Ici thickener composition and uses

Abstract

A viscosity regulating composition and its method of manufacture. The composition comprises a mixture of (a) a branched polymer having the formula [M]-[(A1O)-L1-(A1O)—R1]n, wherein M is polybranched hydrophobe; A1O is a polyoxyalkylene unit; L1 is an aliphatic linking segment or an aromatic linking segment each having at least two hydroxyl reactive linking groups; and R1 is an aliphatic end unit or aromatic end unit having 6 to 32 carbon atoms; n ranges from 3 to 6; and (b) a polymer having the formula R2-(A2O)-L2-(A2O)—R2, wherein (A2O) is a polyoxyalkylene unit, L2 is a aliphatic linking segment or an aromatic linking segment, and R2 is a aliphatic unit or an aromatic unit each having 6 to 32 carbon atoms.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A viscosity regulating composition comprising a mixture of
 (a) a branched polymer having the formula [M]-[(A 1 O)-L 1 -(A 1 O)—R 1 ] n  wherein M is a polybranched hydrophobe; (A 1 O) is a polyoxyalkylene unit; L 1  is an aliphatic linking segment or an aromatic linking segment; R 1  is an aliphatic unit or an aromatic unit each having 2 to 32 carbon atoms and n ranges from 3 to 6;   
       and
 (b) a polymer having the formula R 2 -(A 2 O)-L 2 -(A 2 O)—R 2 , wherein (A 2 O) is a polyoxyalkylene unit, L 2  is an aliphatic linking segment or an aromatic linking segment, and R 2  is an aliphatic unit or an aromatic unit each having 2 to 32 carbon atoms. 
 
     
     
         2 . The viscosity regulating composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a polybranched polymer selected from the group consisting of (i) [R 3 -(A 3 O)-L 3 -(A 3 O)] (n-1) -M-[(A 3 O)-L 3 -(A 3 O)]-M-[(A 3 O)-L 3 -(A 3 O)—R 3 ] (n-1) ; (ii) {[R 4 -(A 4 O)-L 4 -(A 4 O)] (n-1) -M-[(A 4 O)-L 4 -(A 4 O)]} {-M-[(A 4 O)-L 4 -(A 4 O)—R 4 ] (n-2) -[(A 4 O)-L 4 -(A 4 O)]} m -{M-[(A 4 O)-L 4 -(A 4 O)—R 4 ] (n-1) }; (iii) and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The viscosity regulating composition of  claim 2 , wherein M is derived from a polyhydric alcohol independently selected from the group consisting of: trimethanolpropane, pentaerythritol, erythritol, dipentaerythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, inositol, glycopyranose and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The viscosity regulating composition according to  claim 3 , wherein (A 1 O), (A 2 O), (A 3 O) and (A 4 O) each structure independently selected from: 
       (i) -(-EO—) q [(-EO—) x -(—PO—) y ](-EO—) z - 
       where q+x+z ranges from 50 to 250 and y ranges from 0 to 50; and (EO) and (PO) of [(-EO—) x -(—PO—) y ] are randomly distributed throughout [(-EO—) x -(—PO—) y ]; 
       (ii) -(-EO—) q (—PO—) y (-EO—) z -, where q+z ranges from 50 to 250 and y ranges from 2 to 50; and (EO) and (PO) are block copolymers; 
       (iii) -(—PO—) q [(-EO—) x -(—PO—) y ](-EO—) z -, where x+z ranges from 50 to 250 and q+y ranges from 2 to 50; and (EO) and (PO) of [(-EO—) x -(—PO—) y ] are randomly distributed throughout [(-EO—) x -(—PO—) y ] while PO of (—PO—) q  is a block polymer. PO of (—PO—) q  can be directly linked to either R and/or M; 
       (iv) -(-EO—) q [(-EO—) x -(—PO—) y ](—PO—) z -, where q+x ranges from 50 to 250 and y+z ranges from 2 to 50; and (EO) and (PO) of [(-EO—) x -(—PO—) y ] are randomly distributed throughout [(-EO—) x -(—PO—) y ] while PO of (—PO—) z  is a block polymer. PO of (—PO—) z  is linked to L; or 
       (v) -(—PO—) q [(-EO—) x -(—PO—) y ](—PO—) z -, where x ranges from 50 to 250 and q+y+z ranges from 4 to 50; and (EO) and (PO) of [(-EO—) x -(—PO—) y ] are randomly distributed throughout [(-EO—) x -(—PO—) y ] while PO of (—PO—) q  and (—PO—) z  are block polymers. 
     
