Non-ionic thickeners for pigment compositions, in particular paints and applications thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of a compound with an alkylene oxide chain as a thickener of aqueous compositions, containing a filler and/or pigmented, white or coloured, with the aim of supplying pigmentary compositions for paint which provide excellent pigmentary compatibility and a high viscosity at small and medium shear stress gradient. The invention also relates to the said non-ionic thickener as well as the aqueous composition, containing a filler and/or pigmented, white or coloured, containing same.

1 - 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . A compound formed by reacting isocyanate groups in a polyisocyanate compound with the hydroxyl groups of a polyalkylene oxide compound, 
 wherein said thickener compound has terminal hydrocarbon groups which each contain at least three aromatic rings that may be substituted.    
   
   
       29 . The compound of  claim 28 , wherein said terminal hydrocarbon groups contain unsubstituted aromatic rings.  
   
   
       30 . The compound of  claim 28 , wherein said terminal hydrocarbon groups contain an aromatic ring which is substituted with alkyl, phenyl or benzyl.  
   
   
       31 . The non-ionic thickener according to  claim 28 , wherein the R and R′ groups are tristyrylphenyl (TSP) group which may be substituted having the formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
   
   
       32 . The compound of  claim 30 , wherein the tristyrylphenyl (TSP) is itself substituted by a styryl group thereby forming a tetrastyrylphenyl group.  
   
   
       33 . The non-ionic thickener according to  claim 28 , wherein the R and R′ groups are distyrylphenyl (DSP) group which may be substituted having the formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
   
   
       34 . The non-ionic thickener according to  claim 28 , wherein the R and R′ groups which may be substituted have the formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
   
   
       35 . The compound of  claim 28  which comprises formula (I) below: 
       R—O—(OE) x -(OP) y —(OE) z -O-DI-(-PEG-DI-) n—O—(OE)   x′ -(OP) y′ —(OE) z′-O—R′   
     in which: 
 R and R′ are independently terminal hydrocarbon groups having at least three aromatic cycles which may be substituted,  
 DI is a diisocyanate group;  
 PEG is a polyethylene glycol group of molecular weight ranging from 6,000 to 20,000;  
 n is between 1 and 40;  
 x, z, x′, z′ are between 1 and 40;  
 y, y′ are between 0 and 40;  
 with x+y+z+x′+y′+z′ between 2 and 80.  
 
   
   
       36 . The compound of  claim 34 , wherein R and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
   
   
       37 . The compound of  claim 34 , wherein DI is toluene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate or hexamethylene diisocyanate.  
   
   
       38 . The compound of  claim 34 , wherein PEG is a polyethylene glycol group of molecular weight ranging from 8,000 to 10,000.  
   
   
       39 . The compound of  claim 34 , wherein n=1.  
   
   
       40 . The compound of  claim 34 , wherein x and x′=1.  
   
   
       41 . The compound of  claim 34 , wherein y and y′=0.  
   
   
       42 . The compound of  claim 34 , wherein z and z′=0.  
   
   
       43 . The compound of  claim 34 , wherein R and R′ are tristyrylphenyl (TSP) and x, x′, y, y′, z and z′ range between 2 and 80.  
   
   
       44 . A composition which comprises the compound of  claim 28 .  
   
   
       45 . The composition of  claim 43  which contains 0.1% to 2% dry weight of said compound based on the total mass of the composition and an aqueous medium.  
   
   
       46 . The composition of  claim 44 , further comprising a white or colored pigment.  
   
   
       47 . The composition of  claim 45 , wherein the value of ΔE matt +ΔE silk +η matt +η silk  is greater than 3.  
   
   
       48 . A method for thickening an aqueous composition comprising incorporating the compound of  claim 28  into an aqueous composition.  
   
   
       49 . A method for thickening a paint comprising incorporating the compound of  claim 28  into a paint.