Associative Thickener Copolymer Transparency Viscosity

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for associative thickeners that maintain high transparency in surfactant-containing formulations and provide high thickening performance with simultaneous high shear thinning, especially in transparent viscous liquid detergents and cleaning compositions.

Innovation Solution

An aqueous dispersion of a copolymer containing polymerized units of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, nonionic ethylenically unsaturated surfactant monomer, C1-C2 alkyl methacrylate, and C2-C4 alkyl acrylate, with specific average alkyl chain lengths, which forms an associative network for enhanced transparency and viscosity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional associative thickeners are used in surfactant-containing formulations, then thickening performance is achieved, but transparency is reduced due to clouding

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetransparencyVSAvoidthickening performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the thickener by using a copolymer with specifically controlled composition (20-70% acrylic acid, 10-50% alkyl acrylate with average chain length 2.1-4.0, and 5-30% alkyl methacrylate). This compositional parameter change allows the thickener to maintain transparency while providing adequate thickening performance in surfactant-containing formulations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite polymer structure combining multiple monomer types (acrylic acid, alkyl acrylate, and alkyl methacrylate) in specific ratios. This composite material approach enables the thickener to simultaneously achieve transparency and thickening performance by combining the properties of different polymer components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Force

If thickener concentration is increased to achieve high thickening effect, then viscosity at rest increases, but viscosity under shear force also increases instead of decreasing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviscosity at restVSAvoidviscosity under shear

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a dynamic viscosity system where the copolymer thickener exhibits shear-thinning behavior. The polymer chains form weak associations at rest providing high viscosity, but these associations break down under shear force allowing easy flow. This dynamic response is achieved through the specific copolymer composition and associative thickening mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If ionic strength is increased in formulations, then surfactant performance is enhanced, but flocculation or sedimentation occurs reducing stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformulation stabilityVSAvoidflocculation and sedimentation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of high ionic strength into a beneficial feature. The copolymer composition, particularly the balance between charged acrylic acid units and hydrophobic alkyl groups, allows the thickener to remain stable and effective in high ionic strength environments, preventing flocculation while maintaining thickening performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The copolymer achieves high transparency and thickening performance while maintaining stability under high ionic strength, preventing flocculation or sedimentation, and allows for precise viscosity adjustment in liquid detergents and cleaning agents.

Implementation Method 1

Associative thickeners are water-soluble polymers and have surfactant-like hydrophobic components which are able to associate, i.e. interact, with themselves as well as with other hydrophobic substances in a hydrophilic, especially aqueous medium. The resulting associative network causes the medium to thicken or gel.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobic association: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 2

thickeners are desirable that give the thickened medium a very high viscosity when at rest and a low viscosity when exposed to high shear forces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShear thinning: Shear Thinning

Data Source

PatentEP2178933B1Associative thickener dispersion

Publication Date: 2014.01.08 BASF SE

AI summary

The invention relates to an aqueous dispersion of a copolymer incorporating by polymerization units of a) at least one ethylene unsaturated carbonic acid, b) at least one non-ionic ethylene unsaturated tenside monomer, c) at least one C1-C2-alkylmethacrylate, d) at least one C2-C4-alkylacrylate, the alkyl chain length averaged over the number of alkyl groups of the alkylacrylate being 2.1 to 4.0. After neutralization using alkali, the dispersion serves as an associative thickener, particularly for liquid washing and cleaning agent formulations. The thickeners are characterized by high transparency and high thickening effectiveness at simultaneously high shear dilution.