Alkoxylated polymers

Abstract

The present invention provides alkoxylated polymers. The alkoxylated polymers have two or more alkoxylated sites. The alkoxylated polymers can comprise any monomers and/or oligomers that contain one or more functional groups with an active hydrogen. The alkoxylated polymers are useful in any application for which polymers are generally used. For example, the alkoxylated polymers are useful as additives in ink and coating compositions.

1 . An alkoxylated polymer comprising:
 a) a backbone with one or more alkoxylated sites;   b) terminal ends each of which is a site that can be alkoxylated; and   c) one or more polyfunctional monomers or oligomers having two or more functional polar groups with an active hydrogen, or mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The alkoxylated polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the functional polar groups are independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl, thiol, amino, imino, amido, or ureido. 
     
     
         3 . The alkoxylated polymer of  claim 1 , wherein one or more functional polar groups are hydroxyl. 
     
     
         4 . The alkoxylated polymer of  claim 1 , where the polyfunctional monomers and/or oligomers are functionalized by one or more COOH functional diols. 
     
     
         5 . The alkoxylated polymer of  claim 4 , wherein at least one COOH functional diol is dimethylolpropionic acid. 
     
     
         6 . The alkoxylated polymer of  claim 1 , where the polyfunctional monomers and/or oligomers are functionalized by one or more diacids or anhydrides, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The alkoxylated polymer of  claim 6 , wherein at least one anhydride is tetrahydrophthalic anhydride. 
     
     
         8 . The alkoxylated polymer of  claim 1 , where the polyfunctional monomers and/or oligomers are functionalized by one or more diols. 
     
     
         9 . The alkoxylated polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more polyfunctional monomers or oligomers is selected from the group consisting of trimethylol propane, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,4-butandiol, 1,3-propanediol, hexanediol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, neopentylglycol, trimethylolethane, pentaerythritol, glycerol, 1,2,4-benzenetriol, 1,3,5-benzenetriol, 1,2,3-benzenetriol, acrylic and methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, malonic acid, diethyl malonic acid, monobutyl maleate, 1,3-acetonedicarboxylic acid, azelaic acid, benzylmalonic acid, biphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid, 1,3,5-cyclohexanetricarboxylic acid, cyclohexyl succinic acid, trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercaptopropionate); trimethylolpropane tris(2-mercaptoacetate); pentaerythritol tetrakis(2-mercaptoacetate); pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate); 2,2′-(ethylenedioxy)diethanethiol; 1,3-propanedithiol; 1,2-ethanedithiol; 1,4-butanedithiol; tris[2-(3-mercaptopropionyloxy)ethyl]isocyanurate; and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene, m-phenylenediamine, p-phenylenediamine, 1,3,5-triaminobenzene, 1,3,4-triaminobenzene, 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid, 2,4-diaminotoluene, 2,4-diaminoanisole, and xylylenediamine, ethylenediamine, propylenediamine, and tris (2-diaminoethyl) amine, bis(imino)pyridine; 3,3′-iminodipropionitrile; [2,6-bis(1-phenylimino)ethyl]pyridine, norbornene diamide, 1,6-diazacyclododecane-2, 5-dione, dimethylbis(ureido)silane, and ureidopyrimidinone. 
     
     
         10 . The alkoxylated polymer of  claim 1 , which is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyurethane, polyacrylic, and polyamide. 
     
     
         11 . The alkoxylated polymer of  claim 1 , which is an alkoxylated polyester comprising:
 a) a backbone with one or more alkoxylated sites;   b) terminal ends each of which is a site that can be alkoxylated;   c) one or more di- or higher functional polyols; and   d) one or more diacids or anhydrides, or mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The alkoxylated polymer of  claim 1 , which is an alkoxylated polyurethane comprising:
 a) a backbone with one or more alkoxylated sites;   b) terminal ends each of which is a site that can be alkoxylated;   c) one or more diisocyanates; and   d) one or more di- or higher functional polyols.   
     
     
         13 . The alkoxylated polymer of  claim 1 , which is an alkoxylated polyacrylic comprising:
 a) a backbone with one or more alkoxylated sites;   b) terminal ends each of which is a site that can be alkoxylated;   c) one or more hydroxyl functional acrylic monomers, or carboxyl functional acrylic monomers, or mixtures thereof;   d) one or more additional acrylic or styrenic monomers; and   e) one or more di- or higher functional polyols.   
     
     
         14 . The alkoxylated polymer of  claim 1 , derived from a propoxylation, ethoxylation, or butoxylation process. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An ink or coating composition comprising the alkoxylated polymer of  claim 1  as a dispersant or low-tack binder. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A printing ink comprising the alkoxylated polymer of  claim 1 , and at least one colorant. 
     
     
         21 . The printing ink of  claim 20 , wherein the alkoxylated polymer is present in an amount from 0.1 to 20 wt %. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The printing ink of  claim 20 , wherein the ink is a white ink. 
     
     
         29 . The printing ink of  claim 20 , wherein the ink is a flexographic printing ink, or a gravure printing ink. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The printing ink of  claim 20 , wherein the printing ink is an energy curable printing ink. 
     
     
         32 . A process for improving the opacity, gloss, scratch resistance, and laydown of a printing ink by incorporating the alkoxylated polymer of  claim 1  into the printing ink.