Repulpable hot melt polymer/wax compositions for fibrous products

A method of rendering fibrous articles water-resistant that comprises the steps of

• heating a hot melt polymer/wax composition that is dispersible in a heated nearly neutral to alkaline aqueous pH medium comprising
• A. from about 20% to 97.5% by weight based upon the total weight of the composition of a water-repellent wax that is a solid at 20.degree. C.;
• B. from about 2.5% to 50% by weight based upon the total weight of the composition of at least one addition polymer of from about 50 to 95 mole percent of at least one ethylenically-unsaturated dicarboxylic acid monomer selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid containing two free carboxyl groups and an ethylene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid anhydride having two carboxyl groups in the form of an anhydride group, and from about 5 to 50 mole percent of at least one additional ethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from the group consisting of 1-alkenes having from about 4 to 60 carbon atoms, and
• C. optionally, up to about 77.5% by weight based upon the total weight of the composition of at least one fatty acid selected from the group consisting of natural or synthetic fatty acids containing from about 12 to 48 carbon atoms, wherein the fatty acid is compatible with the polymer and wax, the total amount of wax, polymer and fatty acid comprising 100% of the total composition and the polymer is at least 2.5% by weight of the total composition, wherein the composition is a solid at 20.degree. C., but starts to become fluid between about 50.degree. C. and 95.degree. C. until it becomes fluid,
• applying to a fibrous article an amount of the fluid heated composition that is effective to render it water-resistant, and
• allowing the composition to cool to room temperature to form a coated fibrous article having a solid coating that is removable upon exposure of the coated fibrous article to a heated nearly neutral to alkaline pH medium.

A method of rendering fibrous articles water-resistant that comprises the steps of

• heating a hot melt polymer/fatty acid composition that is dispersible in a heated nearly neutral to alkaline aqueous pH medium comprising
• A. from about 10% to 90% by weight based upon the total weight of the composition of paraffin wax;
• B. from about 5% to 30% by weight based upon the total weight of the composition of at least one addition polymer of from about 50 to 95 mole percent of maleic anhydride and from about 5 to 50 mole percent of at least one additional ethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from the group consisting of 1-alkenes having from about 10 to 28 carbon atoms, and
• C. from about 5% to 60% by weight based upon the total weight of the composition of stearic acid, the total amount of wax, polymer and stearic acid comprising 100% of the total composition and the polymer is at least 2.5% by weight of the total composition, wherein the composition is a solid at 20.degree. C. but starts to become fluid between about 50.degree. C. and 95.degree. C., until it becomes fluid,
• applying to a fibrous article an amount of the fluid heated composition that is effective to render it water-resistant, and
• allowing the composition to cool to room temperature to form a coated fibrous article having a solid coating that is removable upon exposure of the coated fibrous article to a heated nearly neutral to alkaline pH medium.

A method of rendering fibrous articles water-resistant that comprises the steps of

• heating a hot melt polymer/fatty acid composition that is dispersible in a heated nearly neutral to alkaline aqueous pH medium comprising
• A. from about 10% to 90% by weight based upon the total weight of the composition of paraffin wax;
• B. from about 5% to 30% by weight based upon the total weight of the composition of at least one addition polymer of from about 50 to 95 mole percent of maleic anhydride and from about 5 to 50 mole percent of at least one additional ethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from the group consisting of 1-alkenes having from about 10 to 28 carbon atoms, and
• C. from about 5% to 60% by weight based upon the total weight of the composition of stearic acid, the total amount of wax, polymer and stearic acid comprising 100% of the total composition and the polymer is at least 2.5% by weight of the total composition, wherein the composition is a solid at 20.degree. C., but starts to become fluid between about 50.degree. C. and 95.degree. C. and wherein from about 5 to about 30 mole percent of anhydride groups present in the polymer are reacted with taurine, until it becomes fluid,
• applying to a fibrous article an amount of the fluid heated composition that is effective to render it water-resistant, and
• allowing the composition to cool to room temperature to form a coated fibrous article having a solid coating that is removable upon exposure of the coated fibrous article to a heated nearly neutral to alkaline pH medium.

A method of rendering fibrous articles water-resistant that comprises the steps of

• heating a hot melt polymer/wax composition that is dispersible in a heated nearly neutral to alkaline aqueous pH medium comprising
• A. from about 20% to 97.5% by weight based upon the total weight of the composition of a water-repellent wax that is a solid at 20.degree. C.;
• B. from about 2.5% to 50% by weight based upon the total weight of the composition of at least one addition polymer selected from the group consisting of
• (i) a polymer of from about 5 to 95 mole percent of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid monomer containing a free carboxyl group and from about 5 to 95 mole percent of at least one additional ethylenically unsaturated monomer,
• (ii) a polymer of from about 50 to 95 mole percent of at least one ethylenically-unsaturated dicarboxylic acid monomer selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid containing two free carboxyl groups and an ethylene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid anhydride having two carboxyl groups in the form of an anhydride group, and from about 5 to 50 mole percent of at least one additional ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and
• (iii) a polymer of a total of from about 5 to 95 mole percent of (a) at least one of the ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid monomers and (b) at least one of the ethylenically-unsaturated dicarboxylic monomers and from about 5 to 95 mole percent of at least one additional ethylenically unsaturated monomer, wherein the additional ethylenically unsaturated monomer is selected from the group consisting of 1-alkenes having from about 4 to 60 carbon atoms;
• alkyl vinyl ethers having an ether alkyl group of from about 8 to 60 carbon atoms, and alkyl acrylates or alkyl methacrylates having an alkyl group of from about 8 to 60 carbon atoms, wherein the polymer is compatible with the water-repellent wax;
• and
• C. optionally, up to about 77.5% by weight based upon the total weight of the composition of at least one fatty acid selected from the group consisting of natural or synthetic fatty acids containing from about 12 to 48 carbon atoms, wherein the fatty acid is compatible with the polymer and wax, the total amount of wax, polymer and fatty acid comprising 100% of the total composition and the polymer is at least 2.5% by weight of the total composition, wherein the composition is a solid at 20.degree. C., but starts to become fluid between about 50.degree. C. and 95.degree. C., until it becomes fluid,
• impregnating a fibrous article with an amount of the fluid heated composition that is effective to render it water-resistant, and
• allowing the composition to cool to room temperature to form an impregnated fibrous article having a binder of the composition that is removable upon exposure of the impregnated fibrous article to a heated nearly neutral to alkaline pH medium.