Copolymer Dispersant for Paint Stability and Low VOC
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current paint and coating compositions rely on polymeric dispersants that contribute to high VOC levels and have limited shelf life due to insufficient stabilization of pigments, leading to settling and phase separation.
Innovation Solution
A copolymer obtained by radical polymerization of acrylic acid, β-carboxyethyl (meth)acrylate, alkyl (meth)acrylate, hydrophobic non-acrylic, and alkyloxy polyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate monomers, used as a dispersant in combination with pigments, providing improved stability and reduced organic solvent content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If polymeric dispersants based on acrylic acid homopolymer or copolymers are used, then pigment dispersion is achieved, but VOC content increases and shelf life is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the dispersant by incorporating β-carboxyethyl (meth)acrylate monomers with specific chain lengths (n=1-5) alongside acrylic acid and other comonomers. This chemical parameter change enables the dispersant to achieve both low VOC content and high storage stability through optimized molecular structure that provides effective pigment stabilization without requiring high levels of organic solvents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite dispersant system by copolymerizing multiple monomer types: acrylic acid (for polarity and pigment interaction), β-carboxyethyl (meth)acrylate (for stabilization and solubility control), alkyl (meth)acrylate (for hydrophobicity and dispersion), and (C1-C12)alkyloxy polyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate (for steric stabilization). This composite polymer structure achieves synergistic effects that simultaneously reduce VOC requirements and extend shelf life.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional dispersants are used, then pigment dispersion is achieved, but pigment settling occurs over time due to insufficient stabilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular parameters of the dispersant by controlling the chain length (n=1-5) of the β-carboxyethyl (meth)acrylate side chains and the overall copolymer composition ratios. These parameter changes create optimal steric and electrostatic stabilization barriers that prevent pigment aggregation and settling, extending shelf life from weeks/months to years while maintaining dispersion stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The copolymer dispersant acts as an intermediary between the pigment particles and the aqueous/organic medium. The multiple functional groups in the copolymer structure (carboxylic acid groups from acrylic acid, ester groups from (meth)acrylates, and polyethylene glycol chains) provide multifunctional stabilization mechanisms that mediate pigment-pigment and pigment-solvent interactions, preventing settling and phase separation over extended storage periods.
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 composition ensures long-term storage stability, good viscosity, and homogeneous dispersion of pigments, enabling efficient application and reducing VOC levels in paint and coating formulations.
Implementation Method 1
at least one copolymer obtainable by radical polymerization of: at least the following monomers: a) acrylic acid, b) at least one β-carboxyethyl (meth)acrylate monomer, c) at least one alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer, said alkyl radical comprising from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, d) at least one hydrophobic non-acrylic monomer, and e) at least one (C1-C12)alkyloxy polyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate monomer, in the presence of a free-radical polymerization initiator
Implementation Method 2
Dispersants are widely used in coating compositions in order to disperse said inorganic or organic pigments. The compositions according to the invention present good intrinsic physicochemical properties. It has been noted that the compositions according to the invention guarantee a good suspensibility of the pigments, even when the concentration of the latter is high. The compositions according to the invention present a high storage stability over time.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to compositions for painting and/or coating containing particular copolymer dispersants. The invention also relates to the use of a copolymer according to the invention as a dispersant in a painting, coating and/or ink composition.