Process for producing self-stabilizing dispersion copolymer providing opacity to aqueous formulations

1. A manufacturing process for a producing self-stabilizing dispersion copolymer comprising:

polymerizing a hydrophobic moiety and a water-soluble acid-containing monomer in the presence of one or more water-miscible solvents and one or more neutralizing agents, and

removing the one or more water-miscible solvents from the solution,

wherein the self-stabilizing dispersion comprises at least one polymerizable acid-containing moiety, wherein the at least one acid-containing moiety is at least partially neutralized before or during polymerization, and at least one hydrophobic moiety wherein the copolymer provides opacity to aqueous formulations.

2. The manufacturing process according to claim 1 wherein the neutralizing agent further comprises NaOH, KOH, Ca(OH) 2 , Mg(OH) 2 , Zn(OH) 2 , ammonia, diethanol amine, monoethanol amine, triethanolamine, morpholine, the lower alkyl amines, lower alkanol amines, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, N-methyl morpholine, ethylene diamine or combinations thereof.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the at least one polymerizable acid-containing moiety is selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, α-chloro-acrylic acid, α-cyano acrylic acid, β-methyl-acrylic acid (crotonic acid), α-phenyl acrylic acid, β-acryloxy propionic acid, sorbic acid, α-chloro sorbic acid, angelic acid, cinnamic acid, p-chloro cinnamic acid, β-styryl acrylic acid (1-carboxy-4-phenyl butadiene-1,3), itaconic acid, citraconic acid, mesaconic acid, glutaconic acid, aconitic acid, fumaric acid, tricarboxy ethylene, 2-acryloxypropionic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid, vinyl sulfonic acid, vinyl phosphonic acid, sodium methallyl sulfonate, sulfonated styrene, allyloxybenzene sulfonic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride and combinations thereof.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein the the acid-containing moiety is acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid or mixtures thereof.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the at least one hydrophobic moiety is prepared from at least one hydrophobic monomer, at least one chain transfer agent or combinations thereof.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein the at least one hydrophobic monomer is selected from the group consisting of styrene, a-methyl styrene, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, behenyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, octyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate, stearyl methacrylate, behenyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylamide, octyl acrylamide, lauryl acrylamide, stearyl acrylamide, behenyl acrylamide, propyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, pentyl acrylate, hexyl acrylate, 1-vinyl naphthalene, 2-vinyl naphthalene, 3-methyl styrene, 4-propyl styrene, t-butyl styrene, 4-cyclohexyl styrene, 4-dodecyl styrene, 2-ethyl-4-benzyl styrene, 4-(phenylbutyl) styrene and combinations thereof.

7. The process of claim 5 wherein the at least one hydrophobic monomer is selected from the group consisting of siloxane, saturated or unsaturated alkyl, and alkoxy group, aryl and aryl-alkyl group, alkyl sulfonate, aryl sulfonate and combinations thereof.

8. The process of claim 5 wherein the at least one chain transfer comprises 1 to 24 carbon atoms and wherein the chain transfer agent is selected from the group consisting of mercaptan, amine, alcohol, α-olefin, and combinations thereof.

9. A personal care formulation comprising the self-stabilizing dispersion copolymer of claim 1 .

10. A detergent comprising a self-stabilizing dispersion comprising at least one polymerizable acid-containing moiety, wherein the at least one acid-containing moiety is at least partially neutralized before or during polymerization, and at least one hydrophobic moiety.