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Abstract

An aqueous emulsion for use in forming a sizing coating for treating a surface of a substrate. The emulsion comprises at least one polyolefin having a weight average molecular weight greater than 10,000; an acid material selected from the group consisting of saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids which do not includ any hydroxyl groups and mixtures thereof; at least one base; optionally, an emulsifying agent; and a sufficient amount of water to form an aqueous phase emulsion comprising from about 10-50% of solid materials. The emulsion is formed by combining the polyolefin with the fatty acid at a temperature higher than the melting point of the polyolefin to form a first mixture, adding to the first mixture a sufficient amount of base to neutralize the polyolefin and the fatty acid together with the water and optionally the emulsifying agent to form a second mixture; stirring the second mixture at an elevated pressure and at a temperature above the melting point of the polyolefin and subsequently cooling the mixture to a temperature below the melting point of the polyolefin. The emulsion is particularly useful as a component of a sizing for coating and protecting glass fibers for reinforcing polymeric materials.

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