Monocarboxylic Ester Dispersion Medium for High-Solids Formulations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispersion media fail to effectively stabilize particulate solids, leading to agglomeration, high viscosity, and limited compatibility, making it difficult to produce high-solids-content formulations without volatile organic compounds (VOC) and environmentally criticized plasticizers like phthalates.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising monocarboxylic esters and dispersants with specific viscosity and boiling point characteristics, which provides effective stabilization and low viscosity, enabling high-solids-content formulations with broad compatibility and reduced VOC content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional dispersion media (phthalates, plasticizers) are used, then solids can be incorporated into liquid media, but the preparations exhibit high viscosity and limited compatibility with different binders
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the dispersion medium by replacing conventional phthalate-based plasticizers with a specific composition: monocarboxylic esters (10-97 wt%, boiling point >250°C) combined with dispersants (3-90 wt%). This parameter change resolves the contradiction by achieving both high solids content (20-95 wt%) and low viscosity (<5000 mPas at 25°C), while improving compatibility across different binder systems through the synergistic interaction of the ester-dispersant combination
2Stability of the object's composition
If high mechanical forces are applied to incorporate solids into liquid media, then dispersing is achieved, but energy input and dispersing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dispersants as intermediary substances that mediate between the monocarboxylic esters and the particulate solids. These dispersants adsorb onto particle surfaces, providing steric stabilization and reducing interparticle attraction forces. This intermediary action enables effective dispersion at lower energy inputs and prevents reagglomeration, resolving the contradiction between dispersion stability and energy consumption
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional dispersants are used to lower dispersing forces, then some stabilization is achieved, but reagglomeration occurs and compatibility with different binders is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite dispersion system combining monocarboxylic esters with specific dispersants. The monocarboxylic esters (with boiling points >250°C and specific molecular structures) work synergistically with the dispersants to provide both steric stabilization and broad compatibility. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by achieving reliable long-term stabilization while maintaining versatility across different binder and coating material systems
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 achieves stable dispersion and high-solids-content formulations with improved color strength and reduced processing complexity, allowing for intense coloration with lower pigment amounts and cost savings.
Implementation Method 1
sufficient stabilization of the particulate solids to be dispersed, by desorption-stable coating of the surface
Implementation Method 2
the viscosities of the preparations of solids that can be produced in this way are very high, meaning that only low solids contents are possible and that handling is difficult
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a composition comprising as component (A): 10% to 97% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of one or more monocarboxylic esters of the general formula R1—CO—OR2, in which R1 is a saturated or unsaturated, branched or straight-chain, aliphatic group having 11 to 23 carbon atoms and R2 is a branched or straight-chain aliphatic group, a cycloaliphatic group or aromatic group having 1 to 13 carbon atoms, and the sum of the carbon atoms of the groups R1 and R2 is not more than 30, the monocarboxylic ester or esters possessing a boiling point of more than 250° C. under a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa, and as component (B): 3% to 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of one or more dispersants, the composition possessing a viscosity at 25° C. of less than 5000 mPas. The invention further concerns the use of the composition as a dispersion medium, millbases obtained from the composition, and the use of the millbases.