Crosslinked Copolymer Thickener for High-pH Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rheology modifiers used in aqueous cleaning products and personal care items fail to maintain stability and favorable rheological properties at high pH values, particularly above 10, which is necessary for industrial and some personal care applications.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous compositions containing 0.1% to 5% of a crosslinked copolymer with specific ratios of (meth)acrylic acid, C2-C4 alkyl (meth)acrylate, lipophilically modified (meth)acrylate residues, and a crosslinker without ester or amide functionality, designed to maintain stability and rheological properties at pH levels of at least 10.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional rheology modifiers (acrylic emulsion polymers) are used, then the product achieves good stability and favorable rheological properties at near-neutral pH, but the product fails to maintain stability and rheological properties at high pH values (pH ≥ 10)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the polymer by incorporating specific monomer ratios (20-65% acrylic acid, 10-80% C2-C4 alkyl (meth)acrylate, 2-25% lipophilically modified (meth)acrylate) and using crosslinkers without ester or amide groups, enabling the thickener to maintain stability at high pH while achieving the desired rheological properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite polymer structure combining multiple monomer types with specific functional groups (carboxylic acid, ester, lipophilic modifications) and crosslinking agents, forming a copolymer that exhibits both high-pH stability and appropriate rheological behavior for industrial cleaning applications
2Reliability
If the copolymer contains high content of acrylic acid residues (2.5% to 65%), then the pH stability is improved, but the complexity of polymer synthesis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the compositional parameters within specific ranges (2.5-65% acrylic acid, 10-80% C2-C4 alkyl (meth)acrylate, 2-25% lipophilically modified (meth)acrylate) to achieve pH stability while maintaining manageable synthesis complexity through defined formulation windows
3Reliability
If the copolymer is highly crosslinked, then the rheological stability at high pH is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the crosslinking degree and composition within specific parameter ranges, selecting crosslinkers without ester or amide functionality and adjusting crosslinker content to achieve optimal rheological stability while maintaining practical manufacturing precision through defined compositional windows
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 solution provides pH-stable high viscosities at low shear rates and low viscosities at high shear rates, ensuring effective performance in high-pH applications such as hard surface cleaners and depilatories, while maintaining stability and clarity.
Implementation Method 1
rheology modifiers are used in aqueous cleaning products, including for example, shampoo, to increase viscosity at low shear rates while maintaining flow properties of the product at higher shear rates
Implementation Method 2
rheology modifiers can provide effective, heat-age stable suspensions of particulate material or beads dispersed in the aqueous phase
Data Source
AI summary
An aqueous composition having a pH of at least 10, and comprising from 0.1% to 5% of at least one crosslinked copolymer comprising from 2.5% to 65% (meth)acrylic acid residues, from 10% to 80% C2-C4 alkyl (meth)acrylate residues, from 2% to 25% lipophilically modified (meth)acrylate residues and residues of a crosslinker that has no ester or amide functionality.