Viscosity Regulating Composition with Segmented Hydrophobic Units
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing viscosity regulating compositions for paint formulations face challenges in maintaining desired rheological properties, particularly in resisting viscosity changes upon addition of colorants and ensuring sag resistance and leveling quality.
Innovation Solution
A viscosity regulating composition with a polymeric structure featuring an internal hydrophobic unit and terminal hydrophobic units covalently connected via hydrophilic linking units, derived from a diisocyanate compound and a linear aliphatic diol, which are not linked by polyether polyol units, providing tailored viscosity response and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional viscosity regulators are used in paint formulations, then initial viscosity can be controlled, but viscosity changes significantly upon addition of colorants and under shear conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer is segmented into distinct functional units: internal hydrophobic units within the backbone and terminal hydrophobic units at the ends, connected by hydrophilic linking units. This segmentation allows each unit to perform its specific function independently, with internal units providing baseline viscosity and terminal units providing associative thickening that resists colorant disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The viscosity regulator is a composite polymer structure combining hydrophilic polyether polyol linking units with hydrophobic segments derived from diisocyanate and linear aliphatic diol. This composite structure creates amphiphilic characteristics that enable the polymer to form stable networks resistant to colorant addition and shear conditions.
2Strength
If existing thickeners are used to ensure sag resistance, then viscosity is increased, but leveling quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer structure dynamically adapts its viscosity response based on applied stress. Under gravity (low shear), the hydrophobic associations maintain higher viscosity for sag resistance. During application (higher shear), the associations break down to allow better leveling, then reform after application to maintain sag resistance in the wet film.
3Ease of operation
If polyether polyol linking units are used to connect hydrophobic segments, then polymer flexibility is improved, but viscosity regulation effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies linear aliphatic diol linking units with particular carbon chain lengths (e.g., 1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol) rather than generic polyether polyols. This local quality specification optimizes the balance between flexibility provided by the diol chain and viscosity regulation effectiveness through controlled hydrophobic-hydrophilic interactions.
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 effectively regulates viscosity, maintains stability under shear conditions, and enhances sag resistance and leveling properties of paint films, while resisting changes upon colorant addition, thereby improving the overall performance of paint formulations.
Implementation Method 1
a polymer containing an internal hydrophobic unit located within the polymer's backbone; and one or more terminal hydrophobic units covalently connected to the internal hydrophobic unit
Implementation Method 2
The composition effectively regulates viscosity, maintains stability under shear conditions, and enhances sag resistance and leveling properties of paint films
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A viscosity regulating composition having a polymeric structure with an internal hydrophobic unit located within the polymer's backbone, multiple hydrophilic units, and terminal hydrophobic units. In one embodiment, the internal hydrophobic unit may have at least three linked hydrophobic segments, of the same or different hydrophobic segments, with the proviso that the multiple hydrophobic segments are not linked to each other by one or more hydrophilic linking segments, for example water-soluble, polymeric groups.