Appeal No. 1998-3158
Application No. 08/467,634
Appellants claim a method for curing a recited aqueous
composition formed from a polyacid and a polyol using a
phosphorous-containing accelerator. The cured composition is
useful as a binder for nonwoven heat-resistant fabrics
(specification, page 2). Claim 10 is illustrative:
10. A method for curing polyacids comprising:
(a) forming a curable aqueous composition comprising
admixing
(1) a polyacid comprising at least two carboxylic
acid groups, anhydride groups, or salts thereof;
(2) a polyol comprising at least two hydroxyl
groups; and
(3) a phosphorous-containing accelerator;
wherein the ratio of the number of equivalents of said
carboxylic acid groups, anhydride groups, or salts thereof to
the number of equivalents of said hydroxyl groups is from
about 1/0.01 to about 1/3, and wherein said carboxylic acid
groups, anhydride groups, or salts thereof are neutralized to
an extent of less than about 35% with a fixed base, and
(b) heating said curable aqueous composition at
temperature of from about 120 C. to about 400 C. [1]
1 Appellants define “fixed base” as “a monovalent base
which is substantially non-volatile under the conditions of
the treatment such as, for example, sodium hydroxide,
potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, or t-butylammonium
hydroxide” (specification, page 12, lines 17-20). Appellants
state that “[v]olatile bases such as, for example, ammonia or
volatile lower alkyl amines, do not function as the fixed base
2
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