Polyether-Modified Siloxane Thickening Agent for Aqueous Liquids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thickening agents for aqueous liquids, such as those using hexamethylene diisocyanate or adipic acid, face challenges in controlling molecular weight and achieving sufficient reactivity, leading to inefficient thickening properties due to unreacted raw materials and poor functional performance.
Innovation Solution
A polyether-modified siloxane with a specific molecular weight ratio of siloxane to polyoxyalkylene moieties, bonded via an ester bond, is developed, allowing for controlled molecular weight and enhanced thickening properties in aqueous liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If hexamethylene diisocyanate or adipic acid is used to react with polyethylene glycol, then a thickening agent can be formed, but the molecular weight of the product cannot be controlled due to alternative reactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the reacting groups by using siloxane compounds with specific functional groups (epoxy, hydroxyl, carboxyl, or amino) at one terminal and alkyl groups at the other terminal. This parameter change ensures that the reaction with polyethylene glycol proceeds through a specific mechanism, allowing precise control of the product's molecular weight without alternative reactions occurring.
2Manufacturing precision
If a siloxane with an epoxy group at one terminal is reacted with polyethylene glycol, then the molecular weight can be controlled, but the reactivity is low causing large amounts of unreacted raw materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite functional group system by combining the siloxane backbone with multiple reactive functional groups (epoxy, hydroxyl, carboxyl, or amino) at the terminal position. This composite structure maintains the molecular weight control benefit while significantly enhancing reactivity toward polyethylene glycol, thereby improving reaction efficiency and reducing unreacted raw materials.
3Reliability
If conventional thickening agents are used, then thickening function is provided, but poor solubility and incomplete reaction lead to insufficient thickening properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality modification by introducing specific functional groups (epoxy, hydroxyl, carboxyl, or amino) at the terminal position of the siloxane chain. These local functional modifications enhance the overall solubility and reactivity of the thickening agent, ensuring complete reaction and reliable thickening function in aqueous solutions.
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 polyether-modified siloxane exhibits excellent thickening properties in aqueous liquids, effectively functioning as a thickening agent in various applications, including cosmetics and household products, with improved solubility and yield.
Implementation Method 1
a molecular weight of the polyether-modified siloxane can be controlled by bonding a siloxane and a polyalkylene glycol together via an ester bond
Implementation Method 2
The present polyether-modified siloxane has a good thickening property, in particular in an aqueous liquid
Data Source
AI summary
One of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a polyether-modified siloxane having a good thickening property, in particular a good thickening property for an aqueous liquid. The present invention provides a polyether-modified siloxane represented by the following general formula (1):Sx-(CH2)aCOO—(C2H4O)n—(C3H6O)s—CO(CH2)a-Sx (1)wherein n is an integer of from 50 to 10000, s is an integer which meets the equation, 0<=s<=n/50, a is an integer of from 2 to 40, and Sx is, independently of each other, an organo(poly)siloxanyl group represented by the following formula (a) or (b):wherein R is, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, m is an integer of from 0 to 350, and m′ is an integer of from 0 to 348,wherein a ratio of a total molecular weight of the Sx-(CH2)aCO moieties to a molecular weight of the O(C2H4O)n(C3H6O)s moiety is 0.12 or smaller.