Dialkyl Peroxide Emulsion Stability Using Polyethoxylated Surfactants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aqueous emulsions of dialkyl peroxides are not stable for long-term storage at room temperature, leading to phase separation and safety concerns in industrial applications, as existing emulsifiers like partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetates and cellulose derivatives fail to maintain stability for at least two months.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous emulsion of dialkyl peroxide stabilized using a polyethoxylated nonionic emulsifier, specifically ethoxylated sorbitan esters, which maintains stability by ensuring a single phase without phase separation for extended periods, with the emulsifying agent comprising ethoxylated carboxylic acid esters, ethoxylated amides, ethoxylated fatty amines, or ethoxylated vegetable oils, and a mixture of sorbitan esters, achieving a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance between 5 and 14.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional emulsifiers (partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetates or cellulose derivatives) are used to stabilize dialkyl peroxide emulsion, then the emulsion can be formed initially, but the emulsion becomes unstable after one week of storage at room temperature with phase separation occurring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the emulsifying agent from conventional options (partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetates or cellulose derivatives) to a specific nonionic polyethoxylated emulsifier with controlled hydrophile-lipophile balance. This parameter change in the emulsifier chemistry enables the emulsion to maintain stability for at least two months at room temperature, resolving the contradiction between initial emulsion formation and long-term storage stability.
2Quantity of substance
If dialkyl peroxide is stored in pure state or diluted in solvent, then the peroxide can be stored, but the storage quantity is limited due to safety classification restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses water as an intermediary medium to create an emulsion system where dialkyl peroxide is dispersed as fine droplets. This emulsion form allows the peroxide to be stored in quantities that would otherwise exceed safety limits for pure or solvent-diluted peroxide, while the water-based emulsion provides safety benefits including heat absorption capacity and reduced fire hazard compared to organic solvent systems.
3Reliability
If organic peroxide is emulsified in water for safety improvement, then the decomposition violence is reduced and fire risk is lowered, but the emulsion requires special stability conditions that complicate storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies and replicates the key stabilizing characteristics found in cold-stored peroxide emulsions (using nonionic polyethoxylated emulsifiers with specific HLB values) and applies them to room temperature storage conditions. This copying of the effective emulsifier chemistry from cold-storage applications enables stable room temperature storage without phase separation, maintaining both safety benefits and compositional stability.
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 emulsion maintains stability and safety by preventing phase separation for at least two months at room temperature, allowing for safer industrial storage and use in applications such as polymerization and crosslinking of elastomers, with the emulsifying agent effectively reducing interfacial tension and enhancing droplet stability.
Implementation Method 1
the emulsifying agent effectively reducing interfacial tension and enhancing droplet stability
Implementation Method 2
Aqueous emulsion of dialkyl peroxide stabilized using a polyethoxylated nonionic emulsifier
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an aqueous emulsion of dialkyl peroxides consisting of at least one dialkyl peroxide in liquid form at ambient temperature, representing between 10% and 75% by weight of the emulsion, at least one emulsifier agent, representing 0.01% to 10% by weight of the emulsion and, optionally, at least one antifreeze agent, potentially at least one functional additive, of the water, the quantity of which is determined in such a way as to form the rest of said emulsion (100%), characterized in that the emulsifier agent is a non-ionic polyethoxylated surfactant. The invention also relates to a preparation method of said aqueous emulsion.