Patent attributes
The present invention relates to a process for preparing an aqueous polymer dispersion containing polymer particles dispersed in an aqueous medium. The process includes providing first polymer particles; adding a hydrophobic polymerization blocker or a styrenic monomer polymerization blocker to the aqueous medium containing the first polymer particles; and preparing second polymer particles in the presence of the first polymer particles. The aqueous polymer dispersion contain first polymer particles and the second polymer that differ according to at least one attribute such as particle diameter, molecular weight, composition, glass transition temperature, or morphology; or contain polymer particles having a broad polydispersity. The aqueous polymer dispersion prepared by the process of this invention is useful in a wide range of applications, including paints, adhesive, binders for nonwovens, and binders for paper coatings.
