Imidazolidinone polymers useful as nonwoven binders

Novel polymerizable imidazolidinone monomers, useful in the preparation of self-crosslinking polymers, have the general structure wherein R1 is H or a C1-C6 linear or branched alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group; X is a divalent radical selected from the group consisting of -(CH2)m-, +TR with R being H or CH3, m being 0-5, and n being 1-5; R2 is H or CH3; R3 is H or with R' as defined above; and R4 and R5 are independently H or linear or branched C1-C4 alkyl groups. In a preferred embodiment, aqueous emulsions of the imidazolidinone-containing polymers (e.g. 45-60% vinyl acetate, 34-52% butyl acrylate, and 3-6% imidazolidinone) and an acid-curing catalyst (e.g. ZnCl2) are used as formaldehyde-free binders for nonwoven textiles.