| abstract |
This invention pertains to aqueous emulsions containing water insoluble, vinyl polymer particles containing polymerized Michael adduct units of N-vinylformamide and to emulsions of vinyl acetate polymers containing said Michael adducts. These latex dispersions are prepared by the emulsion polymerization of a Michael adduct of N-vinylformamide, optionally with other ethylenically unsaturated monomers, e.g., vinyl acetate. The Michael adducts of N-vinylformamide are represented by the formula: <IMAGE> where R is H or CH3, X=CN, O=CR1, O=COR1 or other electron withdrawing group such as SO3M, SO3R1 and NO2 wherein R1 is a linear or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, arylalkyl, alkyloxy or aryl group containing between 1 and about 20 carbon atoms and substituted derivatives thereof and M is an ion. The preferred Michael adduct N-vinyl amide monomers are unsaturated monomers consisting of the alkl 3-N-vinylformamidopropionates and alkyl 2-methyl-3-N-vinylformamidopropionates and represented by the formula: <IMAGE> where R is hydrogen or methyl, and R1 is a linear or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, arylalkyl, alkyloxy or aryl group containing between 1 and about 20 carbon atoms. |