Polyamine Dispersants Suppress Crystallization via Amidation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dispersants based on polyamines or polyimines with poly(oxy-C1-6-alkylenecarbonyl) chains tend to crystallize, making them difficult to use in practice, and the use of expensive lactones in their production is not economically viable.
Innovation Solution
The dispersants are produced by amidation of polyamines or polyimines with alkyl acids, reducing crystallization and using commercially available polyethyleneimine with side chains based on poly(oxy-C1-6-alkylenecarbonyl) compounds and alkyl acids, forming amide bonds, which maintains their flowability at room temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dispersants are prepared by polymerization with ε-caprolactone to achieve dispersing function, then they contain acidic and/or basic end groups, but they have high tendency to crystallize which makes their use difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by incorporating specific amounts of hydroxyaliphatic carboxylic acids (1-10 carbon atoms) as chain terminators during polymerization. This parameter change modifies the end group structure from simple acidic/basic groups to hydroxyaliphatic carboxylic acid groups, which suppresses crystallization while maintaining dispersing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispersant comprises a composite structure with polyethyleneimine backbone, poly(oxy-C1-6-alkylenecarbonyl) side chains, and hydroxyaliphatic carboxylic acid end groups. This composite material design combines the dispersing capability of the polyamine-polymer structure with the anti-crystallization property of the hydroxyaliphatic carboxylic acid end groups.
2Ease of operation
If expensive lactones are used to suppress crystallization, then dispersants can be produced without crystallization, but the production cost increases and lactones are not always readily available
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive, less available lactones with cheaper, more readily available hydroxyaliphatic carboxylic acids (such as lactic acid, hydroxyvaleric acid, hydroxycaproic acid) as chain terminators. These inexpensive materials effectively suppress crystallization without the drawbacks of expensive lactones.
Solution Approach 2:
Hydroxyaliphatic carboxylic acids serve as intermediary chain terminators that mediate between the polymerization process and the final dispersant structure. They terminate the polymerization chain while introducing hydroxy groups that prevent crystallization, effectively bridging the gap between synthesis and performance requirements.
3Ease of operation
If dispersants are heated and homogenized to eliminate crystallization, then they can be used, but the process complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-crystallization effect is built into the dispersant structure during synthesis by incorporating hydroxyaliphatic carboxylic acid end groups. This preliminary structural design prevents crystallization from occurring in the first place, eliminating the need for subsequent heating and homogenization steps to address crystallization issues.
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 resulting dispersants are non-crystalline and flowable at room temperature, reducing production costs and maintaining performance in technical applications such as the rub-out test, color test, and viscosity test.
Implementation Method 1
amidation of the polyamine or polyimine with alkyl acids (B) can reduce or suppress the crystallization of the dispersant according to the invention
Implementation Method 2
side chains based on two or more poly(oxy-C 1-6 -alkylenecarbonyl) compounds (A) and side chains based on alkyl acids (B) are chemically bonded to the polyamines or polyimines
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to dispersing agents based on polyamines or polyimines containing side chains based on two or more poly(oxy-C1-6-alkylenecarbonyl) compounds (A) and side chains based on alkyl acids (B).