Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of carrying out an aqueous emulsion copolymerization to provide an alkali-soluble anionic copolymer having thickening characteristics while minimizing plating and grit problems comprising, copolymerizing in aqueous emulsion monoethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising from 15% to 50% by weight of carboxyl-functional monomer, at least about 5% by weight of monomer having surfactant characteristics, and the balance of the monomers being selected to provide a water insoluble copolymer in the presence of a salt of a styrene sulfonic acid said salt derived from monovalent bases in an amount of from about 0.1% up to about 6.0%, by weight.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of carrying out an aqueous emulsion copolymerization to provide an alkali-soluble anionic copolymer having thickening characteristics while minimizing plating and grit problems comprising, copolymerizing in aqueous emulsion monoethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising from 15% to 50% by weight of carboxyl-functional monomer, at least about 5% by weight of monomer having surfactant characteristics, and the balance of the monomers being selected to provide a water insoluble copolymer in the presence of a salt of a styrene sulfonic acid said salt derived from monovalent bases in an amount of from about 0.1% up to about 6.0%, by weight.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 in which the monomer having surfactant characteristics is a urethane monomer present in an amount of at least 20%, by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 in which said urethane having surfactant characteristics includes styryl unsaturation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 in which said styrene sulfonic acid is sodium styrene sulfonate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 in which said sodium styrene sulfonate is present in an amount of from 0.2% to 1.5%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 in which said sodium styrene sulfonate is present in an amount of from 0.4% to 1.0%.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 in which said carboxyl-functional monomer is present in an amount of from 20% to 45% by weight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 7 in which said monomers selected to provide a water insoluble copolymer are C 1 to C 8 alkyl esters of (meth)acrylic acid present in an amount of at least 10%.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 in which said monomers selected to provide a water insoluble copolymer are present in an amount of at least 20%.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 in which said alkyl esters of (meth)acrylic acid are constituted by ethyl acrylate present in an amount of at least 20%.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 in which at least half of said salt of styrene sulfonic acid is present in an aqueous precharge to which the remainder of said monomers is slowly added.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 in which said sulfonic acid is sodium styrene sulfonate present in an amount of from 0.2% to 1.5%.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11 in which said sulfonic acid is substantially all present in said precharge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 in which said copolymerization is carried out in the presence of an anionic surfactant.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 14 in which said anionic surfactant is a sulfosuccinate.