Paper coatings of amphiphilic, non-water-soluble comb-branched (meth)acrylic polymers, uses thereof

A paper coating composition comprising a mineral material and:

• 1) 3 parts to 20 parts by weight of a binder per 100 parts by dry weight of mineral material,
• 2) 0.1 parts to 2 parts by weight of a polymer per 100 parts by dry weight of mineral material, and
• 3) water in a quantity by weight of between 20% and 80%, compared to the total weight of the paper coating composition,
• wherein said polymer is a polymer comprising, expressed as a % by weight of each of the monomers, polymerized units of the following monomers:
• a) 30% to 60% of at least one hydroxy- and/or methoxy-polyalkylene glycol monomer, with the formula R-(EO)m-(PO)n-R′, where:
• m and n designate integers less than or equal to 150, at least one of which is non-zero,
• EO and PO respectively designate ethylene oxide and propylene oxide,
• R designates a methacrylate or methacrylurethane function, and
• R′ designates a hydrogen radical or a methyl radical,
• b) 48% to 60% of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene and (meth)acrylic esters whose ester portion has 1 to 4 carbon atoms,
• c) 0.1% to 10% of at least one of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid,
• d) 0 to 5% of a monomer whose formula is R-(EO)m-(PO)n-R″, where:
• m and n designate integers less than or equal to 150, at least one of which is non-zero,
• EO and PO respectively designate ethylene oxide and propylene oxide,
• R designates a methacrylate or methacrylurethane function,
• R″ designates an alkyl or aryl or alkylaryl group having 8 to 32 linear or branched carbon atoms,
• e) 0 to 5% of a monomer comprising two ethylenic unsaturations,
• the sum of a), b), c), d), and e) being equal to 100%,
• wherein said polymer is non-water-soluble in acid form.