Nonionic Comb Copolymer Pigment Dispersants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current polymeric dispersants fail to simultaneously achieve high concentration dispersion of organic pigments (>40% by weight) with low viscosity, reproducible color strength, stability, and broad compatibility, while avoiding re-agglomeration and foaming, and often contain environmentally harmful residues like alkylphenols.

Innovation Solution

Nonionic comb copolymers produced from polyethylene/polypropylene glycol mono(meth)acrylic acid esters with specific monomers, optimized for polymerization to create low-viscosity, stable dispersions with high color strength and compatibility, free from harmful residues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional polymeric dispersants are used to disperse organic pigments at high concentrations, then pigment dispersion concentration can be increased, but viscosity increases and compatibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepigment dispersion concentrationVSAvoidcompatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the dispersant by using nonionic comb copolymers with specific monomer ratios (50-93% monomer A, 2-25% monomer B, 5-25% monomer C) and controlled molecular weights (1,000-20,000), which allows achieving high pigment concentrations while maintaining low viscosity and broad compatibility without the harmful effects of conventional dispersants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite dispersant system combining multiple monomer components (polyethylene/polypropylene glycol mono(meth)acrylic acid esters with specific monomers) to achieve a synergistic effect that simultaneously provides high concentration dispersion capability, low viscosity, and broad compatibility, overcoming the limitations of single-component dispersants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If conventional polymeric dispersants are used to disperse organic pigments, then pigment dispersion can be achieved, but harmful residues like alkylphenols are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepigment dispersion concentrationVSAvoidharmful residues

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful alkylphenol residues from the dispersant structure by using nonionic comb copolymers synthesized from polyethylene/polypropylene glycol mono(meth)acrylic acid esters with specific monomers, which do not contain alkylphenol groups, thereby maintaining effective pigment dispersion while removing the harmful environmental factors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of conventional dispersants containing alkylphenols into a benefit by developing alternative nonionic comb copolymers that achieve similar or superior dispersant performance without any harmful residues, turning the problem of harmful substances into an opportunity to create environmentally friendly dispersants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Stability of the object's composition

If dispersants are used to prevent re-agglomeration, then pigment stability improves, but foaming occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepigment stabilityVSAvoidfoaming

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the dispersant by using nonionic comb copolymers with specific molecular weights (1,000-20,000) and monomer compositions, which provides effective prevention of pigment re-agglomeration while maintaining low surface activity that prevents foaming, achieving both stability and foam suppression

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 copolymers effectively disperse organic pigments in high concentrations with low viscosity, maintaining stability and color strength over time, and ensuring broad compatibility without foaming or re-agglomeration, while being environmentally friendly by avoiding harmful residues.

Implementation Method 1

These dispersing agents, supported by suitable surfactants, also known as wetting agents, promote the wetting of the pigments to be dispersed as surface-active agents and facilitate the breaking up of agglomerates and aggregates

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

promote the wetting of the pigments to be dispersed as surface-active agents

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWetting: Wetting

Data Source

PatentEP2147061B1Non-ionic water-soluble additives

Publication Date: 2015.11.18 CLARIANT INT LTD

AI summary

The invention relates to a copolymer that can be obtained by the polymerisation of monomers (A), (B) and (C), (A) being a monomer of formula (I), in which A represents a C2 to C4alkene and B represents a C2 to C4alkene that is different from A, R represents hydrogen or methyl, m is a number between 1 and 500, n is a number between 1 and 500, (B) is an ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing an aromatic group and (C) is an ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing an alkyl radical. The claimed copolymers are suitable for use as dispersants for pigments.