Method for preparing graft copolymers and compositions produced therefrom

A method of making a graft copolymer comprising:

• (a) forming a macromonomer aqueous emulsion comprising one or more water-insoluble particles of macromonomer, wherein the macromonomer comprises polymerized units of a first ethylenically unsaturated monomer, the macromonomer further having
• (i) a degree of polymerization of from 10 to 1000,
• (ii) at least one terminal ethylenically unsaturated group,
• (iii) less than 5 weight percent polymerized acid-containing monomer, and
• (iv) less than one mole percent of polymerized mercaptan-olefin compounds;
• (b) forming a monomer composition comprising at least one second ethylenically unsaturated monomer;
• and
• (c) combining at least a portion of the macromonomer aqueous emulsion and at least a portion of the monomer composition to form a polymerization reaction mixture and polymerizing the macromonomer with the second ethylenically unsaturated monomer in the presence of an initiator to produce a copolymer composition comprising graft copolymer particles.