Four-Monomer Polymers for Ethanol Solubility and High Tg
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a commercial and industrial need for polymers that are soluble in lower molecular weight alcohols, particularly ethanol, with a glass transition temperature greater than about 40°C for use in cosmetic, adhesive, ink, and coatings applications, as existing polymers often lack the necessary solubility and performance characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A family of polymers is developed by polymerizing at least four monomers: N-vinyl lactam or N-vinyl amide, (meth)acrylic acid, (meth)acrylate of a straight or branched alkyl alcohol, and (meth)acrylate of a C6 to C20 cyclic alcohol, which are soluble in lower molecular weight alcohols and exhibit higher glass transition temperatures, making them suitable for personal care and industrial applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polymers are engineered as non-homopolymers to exploit benefits of multiple monomer units, then performance properties are improved, but solubility in lower molecular weight alcohols deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the glass transition temperature (Tg) of non-homopolymer polymers to fall within 40°C to 100°C, and by optimizing the ratio of hydrophobic to hydrophilic monomer units. This enables the polymers to achieve both improved performance properties and solubility in lower molecular weight alcohols like ethanol and isopropanol, resolving the contradiction between performance enhancement and solubility maintenance.
2Ease of operation
If hydrophilic monomer content is increased to improve solubility, then solubility is improved, but glass transition temperature decreases below desirable levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by establishing specific ranges for hydrophilic monomer content (10%-50% by weight) and controlling the glass transition temperature within 40°C to 100°C. This balanced approach ensures both adequate solubility in lower molecular weight alcohols and sufficiently high glass transition temperature to prevent excessive softness and tackiness, resolving the contradiction between solubility enhancement and Tg maintenance.
3Strength
If hydrophobic monomer content is increased to improve film strength, then film strength is improved, but solubility in lower molecular weight alcohols deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the hydrophobic monomer content within specific weight percentages and balancing it with hydrophilic monomer content to achieve the desired glass transition temperature range. This balanced composition enables the polymer to maintain both improved film strength and adequate solubility in lower molecular weight alcohols, resolving the contradiction between strength enhancement and solubility maintenance.
4Ease of operation
If glass transition temperature is increased to reduce tackiness, then tackiness is reduced, but polymer becomes too rigid for some applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by establishing the glass transition temperature within the optimal range of 40°C to 100°C and controlling the composition of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomer units. This balanced approach ensures the polymer achieves reduced tackiness while maintaining appropriate flexibility and avoiding excessive rigidity, resolving the contradiction between tackiness reduction and flexibility maintenance.
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 polymers demonstrate enhanced solubility in ethanol and higher glass transition temperatures, enabling their use in a broader range of applications including personal care products and industrial coatings, while maintaining performance characteristics such as UV absorbance and water resistance.
Implementation Method 1
polymers that are polymerized from at least: (A) at least one N-vinyl lactam or N-vinyl amide, (B) at least one (meth)acrylic acid, (C) at least one (meth)acrylate of a straight or branched alkyl alcohol, and (D) at least one (meth)acrylate of a C6 to C20 cyclic alcohol
Implementation Method 2
the polymers are soluble in at least one lower molecular weight alcohol such as methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, or 2-propanol
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is a class of non-homopolymers polymerized from at least: (A) 10-22 mole percent of at least one N-vinyl lactam, (B) 30-35 mole percent of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and combinations thereof, (C) 40-52 mole percent of at least one (meth)acrylate of a straight- or branched-chain alkyl alcohol, and (D) 5-20 mole percent of at least one (meth)acrylate of a saturated or unsaturated cyclic alcohol having 6 to 20 carbon atoms. In one embodiment, the non-homopolymers exhibit solubility in the lower molecular weight alcohols. The non-homopolymers may be used in personal care or performance chemicals compositions. In one embodiment, the polymers are used in various personal care formulations, such as used for skin, sun, hair, and preservatives.