Viscosity acrylic dispersion

Sulphosuccinic acid diesters play a role above all in American polymerization formulations. They are rarely used as principal emulsifiers, but rather to control secondary properties, for example, for the production of highly concentrated low viscosity acrylate dispersions. The branched sodium di-2-ethyl hexyl sulphosuccinate is widely used, combining favourable emulsifier properties with excellent wetting power. Dicyclohexyl sulphosuccinate has a particularly high CMC and a particularly high surface tension [48]. 

Figure 7.9 Shear-stress dependence of the relative viscosity for dispersions in white spirit of acrylic copolymer particles of radius a = 157 nm at a volume fraction of p =0.40 for differing concentrations of nonadsorbing polyisobutylene polymer of molecular weight 411,000. The particles had been stabilized by addition of a comb-graft copolymer of PMMA backbone (which adsorbed to the particles) with non-adsorbing poly(12-hydroxystearic acid) teeth. The con-centrations (in weight per unit volume) of polyisobutylene are 1.0% ( ), 0.85%(B), 0.6%(D), 0.5%(V), 0.4%( ), and 0.1 %(0)- (From Bus-call et al. 1993, with permission from the Journal of Rheology.)...

The influence of particle size distribution in the use of latex dispersions is shown to be of great practical importance. The practical consequences are examined of bimodal particle size distribution with respect to coatings applications. The introduction of polydispersity in acrylic dispersions is examined as a way of obtaining a lower dispersion volume loading at an equivalent viscosity as for monodisperse spheres. Aspects such as film formation, rheology, and drying behaviour are discussed. 39 refs. 

NeoPac E-850 is a formaldehyde-free, water-based aliphatic polyester urethane-acrylic dispersion. This system was developed specifically for use in wood furniture adhesives due to its bond strength and excellent water and heat resistance. As a water-based polymer, it can be highly loaded with mineral fillers to reduce the overall water content in the formulated adhesive without loss of adhesion properties. This is a necessary requirement for most wood laminating production methods in controlling viscosity, wood penetration and faster drying. 

The particle size of the dispersed phase depends upon the viscosity of the elastomer-monomer solution. Preferably the molecular weight of the polybutadiene elastomer should be around 2 x 10 and should have reasonable branching to reduce cold flow. Furthermore, the microstructure of the elastomer provides an important contribution toward the low-temperature impact behavior of the final product. It should also be emphasized that the use of EPDM rubber [136] or acrylate rubber [137] may provide improved weatherability. It has been observed that with an increase in agitator speed the mean diameter of the dispersed phase (D) decreases, which subsequently levels out at high shear [138-141]. However, reagglomeration may occur in the case of bulk... 

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. 

Depolymerised Carpet printing/dyeing acid, metal-complex dyes Cotton, viscose vat, direct, azoic dyes Polyester disperse dyes Nylon acid, metal-complex dyes Acrylic fibres basic dyes... 

A major drawback of synthetic thickeners when used with dyes is their sensitivity to electrolytes. Most soluble dyes behave as highly ionised electrolytes and disperse dyes contain anionic polyelectrolyte dispersing agents unless they have been formulated with nonionic systems specifically for use with acrylic thickeners. Consequently there is a loss of viscosity this can be quite pronounced although it depends on circumstances, particularly on the dye concentration. As already mentioned, this can be alleviated to some extent by copolymerisation with acrylamide during manufacture. Otherwise it is necessary to try to eliminate all electrolytes from the system or to increase the concentration of thickener. Such measures have their limitations in practice, however. Alternative synthetic thickening... 

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 way to maximise the solids content of the slurry while keeping a reasonable viscosity is through the use of a dispersant. The dispersant helps maintain fine solid particles in a state of suspension, thus minimising their agglomeration or settling. The dispersant is generally a low molecular weight acrylic based polymer. For most applications, cost of dispersant is critical. 

Poly(acrylic acid) is water soluble. Because of its water solubility and its ability to increase the viscosity of water, it is used as a thickener. It is also a good flocculent for sewage treatment and is added as a pigment dispersant in latex paints, and is used in binders and adhesives. Polymers and copolymers containing acrylic or/and methacrylic acid are manufactured at a rate of about 2,000,000 metric tons yearly. 

The viscosity of a dispersion may be increased by adding a water-soluble viscosifier. There are several types, for example, FIEC (hydroxyethyl cellulose) or acrylic viscosifiers, which are added in the form of an aqueous stock solution. To utilize their viscosifying effects fully, the pFI of the formulation must be increased to a certain optimum value, typical for a given viscosifier. 

A similar, and even more dramatic, viscosity enhancement was observed by Buscall et al. (1993) for dispersions of 157-nm acrylate particles in white spirit (a mixture of high-boiling hydrocarbons). These particles were stabilized by an adsorbed polymer layer, and then they were depletion-flocculated by addition of a nonadsorbing polyisobutylene polymer. Figure 7-9 shows curves of the relative viscosity versus shear stress for several concentrations of polymer at a particle volume fraction of 0 = 0.40. Note that a polymer concentration of 0.1 % by weight is too low to produce flocculation, and the viscosity is only modestly elevated from that of the solvent. For weight percentages of 0.4-1.0%, however, there is a 3-6 decade increase in the zero-shear viscosity ... 

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