Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for suspension polymerization of a pressure-sensitive acrylate copolymer bead having a glass transition temperature of 0° C. or less, comprising the steps of: (a) making a monomer premix comprising (i) acrylic acid ester of non-tertiary alcohol, said alcohol having from about 1 to 14 carbon atoms, with the average number of carbon atoms being about 4 to about 12, (ii) a polar monomer copolymerizable with said acrylic acid ester, (iii) a chain transfer agent, (iv) a free-radical initiator, and (v) a modifier moiety; (b) combining said monomer premix with a water phase containing a suspension agent to form a suspension; (c) concurrently agitating said suspension and permitting polymerization of said monomer premix until copolymer beads are formed, and (d) collecting said copolymer beads, wherein said modifier moiety is a hydrophobic silica, and is present in an amount of from about 0.05 part to about 10 parts per 100 parts monomer premix.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for suspension polymerization of a pressure-sensitive acrylate copolymer bead having a glass transition temperature of 0° C. or less, comprising the steps of: (a) making a monomer premix comprising (i) acrylic acid ester of non-tertiary alcohol, said alcohol having from about 1 to 14 carbon atoms, with the average number of carbon atoms being about 4 to about 12, (ii) a polar monomer copolymerizable with said acrylic acid ester, (iii) a chain transfer agent, (iv) a free-radical initiator, and (v) a modifier moiety; (b) combining said monomer premix with a water phase containing a suspension agent to form a suspension; (c) concurrently agitating said suspension and permitting polymerization of said monomer premix until copolymer beads are formed, and (d) collecting said copolymer beads, wherein said modifier moiety is a hydrophobic silica, and is present in an amount of from about 0.05 part to about 10 parts per 100 parts monomer premix.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for suspension polymerization of a pressure-sensitive acrylate copolymer bead having a glass transition temperature of 20 C. or less, comprising the steps of: (a) making a monomer premix comprising (i) acrylic acid ester of non-tertiary alcohol, said alcohol having from about 1 to 14 carbon atoms, with the average number of carbon atoms being about 4 to about 12, (ii) a polar monomer copolymerizable with said acrylic acid ester, (iii) a chain transfer agent, (iv) a free-radical initiator, and (v) a modifier moiety; (b) combining said monomer premix with a water phase containing a suspension agent to form a suspension; (c) concurrently agitating said suspension and permitting polymerization of said monomer premix until copolymer beads are formed, and (d) collecting said copolymer beads, wherein said modifier moiety is a reactive zinc salt, and is present in an amount of from about 0.05 part to about 10 parts per 100 parts monomer premix.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for suspension polymerization of a pressure-sensitive acrylate copolymer bead having a glass transition temperature of 20 C. or less, comprising the steps of: (a) making a monomer premix comprising (i) acrylic acid ester of non-tertiary alcohol, said alcohol having from about 1 to 14 carbon atoms, with the average number of carbon atoms being about 4 to about 12, (ii) a polar monomer copolymerizable with said acrylic acid ester, (iii) a chain transfer agent, (iv) a free-radical initiator, and (v) a modifier moiety; (b) combining said monomer premix with a water phase containing a suspension agent to form a suspension; (c) concurrently agitating said suspension and permitting polymerization of said monomer premix until copolymer beads are formed, and (d) collecting said copolymer beads, wherein said modifier moiety is a reactive zinc salt, and is present in an amount of from about 0.05 part to about 10 parts per 100 parts monomer premix.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the reactive zinc salt is selected from the group consisting of zinc methacrylate and zinc acrylates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said modifier moiety comprises from about 0.05 to about 10 parts per 100 parts of the monomer premix.