Cationic Polymer Stabilizers for Bitumen Emulsions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bitumen emulsions, particularly cationic rapid-setting types, face challenges in incorporating negatively charged minerals due to disruption of emulsifier charges, leading to emulsion breakage and instability, limiting their application and performance.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of cationic polymer stabilizers and surfactants into bitumen-in-water emulsions, allowing for the direct formulation of stable cationic emulsions compatible with negatively charged minerals, such as clays, by using cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, or their mixtures with non-ionic surfactants, and natural or synthetic cationic polymers like alkylene polyamines or polyquaternary polymers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If cationic emulsifiers are used in cationic emulsions to achieve positive charge on bitumen droplets, then the emulsion can be formulated with desired properties, but the addition of negatively charged minerals disrupts the emulsifier charge and causes emulsion breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemulsion compatibility with mineralsVSAvoidemulsion stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A polymer stabilizer with both cationic and anionic functional groups is introduced as an intermediary between the cationic emulsifier and negatively charged minerals. The cationic groups interact with the emulsifier while the anionic groups interact with the minerals, mediating the interaction to prevent charge disruption and emulsion breakage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite polymer stabilizer that combines both cationic and anionic functional groups in a single molecule. This composite structure allows simultaneous interaction with both the cationic emulsifier system and the negatively charged minerals, resolving the charge compatibility issue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If high levels of cationic emulsifier are added to make cationic emulsions compatible with minerals, then mineral compatibility improves, but the emulsion grade changes from rapid-setting to slow-setting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemineral compatibilityVSAvoidsetting rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of changing the emulsifier concentration (which would alter setting rate), the invention changes the chemical parameters of the stabilizer by introducing a polymer with dual cationic and anionic functional groups. This allows mineral compatibility without affecting the emulsion grade or setting rate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If negatively charged minerals are added to cationic emulsions to achieve mineral modified bitumen, then the cured residue becomes more durable, but the emulsion breaks and becomes unstable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability of cured residueVSAvoidemulsion stability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The polymer stabilizer acts as an intermediary that bridges the cationic emulsion system and negatively charged minerals. The dual-functional polymer prevents direct charge interaction that would cause breakage, while still allowing the minerals to be incorporated for durability benefits in the cured residue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 compositions enhance emulsion stability, reduce particle size, increase viscosity, and enable the direct formulation of stable cationic emulsions with minerals, preventing breakage and improving storage and application properties, especially for cationic rapid-setting emulsions.

Implementation Method 1

the polymer stabilizer is a natural or synthetic cationic polymer consisting of alkylene polyamines, alkyl polyamines, polyquaternary polymers, polyvinylamine, polyvinylimidazoline, polyester polyquaternary polymers, polyether polyquaternary polymers, or mixtures thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

the emulsifier is a cationic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, a mixture of both, or their mixtures with non-ionic surfactants

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Implementation Method 3

Emulsions can also be classified into cationic or anionic types depending on the charge on the bitumen droplets

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic repulsion: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Data Source

PatentEP3227391B1Polymer stabilizers for bituminous emulsions

Publication Date: 2018.07.11 AKZO NOBEL CHEMICALS INTERNATIONAL BV

AI summary

A mineral-compatible cationic emulsion composition with polymer stabilizers, and methods for utilizing same in paving and other applications is disclosed. In one aspect, a bitumen-in-water emulsion composition includes at least one bitumen material, at least one polymer stabilizer, at least one emulsifier, and water, where the emulsifier is a cationic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, or a mixture of both, and the polymer stabilizer is a natural or synthetic cationic polymer consisting of alkylene polyamines, alkyl polyamines, polyquaternary polymers, polyvinylamine, polyvinylimidazoline, polyester polyquaternary polymers, polyether polyquaternary polymers, or mixtures thereof. The inclusion of polymer stabilizer in the cationic emulsion increases the stability of the emulsion and increases the compatibility of the cationic emulsion with negatively charged minerals.