| abstract |
This invention relates to a latex composition comprising water as a continuous phase and, as the dispersed phase, hydrophobic polymer particles having associated therewith an infrared polymethine dye having covalently bonded thereto a phenylenediamine moiety. It further relates to a process for associating dye with polymer particles in a latex composition comprising the steps of:(1) forming a dye solution by dissolving a polymethine dye having covalently bonded thereto a phenylenediamine moiety in a water miscible or immiscible organic solvent;(2) forming a latex by dispersing hydrophobic polymer particles in an aqueous continuous phase;(3) blending the latex with the dye solution; and(4) loading of the polymer particles by removing the organic solvent, thereby forming a latex having the polymethine dye associated therewith. |