| abstract |
According to the present invention, curable compositions comprising (i) one or more polyacid containing at least two carboxylic acid groups, anhydride groups, or salts thereof; (ii), optionally, one or more polyol containing at least two hydroxyl groups; and (iii) one or more reactive β-hydroxyamide group containing polyol, which is the reaction product of a lactone or cyclic ester and an alkanolamine, of the following formula (I): n n n in which, R and R″ independently represent H, or any monovalent C 1 to C 18 linear or branched alkyl radical, which radical may comprise one or two aryl or cycloalkyl group, one or more hydroxyl, amine, thiol, amide, carboxyl or alkenyl group, or combinations thereof; R′ represents either a covalent bond or a divalent C 1 to C 5 alkylene radical where the alkylene radical may bear alkyl group substituents; y is the integer 1 or 2; x is 0 or 1, such that (x+y)=2; wherein the ratio of the number of equivalents of said carboxylic acid groups, anhydride groups, or salts thereof to the number of equivalents of said hydroxyl groups is from 1/0.01 to 1/3. The curable compositions of the present invention provide less corrosive, low energy curing binders. Further, the present invention provides methods to use the compositions as aqueous binders for composites, nonwoven and woven substrates, and the products produced thereby. |