Dispersants acrylic acid

Functional derivatives of polyethylene, particularly poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(acryLic acid) and derivatives, have received attention because of their water-solubility and disposal iato the aqueous environment. Poly(vinyl alcohol) is used ia a wide variety of appHcations, including textiles, paper, plastic films, etc, and poly(acryLic acid) is widely used ia detergents as a builder, a super-absorbent for diapers and feminine hygiene products, for water treatment, ia thickeners, as pigment dispersant, etc (see Vinyl polymers, vinyl alcohol polymers). 

Acrylic acid, the main precursor to acrylic adhesives had been synthesized in the mid 1800s and the first acrylic acid esters were made and characterized at the turn of the century [62]. The first commercial launch of acrylic polymers in the form of poly(methylmethacrylate) took place in 1927 when the German company Rohm and Haas AG introduced this new plastic to the market. Soon after, other companies such as BASF introduced acrylic dispersions. 

For some applications, such as for repulpable type PSAs, it may be advantageous to incorporate high levels of acrylic acid because this makes the polymer more hydrophilic. At the same time, high levels of acid also improve the water-dispersibility of the adhesive, especially at higher pH where the acid groups are converted to the more water-soluble neutralized salt form. Since the high level of acid increases the of the resulting polymer, a non-tacky material results. To make the adhesive pressure sensitive, the polymer can be softened with water-dispersible or soluble plasticizers, such as polyethers [68]. 

Paine et al. [99] tried different stabilizers [i.e., hydroxy propylcellulose, poly(N-vinylpyrollidone), and poly(acrylic acid)] in the dispersion polymerization of styrene initiated with AIBN in the ethanol medium. The direct observation of the stained thin sections of the particles by transmission electron microscopy showed the existence of stabilizer layer in 10-20 nm thickness on the surface of the polystyrene particles. When the polystyrene latexes were dissolved in dioxane and precipitated with methanol, new latex particles with a similar surface stabilizer morphology were obtained. These results supported the grafting mechanism of stabilization during dispersion polymerization of styrene in polar solvents. 

Okubo et al. [87] used AIBN and poly(acrylic acid) (Mw = 2 X 10 ) as the initiator and the stabilizer, respectively, for the dispersion polymerization of styrene conducted within the ethyl alcohol/water medium. The ethyl alcohol-water volumetric ratio (ml ml) was changed between (100 0) and (60 40). The uniform particles were obtained in the range of 100 0 and 70 30 while the polydisperse particles were produced with 35 65 and especially 60 40 ethyl alcohol-water ratios. The average particle size decreased form 3.8 to 1.9 /xm by the increasing water content of the dispersion medium. 

We have studied the effect of monomer concentration in the dispersion polymerization of styrene carried out in alcohol-water mixtures as the dispersion media. We used AIBN and poly(acrylic acid) as the initiator and the stabilizer, respectively, and we tried isopropanol, 1-butanol, and 2-butanol as the alcohols [89]. The largest average particle size values were obtained with the highest monomer-dispersion medium volumetric ratios in 1-butanol-water medium having the alcohol-water volumetric ratio of 90 10. The SEM micrographs of these particles are given in Fig. 15. As seen here, a certain size distribution by the formation of small particles, possibly with a secondary nucleation, was observed in the poly-... 

DSEP direct soapless emulsion polymerization, SSEC seeded soapless emulsion copolymerization, DDC direct dispersion copolymerization, TDSC two-stage dispersion copolymerization, ATES Allyl trietoxysilane, VTES vinyl trietoxysilane, DMAEM dimethylaminoethyl-methacrylate, CMS chloromethylstyrene, GA glutaraldehyde, AAc Acrylic acid Aam Acrylamide HEMA 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate. 

Some acrylic acid copolymers are promoted as having a very wide range of functions that permit them to act as calcium phosphate DCAs, barium sulfate antiprecipitants, particulate iron oxides dispersants, and colloidal iron stabilizers. One such popular copolymer is acrylic acid/sulfonic acid (or acrylic acid/ 2-acrylamido-methylpropane sulfonic acid, AA/SA, AA/AMPS). Examples of this chemistry include Acumer 2000 (4,500 MW) 2100 (11,000 MW) Belclene 400, Acrysol QR-1086, TRC -233, and Polycol 43. 

Acrylic acid terpolymers have appeared on the market in recent years. With their broad spectrum of functions, they offer the potential for excellent waterside conditions. In particular, the terpolymers have proved to be very effective particulate iron oxides dispersants and colloidal iron stabilizers. Examples include acrylic acid/sulfonic acid/sodium styrene sulfonate (AA/SA/SSS), such as Good-Rite K781, K797, K798. A further example is acrylic acid/ sulfonic acid/substituted acrylamide (AA/SA/NI), such as Acumer 3100. 

Another excellent but expensive acrylic acid terpolymer is Acumer 5000, a silica and magnesium silicate dispersant. Although this polymer remains effective well above 600 psig (42 bar), it is recommended that at or above this pressure, FW silica should be removed at source, using DI or some other appropriate external treatment process. 

PCA 16 is available as Beldene 161/164 (50/35% w/w solids), Acumer 4161 (50%), and Polysperse (50%). These are low-phosphorus content materials that have found application in boiler FW formulations because of excellent sludge conditioning and particulate dispersion properties. The number 16 represents a 16 1 w/w ratio of acrylic acid and sodium hypophosphite, giving PCA 16 a MW range of 3,300 to 3,900. PCA 16 is particularly effective for the control of calcium carbonate and sulfate deposition. It is usually incorporated with other polymers in formulations and is approved for use under U.S. CFR 21, 173.310. 

