ICI Thickener Composition for Waterborne Coating Viscosity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rheology modifiers in waterborne coatings fail to effectively control viscosity across a wide shear rate range, particularly in paint formulations, leading to inconsistent performance and application issues.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising linked segments of polyhydroxy segments, polyoxyalkylene segments, and aliphatic or aromatic end segments, with specific mole ratios, combined with a viscosity suppressing additive, to regulate ICI viscosity in aqueous compositions, enhancing the rheological properties of paint formulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current rheology modifiers are used in waterborne coatings, then viscosity control is achieved to some extent, but effective control across a wide shear rate range is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite thickener system comprising both associative and non-associative thickeners in specific weight ratios (0.1:9.9 to 5:5). The associative thickener provides shear-thinning behavior at low shear rates through hydrophobic interactions, while the non-associative thickener provides viscosity control at high shear rates, creating a synergistic effect that achieves reliable viscosity control across the entire shear rate range.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes specific parameters including the weight ratio of associative to non-associative thickener (0.1:9.9 to 5:5), the hydrophobe content in associative thickener (0.1-10% by weight), and molecular weight ranges (10,000-1,000,000 for associative, 1,000-100,000 for non-associative). These parameter optimizations enable the composition to adapt to different shear rates while maintaining consistent performance.
2Reliability
If associative thickeners are used to thicken the dispersed phase, then viscosity control at low shear rates is improved, but control at high shear rates deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of associative and non-associative thickeners into a single composition. The associative thickener (with hydrophobic groups that associate with dispersed phase) handles low shear rate viscosity, while the non-associative thickener (that thickens the water phase) handles high shear rate viscosity, creating a unified system that performs across the entire shear rate spectrum.
3Reliability
If non-associative thickeners are used to thicken the water phase, then viscosity control at high shear rates is improved, but control at low shear rates deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines non-associative thickeners (which excel at high shear rate control through water phase thickening) with associative thickeners (which provide low shear rate viscosity through hydrophobic association). This merging allows the composition to leverage the strengths of each thickener type without their respective weaknesses.
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 effectively adjusts viscosity within a targeted range (0.5 to 5.0) in paint formulations, improving application characteristics and film formation, while maintaining stability and consistency across various shear rates.
Implementation Method 1
Associative thickeners may be derived from natural products such as hydrophobically modified cellulose ethers, or prepared from synthetic polymers such as hydrophobically modified ethylene oxide urethane (HEUR) polymers
Implementation Method 2
They may be associative (they associate with the dispersed phase) or non-associative (they thicken the water phase)
Implementation Method 3
an aqueous thickener composition including the various embodiments of composition described herein and a viscosity suppressing additive selected from an organic co-solvent, a surfactant, a cyclodextrin compound or combinations thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A composition comprising linked segments of: (a) a polyhydroxy segment derived from a compound independently selected an acyclic polyhydric alcohol having 4 to 6 carbon atoms and 4 to 6 reactive hydroxyl groups; a cyclic polyhydric alcohol having 4 to 6 carbon atoms and 4 to 6 reactive hydroxyl groups, a poly(hydroxyethyl) polyethyleneamine having 4 to 6 reactive hydroxyl groups and combinations thereof; (b) polyoxyalkylene segments wherein each hydroxyl group of the polyhydroxyl segment is linked to a polyoxyalkylene segment; (d) and aliphatic end segments or aromatic end segments, each end segment having 6 to 32 carbon atoms and a hydroxyl reactive group, wherein the mole ratio of the polyoxyalkylene segment to the polyhydroxy segment is at least 4:1 and the mole ratio of the aliphatic or aromatic end segment to the polyhydroxy segment is at least 0.25: 1.