Bright drying finishing composition

A coating composition comprises (a) an aqueous emulsion of a water-insoluble polyvinyl resin with particles not greater than 0.6 microns; (b) one or more water-soluble non-cationic surface-active agents; (c) a plasticizer; and (d) a compatible water-soluble substance of higher boiling-point than water. The substance (d) may, if suitable, replace the plasticizer (c). The resins (a) include polyvinyl acetate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyacrylates and vinylchlorideacetate, styrene-butadiene, vinylidene chlorideacrylonitrile copolymers, and their emulsions may be stabilized by gum arabic, hydroxy-ethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, or di-n-octyl sodium sulphosuccinate. Surface active agents (b) which may be used are an oleic acid condensate of polyethylene oxide, a sodium salt of a secondary alkyl sulphate, aryl and aryl-alkyl polyether alcohols, monoethylamine, or oleic acid. Plasticizers include dioctyl phthalate, tricresyl phosphate, dibutyl phthalate, butyl phthalyl butyl glycollate, methyl phthalyl ethyl glycollate, trimethylene glycol di-2-ethyl hexoate, trimethylene glycol di-2-ethyl butyrate, and a tacky 50 per cent polyacrylic emulsion, and (d) a retarder of evaporation, may be triethanolamine, ethyl lactate, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, the oleic acid and higher fatty acid condensates with polyethylene oxide, which may also serve as component (b), and diethylene glycol diacetate and diacetin, either of which may serve as component (c). Polishable films are formed from compositions which include in addition carnauba, candelilla, montan, or petroleum waxes or ethylene glycol ethyl ether acetate or mixtures thereof with or without wax-soluble resins, e.g. congo, terpene-phenolic resin or wood rosin, while addition of the above waxes and alkali soluble resins, e.g. manila copal, shellac, and rosin-zein derivatives provides water-removable films. In numerous examples the emulsions are formed by mixing the components in specified order, the pH of 7 to 10 being obtained by addition of triethanolamine, or ammonium or alkali metal hydroxides. Porous or non-porous surfaces may be coated by brushing, dipping or spraying, and a removable type may be applied over a non-removable type film.