Fluid Polymer Suspension for Rapid Viscosity Development
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in incorporating water-soluble binder polymers into functional systems, resulting in issues such as lumping, slow viscosity development, and inefficient batch preparation, particularly in applications like personal care, construction, and oil field services, where dry polysaccharides are time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A stable fluid polymer suspension (FPS) comprising a polysaccharide, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and hydrated thickening silica is used to create an aqueous-based functional system, providing improved rheology and viscosity properties, compatibility, and ease of handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If dry polysaccharides are used as water-soluble binder polymers, then cost is reduced and simplicity is maintained, but lumping occurs, dispersability deteriorates, and preparation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The polysaccharide is pre-dispersed in water to form a stable suspension before application. This preliminary dispersion action prevents lumping during storage and application, while maintaining the simplicity of the overall process. The pre-dispersed form ensures uniform distribution without requiring complex dry mixing procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
Water serves as an intermediary medium between the polysaccharide and the functional system. By using water as a carrier, the polysaccharide achieves improved dispersability and prevents lumping without compromising the simplicity of the system. The water-based suspension acts as a bridge that facilitates easy integration into various functional systems.
2Quantity of substance
If dry polysaccharides are used, then material cost is reduced, but viscosity development speed decreases and preparation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The polysaccharide is pre-dispersed in water before application, so that when added to the functional system, viscosity development occurs rapidly without requiring extended preparation time. This preliminary preparation eliminates the time-consuming dry mixing process while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the polysaccharide is changed from dry powder to water-dispersed suspension. This parameter change from solid to liquid-dispersed form dramatically improves dissolution speed and reduces preparation time, while the use of water as carrier keeps material costs low.
3Productivity
If water-soluble polymers are used to improve rheology, then thickening efficiency is improved, but ease of handling deteriorates due to lumping and dispersability issues
Solution Approach 1:
Water acts as an intermediary that enables the polysaccharide to maintain high thickening efficiency while improving ease of handling. The water-based suspension prevents lumping and ensures uniform dispersability, allowing the system to be handled easily without the complications of dry powder handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The polysaccharide is transformed from a dry powder state to a water-dispersed suspension state. This parameter change from solid to liquid-dispersed form dramatically improves ease of handling by eliminating lumping issues while preserving the high thickening efficiency of the water-soluble polymer.
4Stability of the object's composition
If conventional dispersion technologies using fatty acids or mineral oil are used, then stability is achieved, but environmental compatibility deteriorates and market acceptance is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier medium is changed from conventional fatty acids or mineral oil to water. This parameter change from organic to aqueous base maintains the stability of the polysaccharide suspension while dramatically improving environmental compatibility and market acceptance in food-contact and consumer applications.
Solution Approach 2:
Water is used as a safe, biodegradable carrier that is environmentally friendly and acceptable for food-contact applications. This choice of water over conventional carriers eliminates harmful environmental factors while maintaining the necessary stability and functionality of the polymer suspension.
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 FPS system offers enhanced thickening efficiency, stability, and versatility, enabling rapid viscosity development and improved handling, while being environmentally friendly and compatible with various applications, including personal care, construction, and oil field services.
Implementation Method 1
a stable fluid polymer suspension (FPS) comprising a polysaccharide, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and hydrated thickening silica
Implementation Method 2
hydrated thickening silica is used to create an aqueous-based functional system, providing improved rheology and viscosity properties
Implementation Method 3
PEG markedly reduces the freezing point of water
Data Source
AI summary
An aqueous based functional system contains a stable fluid polymer suspension (FPS) thickening agent of a polysaccharide, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and hydrated thickening silica. The functional systems may be formulations of personal care excluding oral care, household care, oil field servicing fluids, Civil Engineering servicing fluids, paper coatings, construction fluids, ceramic glazes, foods, firefighting retardants, mineral processing, aqueous based coatings, building materials, construction, pharmaceuticals, medical care, paper making process, and paper coating. The FPS provides to the functional system comparable or better rheology and viscosity properties as compared to when using similar thickening agents in dry, solid form. A method of preparing the aqueous based functional system is also provided by adding a sufficient amount of a stable FPS that is compatible with the functional system to the system to thicken the functional system.