Wall papering adhesive

1. A water-removable composition for activating a pre-paste adhesive or affixing a wall covering to a surface, comprising: water, an alkali, an alkali-soluble polyvinyl acetate-crotonic acid copolymer, a thickener, and a glycol, wherein said composition is an aqueous colloidal dispersion or polymeric solution comprising from about 2.5 to about 25% by weight of said copolymer, from about 3% to about 30% by weight of solids, and from about 97% to about 70% by weight non-solids,

wherein the composition has a pH of from 8–11, and

wherein the composition, after application as a film to and drying on the surface of a substrate, is removable by washing with water.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said composition comprises from about 2.5% to about 6% by weightof the polyvinyl acetate-crotonic acid copolymer, from about 6% to about 9% by weight solids, and from about 94% to about 91% by weight non-solids.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein said composition comprises from about 15% to about 25% by weight of the polyvinyl acetate-crotonic acid copolymer, from about 18% to 30% by weight solids, and from about 82% to about 70% by weight non-solids.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the alkali is selected from the group consisting of an amino alcohol and a lower amine.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the thickener is an alkali swellable emulsion.

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the thickener is a polysaccharide.

7. The composition of claim 6 wherein the polysaccharide is cellulose, starch, guar, or modified guar.

8. The composition of claim 1 wherein the copolymer has an acid number of about 35 to 45, a melt point of about 80–145° C., and molecular weight (Mw) of about 35,000 to 100,000 g/mole.

9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the glycol has a backbone which comprises fewer than 4 carbon atoms.

10. The composition of claim 1 wherein said composition comprises an alcohol comprising from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or ethyl acetate, or both.

11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises a surfactant.

12. The composition of claim 1 wherein the alkali is an inorganic base.

13. The composition of claim 1 wherein the alkalai is an organic base.

14. A water removable composition for activating a pre-paste adhesive, the composition consisting essentially of:

water, an alkali, an alkali-soluble polyvinyl acetate-crotonic acid copolymer, a thickener, and a glycol, wherein said composition is an aqueous polymeric solution comprising from about 2.5% to about 6% by molecular weight of the polyvinyl acetate-crotonic acid copolymer, from about 6% to about 9% by molecular weight solids, and from about 94% to about 91% by molecular weight non-solids,

wherein the composition has a pH of from 8–11,

wherein the composition, after application to and drying on the surface of a substrate, is removable by washing with water.

15. A water-removable composition for affixing a heavy-gauge, non-pre-pasted wall covering to an underlying surface consisting essentially of:

water, an alkali, an alkali-soluble polyvinyl acetate-crotonic acid copolymer, a thickener, and a glycol, wherein said composition is an aqueous colloidal dispersion or polymeric solution comprising from about 15% to about 25% by weight of the polyvinyl acetate-crotonic acid copolymer, from about 18% to 30% solids, and from about 82% to about 70% non-solids,

wherein the composition has a viscosity over 100,000 centipoise,

wherein the composition, after application to and drying on the surface of a substrate, is removable by washing with water, and

wherein the composition has sufficient adhesive strength to affix the heavy gauge non-prepasted wall covering to a wall, or ceiling.