Comb Polymer Salt Groups for Low-Viscosity Pigment Dispersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for polymers suitable as wetting and dispersing agents that provide low viscosity, good storage stability, broad compatibility with different binders, and improved developing properties for water-borne and organic solvent-based pigment dispersions, particularly for color resists in flat panel displays, without requiring sensitive polymerization techniques.
Innovation Solution
A comb polymer with alkyl ether terminated polyalkylene oxide side chains and tertiary amine-functional side chains, where the tertiary amine groups are partly neutralized by acids of specific molecular weights, is used as a wetting and dispersing agent, allowing for easy preparation from readily available raw materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional polymerization techniques are used to prepare dispersants, then polymer performance can be optimized, but the preparation process becomes complex and sensitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-synthesizing the comb polymer with all necessary functional groups (polyalkylene oxide side chains and tertiary amine groups) before the dispersing application. The tertiary amine groups are then neutralized with carboxylic acids to form the final dispersing agent structure. This preliminary preparation of the complex polymer structure avoids the need for sensitive polymerization techniques during actual dispersant preparation, as the polymer backbone and side chains are already in place and only require simple neutralization reactions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If pigment dispersions use conventional dispersants, then dispersion can be achieved, but viscosity remains high and storage stability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical structure parameters of the dispersing agent through controlled neutralization of tertiary amine groups with carboxylic acids. By adjusting the molecular weight of the acid (100-2000 g/mol) and the degree of neutralization (at least 50%), the patent optimizes the balance between dispersion capability and viscosity. The specific parameter ranges for acid molecular weight and neutralization extent directly control the resulting dispersion viscosity and storage stability, allowing tuning of these properties without changing the fundamental polymer structure.
3Reliability
If dispersants are designed for specific applications, then performance is optimized, but compatibility with different binders is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a comb polymer structure with polyalkylene oxide side chains that provide broad chemical compatibility across different binder types (water-borne and organic solvent-based). The tertiary amine-functional side chains can be neutralized with various carboxylic acids to create dispersants that work with multiple pigment and binder combinations. This multi-functional structure allows the same base polymer to serve as an effective dispersing agent across different application domains, including coating compositions and color resists for flat panel displays, without requiring application-specific polymer formulations.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a comb polymer having a polymer backbone and lateral side chains linked to the polymer backbone, wherein the lateral side chains comprise a) alkyl ether terminated polyalkylene oxide side chains, and b) tertiary amine-functional side chains, wherein the tertiary amine groups are at least partly neutralized by an acid having a molecular weight in the range of 100 g/mol to 2000 g/mol, wherein the molecular weight relates to the number average molecular weight Mn in the case of polymeric acids, and wherein the lateral side chains a) and b) are distributed in random order.