Pigment dispersants

Although desirable, organic pigments present problems because they are more resistant to breakdown and dispersion, with limited heat stability and less interaction with the matrix. No single dispersant has been able to correct this. Polyethylene and polypropylene waxes are used as carriers for pigments, but it has been difficult to ensure complete avoidance of agglomerates. 

AlliedSignal s Aclyn range of low molecular weight ionomer colour dispersants is claimed to offer improvements in division as well as wetting and 

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Pigment dispersant Pigment dispersion Pigment dispersions Pigment dyeing Pigmented wood stains... 

Additives. Because of their versatility, imparted via chemical modification, the appHcations of ethyleneimine encompass the entire additive sector. The addition of PEI to PVC plastisols increases the adhesion of the coatings by selective adsorption at the substrate surface (410). PEI derivatives are also used as adhesion promoters in paper coating (411). The adducts formed from fatty alcohol epoxides and PEI are used as dispersants and emulsifiers (412). They are able to control the viscosity of dispersions, and thus faciHtate transport in pipe systems (413). Eatty acid derivatives of PEI are even able to control the viscosity of pigment dispersions (414). The high nitrogen content of PEIs has a flame-retardant effect. This property is used, in combination with phosphoms compounds, for providing wood panels (415), ceUulose (416), or polymer blends (417,418) with a flame-retardant finish. 

Water-Based Writing Inks. These consist of very fine pigment dispersions in aqueous media containing small amounts of glycol or glycerol and a dispersing aid. They dry mainly by evaporation and quick wetting of ceUulosic fibers in paper substrates. 

Plastics. Lecithin (0.5—1.5%) is used for pigment dispersion and as a shp or release agent. It also may be sprayed on molds. It has surfactant effects in organosols and plastisols (see Surfactants). 

Water-based flexo inks can be formulated with either a soluble toner or with the Day-Glo EPX Series which is a tme pigment and can be formulated like a conventional pigment dispersion. The Radiant Aquabest or the Day-Glo WST can be formulated in an alkaline water-soluble system to yield strong inks. They have limited shelf life and inferior fade, but do not necessarily requite additional binder. Day-Glo EPX must be formulated with a binder such as a hard resin or can be used with one of the soluble toners such as WST. The EPX Series has several advantages over soluble toners such as much superior fade, exceUent ink stabiHty, and some hiding power over kraft-type papers. A disadvantage of the EPX is its lower tinctorial strength than other fluorescent toners. 

Nltropropane. As much as 9100 t of 2-nitropropane once were consumed for use in coatings annually. Concern about toxicity and a general movement to low volatile organic compound (VOC) coatings have resulted in almost the complete disappearance of this use for 2-nitropropane. However, derivatives such as 2-meth5l-2-nitro-l-propanol (used in tire cord adhesive) and 2-amino-2-methyl-l-propanol (a pigment dispersant and buffer), have served as an outlet for 2-nitropropane production. 

Solvents. Solvents in house paints serve several essential purposes. They keep the binder dispersed or dissolved and the pigments dispersed in an easy-to-use state. Solvents allow the paint to be appHed in the correct thickness and uniformity, and evaporate from the paint film after the paint is apphed. Solvent choice is limited mainly to a solvent that is compatible with the binder system and that has the desked evaporation rate and toxicity profile. The volatility or evaporation rate of a solvent determines to a large extent the open-time and dry-time properties of a paint (6). 

T. C. Patton, Paint Flow and Pigment Dispersion, 3rd ed., John Wiley Sons, Inc., New York, 1979. 

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