Polymer dispersions based on vinyl addition, epoxy, polyurethane, alkyd, polyester and other chemistries, represent a very large and growing coating materials segment. Vinyl addition emulsion polymers based on acrylics, styrene acrylics and vinyl acrylic chemistries represent the single largest polymer dispersion category employed in coating applications and are most commonly used as binders in coating formulations along with pigments, rheology modifiers, dispersants and other ingredients. These materials are so ubiquitous because they combine performance with low cost and environmentally friendly “low VOC” low solvent or solvent-free coating capability. Emulsion polymer technology has evolved rapidly in the past decades to meet increasingly stringent VOC regulations and customer expectations, provide unique and valuable customer and consumer features and provide an environmentally friendly water-based option for demanding industrial, aftermarket, and maintenance and packaging applications.