Titanium Dioxide Pigment Dispersion Using Low-Concentration Polymer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for reducing titanium dioxide usage in paints while maintaining opacity and hiding efficiency are costly due to the high expense of EVOQUE Pre-Composite Polymer and other composite pigment particle-forming polymers, and there is a need for methods that can achieve lower raw material costs and greater pigment hiding efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the initial presence of a composite pigment particle-forming polymer in low concentration, with titanium dioxide particles dispersed in a waterborne emulsion polymer that does not form composite particles, allowing for reduced usage of both titanium dioxide and composite-forming polymer, using acrylic or other water-insoluble film-forming polymers with specific functional groups that adsorb to titanium dioxide particles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If EVOQUE Pre-Composite Polymer is used to reduce titanium dioxide usage while maintaining opacity, then pigment hiding efficiency is improved, but raw material cost increases due to the high expense of the polymer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a waterborne emulsion polymer as an intermediary substance that facilitates the formation of composite pigment particles without requiring expensive pre-composite polymers. This intermediary polymer enables titanium dioxide particles to aggregate into larger composite structures that maintain hiding efficiency while reducing dependency on costly proprietary polymer products
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of composite pigment particle-forming polymer from the traditionally high levels required by EVOQUE products to low concentrations (0.1-10% of titanium dioxide weight). This parameter change demonstrates that effective composite particle formation can occur at much lower polymer levels when using the waterborne emulsion polymer approach, thereby reducing material costs
2Measurement precision
If EVOQUE Pre-Composite Polymer is used at saturation levels to cover titanium dioxide surfaces, then wet and dry hiding efficiency is improved, but the cost of the polymer offsets the savings in titanium dioxide raw material costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using sub-saturation levels of composite pigment particle-forming polymer (0.1-10% of titanium dioxide weight) rather than the full saturation levels traditionally required. This partial approach is sufficient to achieve effective composite particle formation and maintain hiding efficiency while significantly reducing polymer consumption and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a waterborne emulsion polymer that is less expensive and more readily available than proprietary pre-composite polymers like EVOQUE. This cheaper polymer substitute achieves the same functional outcome of forming composite particles that improve hiding efficiency, making the overall formulation more cost-effective
3Ease of manufacture
If titanium dioxide is dispersed in a waterborne emulsion polymer that does not form composite particles, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but pigment hiding efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by first dispersing titanium dioxide particles in the waterborne emulsion polymer before adding the composite pigment particle-forming polymer. This sequence ensures uniform distribution of titanium dioxide in the polymer matrix prior to composite particle formation, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining effective hiding efficiency through subsequent controlled aggregation
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
This approach results in paints with excellent opacity and hiding power at lower titanium dioxide and polymer usage levels, enabling cost reduction and improved paint properties, including the ability to add corrective polymers late in the manufacturing process to address deficiencies in coating compositions.
Implementation Method 1
adding an aqueous emulsion containing water-insoluble film-forming second polymer particles that adsorb to the titanium dioxide particles
Data Source
AI summary
Titanium dioxide may be more efficiently used in a coating composition containing a composite pigment particle-forming polymer if during composite formation, the polymer is initially present in a low concentration and the titanium dioxide particles and newly- formed composite particles are dispersed in a waterborne emulsion polymer that does not form such a composite. A pigment grind dispersion of titanium dioxide pigment-polymer composite particles may be made by mixing titanium dioxide particles with the waterborne emulsion polymer. The composite-forming polymer is then added to the waterborne emulsion polymer, or is added independently and concurrently with the titanium dioxide particles. The resulting titanium dioxide pigment-polymer composite particles provide improved coating composition opacity compared to a coating composition that does not contain such composite particles. The coating compositions can contain reduced titanium dioxide amounts and less than a saturation level of the composite-forming polymer.