

Claim 19

The microparticles of claim 16 wherein the pair of reactive functionalities of said ethylenically unsaturated monomers are acid and epoxide.

Claim 20

The microparticles of claim 17 wherein the pair of ethylenically unsaturated monomers are methacrylic acid and glycidyl methacrylate.

Claim 21

The microparticles of claim 16 wherein the pair of reactive functionalities of said ethylenically unsaturated monomers are isocyanate and hydroxyl.

Claim 22

The microparticle of claim 14 in which the styrene polymer is a polymer selected from the class consisting of styrene, para-methylstyrene and para-t-butylstyrene including mixtures thereof.

Claim 23

The microparticle of claim 20 in which the styrene polymer has a molecular weight of at least 1000.

Claim 24

The microparticle of claim 21 in which the styrene polymer has a molecular weight in the range of 5,000 to 50,000.

Claim 25

The microparticle of claim 14 in which the styrene polymer has only one terminal ethylenically unsaturated group.

Claim 26

A coating composition comprising a solution of a film-forming polymer in combination with polymeric microparticles which are insoluble in the film-forming polymer solution; said polymeric microparticles having an average particle size ranging from 0.1 to 10 microns being prepared by free radical addition polymerization in an organic dispersing liquid of 20 to 70 percent by weight of a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer component in 25 to 80 percent by weight of the dispersing liquid, said polymerization being conducted in the presence of 1 to 25 percent by weight of a dispersion stabilizer, the percentage by weight being based on total weight of polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer component, dispersing liquid and stabilizer, characterized in that the dispersion stabilizer is a styrene polymer containing ethylenic unsaturation in only the terminal position.

Claim 27

A coating composition comprising a solution of a film-forming polymer in combination with polymeric microparticles which are insoluble in the film-forming polymer solution; said polymeric microparticles having an average particle size ranging from 0.1 to 10 microns being prepared by free radical addition polymerization in an organic dispersing liquid of 20 to 70 percent by weight of a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer component in 25 to 80 percent by weight of the dispersing liquid, said polymerization being conducted in the presence of 1 to 25 percent by weight of a dispersion stabilizer, the percentage by weight being based on total weight of polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer component, dispersing liquid and stabilizer, characterized in that the dispersion stabilizer is a styrene polymer containing ethylenic unsaturation in only the terminal position.

Claim 28

The coating composition of claim 24 in which the polymer particles are crosslinked.

Claim 29

The coating composition of claim 25 in which the polymerizable monomer component contains a first and second ethylenically unsaturated monomer each having functionalities capable of a crosslinking reaction with one another.

Claim 30

The coating composition of claim 26 wherein the pair of reactive functionalities of said ethylenically unsaturated monomers are acid and epoxide.

Claim 31

The coating composition of claim 27 wherein the pair of ethylenically unsaturated monomers are methacrylic acid and glycidyl methacrylate.

Claim 32

The coating composition of claim 26 wherein the pair of reactive functionalities of said ethylenically unsaturated monomers are acid and epoxide.

Claim 33

The coating composition of claim 24 in which the styrene polymer is a polymer selected from the class consisting of styrene, para-methylstyrene and para-t-butylstyrene including mixtures thereof.

Claim 34

The coating composition of claim 24 in which the styrene polymer has a molecular weight of at least 1000.

Claim 35

The coating composition of claim 31 in which the styrene polymer has a molecular weight of 5,000 to 50,000.

Claim 36

The coating composition of claim 24 in which the styrene polymer has only one terminal ethylenically unsaturated group.

Claim 37

The coating composition of claim 25 which is a clear coating composition.

Claim 38

A coated article comprising a substrate and a coating containing the polymeric microparticle of claim 14 adhered thereto.

Claim 39

A coated article comprising a substrate and a pigmented base coating adhered thereto and a clear coating adhered to the pigmented base coating in which the clear coating contains the polymeric microparticle of claim 14.

Claim 40

The coated article of claim 36 in which both the pigmented base coating and the clear coating contain the polymeric microparticle of claim 14.