Peroxide Emulsion Stability via Low Viscosity Polyvinyl Acetate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing organic peroxide emulsions for polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, such as vinyl chloride, face challenges in maintaining stable droplet size and low viscosity, which are crucial for preventing decomposition and ensuring transparency and flowability, especially at low temperatures.

Innovation Solution

An aqueous composition using polyvinyl acetate as an emulsifier with a high degree of hydrolysis greater than 80% and low intrinsic viscosity, combined with an antifreeze agent and a nonionic surfactant, stabilizes peroxide droplets to maintain a small average size and low viscosity, ensuring stability and flowability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If polyvinyl acetate with high degree of hydrolysis (>68%) is used as emulsifier, then droplet size stability is improved, but emulsion viscosity increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedroplet size stabilityVSAvoidemulsion viscosity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling two critical parameters of the polyvinyl acetate emulsifier: the degree of hydrolysis is limited to 68% or less, and the intrinsic viscosity is limited to 1.5 dl/g or less. This dual parameter control resolves the contradiction by selecting specific ranges that provide sufficient droplet stabilization without causing excessive emulsion viscosity, thereby enabling both stability and processability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If droplet size is reduced to maintain stability, then emulsion viscosity increases, but flowability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemulsion stabilityVSAvoidflowability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction through parameter changes by controlling the intrinsic viscosity of the polyvinyl acetate emulsifier to be 1.5 dl/g or less. This parameter control allows the formulation to achieve both small droplet sizes (d50 ≤ 10 μm) for stability and low enough viscosity (≤ 1000 mPa·s at -10°C) to maintain flowability during handling and polymerization processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If polyvinyl acetate with high degree of hydrolysis is used, then droplet size control is improved, but emulsion becomes too viscous for handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedroplet size controlVSAvoidemulsion handling
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by establishing specific limits for polyvinyl acetate properties: degree of hydrolysis ≤ 68% and intrinsic viscosity ≤ 1.5 dl/g. These parameter specifications enable precise droplet size control (d50 ≤ 10 μm, d100 ≤ 20 μm) while maintaining emulsion viscosity at manageable levels (≤ 1000 mPa·s at -10°C), thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture.

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 composition achieves stable droplet sizes below 10 μm and low viscosity, allowing for efficient polymerization and copolymerization processes while maintaining emulsion stability and fluidity over extended storage periods.

Implementation Method 1

An organic peroxide emulsion consists of droplets of peroxide stabilized by an emulsifier

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmulsion: Emulsion

Implementation Method 2

these emulsions include an antifreeze, allowing the emulsion to be maintained in liquid form at temperatures below -10°C

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFreezing point depression:

Implementation Method 3

The presence of water, as a heat transfer fluid, makes it possible to absorb and dissipate the energy generated in the event of possible decomposition of the peroxides

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

the use of polyvinyl acetate having a high degree of hydrolysis with a very low intrinsic viscosity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscosity reduction:

Data Source

PatentEP2897984B1Aqueous emulsion composition comprising an organic peroxide
Publication Date: 2016.10.26 ARKEMA FRANCE SA

AI summary

The invention concerns an aqueous emulsion composition of organic peroxide, comprising: - from 10 to 65% by weight of one or a plurality of organic peroxides, - from 2 to 25% by weight of at least one antifreeze agent, - from 0.01 to 10% by weight of at least one emulsifying agent, - optionally at least one additive, - water, of which the quantity is defined in order to form the remainder of the total composition (100%), characterised in that the emulsifying agent is a colloid agent consisting of a polyvinyl acetate having a degree of hydrolysis greater than 80% and a viscosity, measured in solution in water at 4 % by weight at 20°C, less than or equal to 5 mPa.s, said viscosity being measured with a Brookfield RVT viscometer, needle no. 3, 20 rpm, in accordance with the ISO 2555 standard. The invention also relates to the method of preparing same and the use thereof.