Graft copolymer pigment dispersant

1. A pigment dispersant comprising a graft copolymer having a polymeric backbone and side chains attached to the backbone, wherein the graft copolymer is formed from a monomer mixture comprising;

a) in the range of from 2 percent to 20 percent by weight of vinyl imidazole monomer, wherein the vinyl imidazole monomer forms the backbone of the graft copolymer; and

b) in the range of from 55 percent to 85 percent by weight of a macromonomer, wherein the macromonomer forms the side chains of the graft copolymer; and

wherein the monomer mixture comprises less than 0.5 percent of acid functional monomers by weight based on the total weight of all of the monomers of the graft copolymer, wherein the macromonomer comprises polymerized ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and the percentages by weight are based on the total weight of the graft copolymer.

2. The pigment dispersant of claim 1 wherein the monomer mixture further comprises monomers free from functional groups.

3. The pigment dispersant of claim 1 wherein the monomer mixture further comprises ethylenically unsaturated monomers having functional groups wherein the functional groups are selected from the group consisting of acyclic amide, cyclic amide, amine, quaternary ammonium, hydroxyl and a combination thereof.

4. The pigment dispersant of claim 1 wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomers of the macromonomer side chains have functional groups consisting of hydroxyl groups.

5. The pigment dispersant of claim 1 wherein the monomer mixture comprises in the range of from 2 percent to 15 percent of the vinyl imidazole and 60 percent to 80 percent by weight of the macromonomer, based on the total weight of the graft copolymer.

6. A coating composition comprising a film forming polymer and a pigment dispersion, wherein the pigment dispersion comprises a pigment dispersant, organic solvent and one or more pigments, wherein said pigment dispersant comprises a graft copolymer having a polymeric backbone and side chains attached to the backbone, and wherein the graft copolymer is formed from a monomer mixture comprising;

a) in the range of from 2 percent to 20 percent by weight of vinyl imidazole monomer, wherein the vinyl imidazole monomer forms the backbone of the graft copolymer; and

b) in the range of from 55 percent to 85 percent by weight of a macromonomer, wherein the macromonomer forms the side chains of the graft copolymer; and

wherein the monomer mixture comprises less than 0.5 percent of acid functional monomers by weight based on the total weight of all of the monomers of the graft copolymer, wherein the macromonomer consists of polymerized ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and the percentages by weight are based on the total weight of the graft copolymer.

7. The coating composition of claim 6 wherein the film forming polymer comprises a crosslinkable component wherein the crosslinkable component is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, polyacrylourethanes, polyester urethanes, polyethers, polyester resins and a combination thereof.

8. The coating composition of claim 6 wherein the crosslinking component is selected from the group consisting of polyisocyanates, blocked isocyanates, alkylated melamines, epoxy resins and a combination thereof.

9. The coating composition of claim 6 wherein the pigment dispersant comprises in the range of from 2 percent to 15 percent of the vinyl imidazole and 60 percent to 80 percent by weight of the macromonomer, based on the total weight of the graft copolymer.

10. The coating composition of claim 6 wherein the monomer mixture further comprises additional ethylenically unsaturated monomers having functional groups wherein the functional groups are selected from the group consisting of acyclic amide, cyclic amide, amine, quaternary ammonium, hydroxyl and a combination thereof.

11. A pigment dispersion comprising pigment dispersant, organic solvent and one or more pigments wherein said pigment dispersant comprises a graft copolymer having a polymeric backbone and side chains attached to the backbone, wherein the graft copolymer is formed from a monomer mixture comprising;

a) in the range of from 2 percent to 20 percent by weight of vinyl imidazole monomer, wherein the vinyl imidazole monomer forms the backbone of the graft copolymer; and

b) in the range of from 55 percent to 85 percent by weight of a macromonomer, wherein the macromonomer forms the side chains of the graft copolymer; and

wherein the monomer mixture comprises less than 0.5 percent of acid functional monomers by weight based on the total weight of all of the monomers of the graft copolymer, wherein the macromonomer consists of polymerized ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and the percentages by weight are based on the total weight of the graft copolymer.

12. The pigment dispersion of claim 11 , wherein said pigments are organic pigments.

13. The pigment dispersion of claim 11 wherein said pigments are inorganic pigments selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, iron oxides, zinc oxide, carbon black, talc, china clay, barytes, carbonates, silicates and a combination thereof.

14. The pigment dispersion of claim 11 wherein the monomer mixture comprises in the range of from 2 percent to 15 percent of the vinyl imidazole and 60 percent to 80 percent by weight of the macromonomer, based on the total weight of the graft copolymer.

15. The pigment dispersion of claim 11 wherein the monomer mixture further comprises additional ethylenically unsaturated monomers having functional groups wherein the functional groups are selected from the group consisting of acyclic amide, cyclic amide, amine, quaternary ammonium, hydroxyl and a combination thereof.