Water-dispersible block copolyesters

A linear, water-dispersible, sulfopolyester having a Tg of -20.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. and an inherent viscosity of 0.1 to 1.1 dl/g comprising:

• (A) 85 to 100 mole percent, based on total moles of acid, of a dicarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of succinic, glutaric, adipic, azelaic, sebacic, fumaric, maleic, itaconic, 1,3-cyclohexane dicarboxylic, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic, diglycolic, 2,5-norbornanedicarboxylic, phthalic, terephthalic, 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic, 2,5-naphthalenedicarboxylic, diphenic, 4,4'-oxydibenzoic, 4,4'-sulfonyldibenzoic, isophthalic, and mixtures thereof;
• (B) 2.5 to 20 mole percent, based on total moles of acid and glycol, of a difunctional sulfomonomer selected from the group consisting of a dicarboxylic acid or ester thereof containing a metal sulfonate group bonded directly to an aromatic ring, a diol containing a metal sulfonate group bonded directly to an aromatic ring, and a hydroxy acid containing a metal sulfonate group bonded directly to an aromatic ring;
• (C) 0.1 to 10 mole percent, based on total moles of glycol, of a high molecular weight polyethylene glycol having the structure:
• H--(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.n --OH
• wherein n is 20 to 500, and the mole percent of the high molecular weight polyethylene glycol within said range is inversely proportional to the quantity of n within said range;
• (D) 25 to 99.9 mole percent, based on total moles of glycol, of a low molecular weight polyethylene glycol selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, pentaethylene glycol, and hexaethylene glycol;
• the sulfopolyester containing substantially equal molar proportions of acid equivalents (100 mole percent) and glycol equivalents (100 mole percent).

A linear, water-dispersible, sulfopolyester having a Tg of -20.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. and an inherent viscosity of 0.1 to 1.1 dl/g comprising:

• (A) 85 to 100 mole percent, based on total moles of acid, of a dicarboxylic acid which does not contain a metal sulfonate group, said dicarboxylic acid being selected from the group consisting of aromatic dicarboxylic acids having 8 to 14 carbon atoms, saturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having 4 to 12 carbon atoms, and cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acids having 8 to 12 carbon atoms;
• (B) 2.5 to 20 mole percent, based on total moles of acid and glycol, of a difunctional sulfomonomer selected from the group consisting of a dicarboxylic acid or ester thereof containing a metal sulfonate group bonded directly to an aromatic ring, a diol containing a metal sulfonate group bonded directly to an aromatic ring, and a hydroxy acid containing a metal sulfonate group bonded directly to an aromatic ring;
• (C) 0.1 to 10 mole percent, based on total moles of glycol, of a high molecular weight polyethylene glycol having the structure:
• H--(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.n --OH
• wherein n is 20 to 500, and the mole percent of the high molecular weight polyethylene glycol within said range is inversely proportional to the quantity of n within said range;
• (D) 25 to 99.9 mole percent, based on total moles of glycol, of a low molecular weight polyethylene glycol selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, pentaethylene glycol, and hexaethylene glycol;
• and
• (E) 0.1 to 74.9 mole percent, based on total moles of glycol, of a glycol which is not polyethylene glycol, said glycol being selected from the group consisting of cycloaliphatic glycols having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, aliphatic glycols having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof;
• the sulfopolyester containing substantially equal molar proportions of acid equivalents (100 mole percent) and glycol equivalents (100 mole percent).

A fibrous article sized with a sizing composition comprising a linear, water-dispersible, sulfopolyester having a dry Tg of 35.degree. C. to 50.degree. C. and an inherent viscosity of 0.1 to 1.1 dl/g comprising repeat units from:

• (A) 85 to 100 mole percent, based on total moles of acid, of a dicarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and mixtures thereof;
• (B) 2.5 to 20 mole percent, based on total moles of acid and glycol, of a difunctional sulfomonomer selected from the group consisting of a dicarboxylic acid or ester thereof containing a metal sulfonate group bonded directly to an aromatic ring, and a diol containing a metal sulfonate group bonded directly to an aromatic ring;
• (C) 0.1 to 5 mole percent, based on total moles of glycol, of a high molecular weight polyethylene glycol having the structure:
• H--(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.n --OH
• wherein n is 20 to 100, and the mole percent of the high molecular weight polyethylene glycol within said range is inversely proportional to the quantity of n within said range;
• (D) 25 to 99.9 mole percent, based on total moles of glycol, of a low molecular weight polyethylene glycol selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, pentaethylene glycol, and hexaethylene glycol;
• (E) 25 to 74.9 mole percent, based on total moles of glycol, of a glycol which is not polyethylene glycol, said glycol being selected from the group consisting of cycloaliphatic glycols having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, aliphatic glycols having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof;
• the sulfopolyester containing substantially equal molar proportions of acid equivalents (100 mole percent) and glycol equivalents (100 mole percent).