Thermoassociative Copolymers Shear Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
High molecular weight polymers used for thickening solutions have low permanent shear strength, leading to degradation under shear stress, resulting in irreversible loss of viscosity and compromised solution properties.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising a random copolymer with diol functions and a compound with boronic ester functions, allowing for associative and thermoreversible exchangeable additives that enhance stability to shear stresses and modify viscosity in response to temperature changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high molecular weight polymers are used to increase viscosity, then thickening properties are improved, but permanent shear strength decreases leading to degradation under shear stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the polymer into segments with different molecular weights, combining high molecular weight segments for viscosity enhancement with lower molecular weight segments that resist degradation. This segmentation allows the polymer to maintain both thickening properties and shear stability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite polymer structure combining different polymer components with complementary properties. The composite material integrates high molecular weight chains for viscosity with cross-linkable functional groups that provide shear resistance, resolving the contradiction between thickening capability and shear strength.
2Quantity of substance
If high molecular weight polymers are used to thicken solutions, then viscosity is increased, but the polymer chains break under shear stress causing irreversible loss of properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates cross-linkable functional groups into the polymer structure before application. These pre-positioned functional groups enable the polymer to form protective cross-linked networks in advance, preventing chain breakage under shear stress and maintaining composition stability while providing viscosity enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses cross-linkable functional groups as a protective mechanism that activates under shear stress to cushion against chain breakage. This beforehand cushioning through cross-linking prevents the irreversible degradation that would otherwise occur in high molecular weight polymers under shear conditions.
3Ease of operation
If conventional polymers are used for rheological modification, then viscosity control is achieved, but stability under varying temperature and shear conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic polymer system where cross-linked and non-cross-linked segments coexist and can exchange roles under different conditions. This dynamic structure allows the polymer to adapt its configuration in response to temperature and shear changes, maintaining both viscosity control and stability across varying operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes polymers with functional groups that change their cross-linking state in response to parameter changes such as temperature and shear rate. This parameter-dependent behavior enables the polymer to maintain optimal viscosity control and stability by adjusting its molecular configuration as operational conditions vary.
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 provides enhanced stability and temperature-dependent viscosity modification, preventing irreversible degradation and maintaining solution properties under varying conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The statistical copolymers polydiols A1 and the compounds A2 have the advantage of being associative and of exchanging chemical bonds in a thermoreversible manner
Implementation Method 2
The additives of the present invention have the advantage of increasing the viscosity of the solution containing them as the temperature rises
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a composition resulting from the mixture of at least one copolymer A resulting from the copolymerisation of at least one monomer functionalised by diol functions and at least one compound A2 comprising at last two boronic ester functions. They have rheological properties which are very varied according to the proportion of the A1 and A2 compounds used. The field of the invention is that of associative and exchangeable polymers.