Raw Cotton Linter Ether Thickeners for Water-Borne Coatings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current water-borne coating technologies face challenges in achieving cost-effective thickening while maintaining desired rheological and aesthetic properties, as high-cost cellulose ethers from purified cotton linters are expensive and environmentally hazardous to process, and low-cost alternatives like polyacrylates are not suitable for durable coatings.

Innovation Solution

Ether derivatives of raw cotton linters are used as thickeners, which offer superior thickening efficiency and rheological properties comparable to those from purified cotton linters, reducing processing costs and environmental impact by avoiding extensive purification processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cellulose ethers from purified cotton linters are used as thickeners, then desired rheological properties are achieved, but manufacturing cost increases and environmental harm increases due to extensive purification processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverheological propertiesVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and utilizes the valuable thickening properties of cotton linters while eliminating the need for extensive purification processes. By using raw cotton linters directly as the starting material for producing cellulose ether derivatives, the process removes the costly and environmentally harmful purification steps while maintaining the essential rheological performance characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs raw cotton linters, a low-cost and readily available material, as the starting point for thickener production. This approach replaces expensive purified cotton linters with a cheaper, more accessible raw material that can be processed directly into effective thickeners without requiring extensive purification infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If cellulose ethers from purified cotton linters are used as thickeners, then desired rheological properties are achieved, but environmental harm increases due to extensive purification processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverheological propertiesVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If low-cost thickeners like polyacrylates are used, then manufacturing cost decreases, but coating durability worsens due to water-sensitive films

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidcoating durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the thickener by producing cellulose ether derivatives from raw cotton linters. This compositional change results in thickeners that form water-resistant films, thereby improving coating durability and resistance to environmental factors like rain and humidity, while maintaining cost-effectiveness through the use of raw rather than purified starting materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Quantity of substance

If hydrophobically modified water-soluble polymers are used, then thickening efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethickening efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates composite thickener structures by producing cellulose ether derivatives with hydrophobic modifications directly from raw cotton linters. This approach combines the high thickening efficiency of hydrophobically modified polymers with the cost advantages of using raw, unprocessed cotton linters as the base material, achieving a balance between performance and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Ether derivatives of raw cotton linters provide enhanced thickening efficiency and maintain the desired rheological and aesthetic properties of coatings, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for water-borne coatings, with improved thickening efficiency and consistent color.

Implementation Method 1

This invention relates to thickening aqueous or water-borne coating systems using polymeric systems

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolymeric thickening:

Implementation Method 2

Functions of the water-soluble polymers in water-borne coatings include adding viscosity to the coatings, maintaining the viscosity during storage, and providing desired rheological properties during application of the coatings

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRheological control:

Data Source

PatentUS7932309B2Ether derivatives of raw cotton linters for water-borne coatings

Publication Date: 2011.04.26 HERCULES LLC

AI summary

A water-borne coating composition containing an ether derivative of raw cotton linters (RCL), a latex polymer, and water in which the ether derivative RCL provides improved rheological properties when compared to analogous cellulose ether compounds produced from more refined cellulose sources while not substantially degrading the coating composition's aesthetic qualities.