Dispersants are often also specified, depending on the level of iron and BW sludge present. Iron transport polymers such as acrylic acid/sodium 3-allyloxy-2-hydropropane (AA/COPS) and phos-phinocarboxylic acid (PCA) usually are the most suitable. 

There are numerous applications where the development of high viscosity is necessary in a finished product. For example, thickeners, mainly based on poly(acrylic acid), are used to give body to so-called emulsion paints. Emulsion paints are not formulated from true emulsions (Le. stable dispersions of organic liquids in water), but are prepared from latexes, that is, dispersions of polymer in water. Since latexes do not contain soluble polymers, they have a viscosity almost the same as pure water. As such, they would not sustain a pigment dispersion, but would allow it to settle they would also fail to flow out adequately when painted on to a surface. Inclusion of a thickener in the formulation gives a paint in which the pigment does not settle out and which can readily be applied by brush to a surface. 

Copolymers of mainly acrylic acid and 2% to 20% by weight of itaconic acid are described as fluid loss additives for aqueous drilling fluids [138]. The polymers have an average molecular weight between 100,000 and 500,000 Dalton and are water dispersible. The polymers are advantageous when used with muds containing soluble calcium and muds containing chloride ions, such as seawater muds. 

A mixture of sulfonated styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer and polymers prepared from acrylic acid or acrylamide and their derivatives [759] are dispersants for drilling fluids. The rheologic characteristics of aqueous well drilling fluids are enhanced by incorporating into the fluids small amounts of sulfonated styrene-itaconic acid copolymers [761] and an acrylic acid or acrylamide polymer [755]. 

A nonpolluting dispersing agent for drilling fluids [217-219] has been described. The agent is based on polymers or copolymers of unsaturated acids, such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, with suitable counter ions. 

Figure 9. Differentiation between dispersions of alanine or glycine in poly(acrylic acid) resin (PA) as a function of concentration.

Liu et al. prepared palladium nanoparticles in water-dispersible poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)-lined channels of diblock copolymer microspheres [47]. The diblock microspheres (mean diameter 0.5 pm) were prepared using an oil-in-water emulsion process. The diblock used was poly(t-butylacrylate)-Wock-poly(2-cinna-moyloxyethyl) methacrylate (PtBA-b-PCEMA). Synthesis of the nanoparticles inside the PAA-lined channels of the microspheres was achieved using hydrazine for the reduction of PdCl2, and the nanoparticle formation was confirmed from TEM analysis and electron diffraction study (Fig. 9.1). The Pd-loaded microspheres catalyzed the hydrogenation of methylacrylate to methyl-propionate. The catalytic reactions were carried out in methanol as solvent under dihydro-... 

The results obtained indicated that cationic flotation of pyrochlore was not successful. Dispersant AQ4 has a pronounced effect on niobium metallurgical results. Dispersant/ depressant AQ4 is composed of the following individual reagents 60% orthodihydrox-ybenzene (Catacol), 30% low-molecular-weight acrylic acid (Accumer 2400) and 10% hexametapho sphate. 

The use of DQ4 in the desliming stage has a significant impact on monazite loss to the slime fraction. Table 24.15 shows the effect of different dispersants on monazite loss in the slime fraction, using dispersants from the DQ series. These dispersants are a mixture of low-molecular-weight acrylic acids modified with surfactant. 

Emulsion paints are based on aqueous synthetic resin dispersions, which afford a lacquer-like paint film. The resin dispersions which are commonly used by the paint industry contain water as the carrier phase. A large number of such dispersions are available, based on different resins such as poly(vinyl acetate), which may be employed as a copolymer with vinyl chloride, maleic dibutyl ester, ethylene, acrylic acid esters, polyacrylic resin, and copolymers of the latter with various monomers, as well as styrene-butadiene or poly(vinyl propionate). These disper-... 

Polyelectrolytes provide excellent stabilisation of colloidal dispersions when attached to particle surfaces as there is both a steric and electrostatic contribution, i.e. the particles are electrosterically stabilised. In addition the origin of the electrostatic interactions is displaced away from the particle surface and the origin of the van der Waals attraction, reinforcing the stability. Kaolinite stabilised by poly(acrylic acid) is a combination that would be typical of a paper-coating clay system. Acrylic acid or methacrylic acid is often copolymerised into the latex particles used in cement sytems giving particles which swell considerably in water. Figure 3.23 illustrates a viscosity curve for a copoly(styrene-... 

The important role Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) can play in this process is demonstrated on the development of an oxidation catalyst for the production of acrylic acid. Acrylic acid is produced by BASF in quantities of several 100.000 tons per year in a two step gas phase oxidation process starting from propene, which is oxidised to acrolein in the first step and then further oxidised to acrylic acid in a second step, each step requiring a special developed catalyst. Acrylic acid is used as a base material for the production of superabsorbents for nappies, dispersions and emulsions for adhesives and construction materials. 

The resulting acrylic acid/N-(hydroxyalky1) acrylamide copolymers were evaluated for their deposit control and dispersant activities as compared to the homopolymer of acrylic acid. Differences in the activities could be attributed to the incorporation of the N-hydroxylalkylacrylamide moiety into the polymer chain. 

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