Process for preparing pulverulent polymers by drying aqueous polymer dispersions

#The present invention relates to a process for preparing pulverulent polymers by drying aqueous polymer dispersions in the presence of copolymers or salts thereof which in copolymerized form comprise ethylenically unsaturated C3-C6 carboxylic acids (monomers A) and hydroxyalkyl esters of ethylenically unsaturated C3-C6 carboxylic acids (monomers B), with or without further monomers C, as drying assistants, especially in connection with the spray drying of aqueous polymer dispersions. In addition, the present invention relates to a process for preparing polymer powders which can be redispersed in an aqueous medium, and to the redispersible polymer powders and their use.

#Aqueous polymer dispersions are used in a large number of fields, for example as binders, in particular for synthetic resin renders, highly pigmented interior paints, and coating compositions, and as adhesives or modifiers for mineral building materials. The term mineral building materials is used hereinbelow to denote building materials which essentially comprise a mineral binder, such as lime, gypsum and/or, in particular, cement, and additions such as sand or stones, and which are converted by stirring them up with water into their ready-to-use form (mineral building material preparation), which over time, in air or under water, solidifies to form a stonelike structure. Accordingly, aqueous polymer dispersions for modifying mineral building materials can be added only at the site of use. In contrast, polymer powders can be formulated together with the mineral binder, thus simplifying the preparation of the mineral building materials. Moreover, polymer powders have the advantage over dispersions that they do away with the need to transport the dispersion medium, mainly water, from the place of preparation to the site of use.

#The water-redispersible polymer powders that are required for the abovementioned purposes are obtainable in principle by drying the corresponding aqueous polymer dispersions. Examples of such drying techniques are freeze drying and spray drying. In spray drying, which is found to be particularly judicious when preparing relatively large amounts of powder, the aqueous polymer dispersion is sprayed, and the water is removed, in a stream of hot air; the air used for drying, and the sprayed dispersion, are preferably passed in cocurrent through the dryer (see for example EP-A 262 326 or EP-A 407 889).

#a) Molecular Weight

#The novel copolymers were characterized in terms of their molecular weight in the manner described above by means of gel permeation chromatography.

#b) Light Transmittance (LT)