     
         5 . The viscosity regulating composition of  claim 4 , wherein L 1 , L 2 , L 3  and L 4  each have least two linking groups independently selected from: urethane linking group (O—C(═O)—NH), urea linking group (N(R)—C(═O)—NH), ether linking group (—O—), ester linking group (—C(═O)O—), amine linking group (—NH—), an aminoplast segment, a linking group which is the residue from reaction of an epihalohydrin and a hydroxyl group. 
     
     
         6 . The viscosity regulating composition of  claim 5 , wherein L 1 , L 2 , L 3  and L 4  each an urethane linking group derived from a diisocyanate independently selected from the group consisting of 1,4-tetramethylene diisocyanate, 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,6-diisocyanatohexane, 1,10-decamethylene diisocyanate, 4,4′-methylenebis(isocyanatocyclohexane), 1,4-cyclohexylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, m- and p-phenylene diisocyanate, 2,6- and 2,4-toluene diisocyanate, xylene diisocyanate, 4-chloro-1,3-phenylene diisocyanate, 4,4′-biphenylene diisocyanate, 4,4′-methylene diphenyldiisocyanate, 1,5-naphthylene diisocyanate, 1,5-tetrahydronaphthylene diisocyanate and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The viscosity regulating composition of  claim 6 , wherein L 1 , L 2 , L 3  and L 4  each have an ester linking group derived from a diacid independently selected from the group consisting of: propanedioic acid, butanedioic acid, pentanedioic acid, hexanedioic acid, heptanedioic acid, octanedioic acid, nonanedioic acid, decanedioic acid and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The viscosity regulating composition of  claim 7 , wherein L 1 , L 2 , L 3  and L 4  each have an ester linking group derived from a diester independently selected the group consisting of dimethyl succinate, dimethyl adipate, dimethyl glutarate, dimethyl pimelate, dimethyl suberate, dimethyl azelate, dimethyl sebacate, diethyl succinate, diethyl adipate, diethyl glutarate, diethyl pimelate, diethyl suberate, diethyl azelate, diethyl sebacate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The viscosity regulating polymer composition of  claim 5 , wherein L 1 , L 2 , L 3  and L 4  each have an ether linking group derived independently selected from the group consisting of: 1,3-butadiene diepoxide, 1,2,7,8-diepoxyoctane, 1,2,5,6-diepoxycyclooctane, limonene diepoxide, bis(polyoxyethylene bis[glycidyl ether], bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, diglycidyl ether, ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, propylene glycol diglycidyl ether and combinations thereof 
     
     
         10 . The viscosity regulating polymer composition of  claim 9 , wherein L 1 , L 2 , L 3  and L 4  each have an ether linking group derived from a dihalo compound independently selected from the group consisting of dihalomethane, dihaloethane, dihalopropane, dihalobutane, dihalopentane, dihalohexane, dihaloheptane, dihalooctane, dihalononane, dihalodecane, dihalododecane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The viscosity regulating composition of  claim 5 , wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are each independently selected from the group consisting of a linear alkyl group, a branched alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, a linear alkylaryl group, a branched alkylaryl group and combinations thereof, each having 2 to 16, 6 to 14 or 6 to 12 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         12 . The viscosity regulating composition of  claim 11 , wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independently selected from butyl, hexyl, ethylhexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, 2-butyloctyl and 2-hexyldecyl, tristyryl phenol, distyryl phenol, styryl phenol and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The viscosity regulating composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a second polymer having the formula [M]-[(A 1 O)-{L-(A 1 O)} m —R 1 ] n  wherein m ranges from 2 to 4. 
     
     
         14 . An aqueous thickener composition comprising: the viscosity regulating composition according to  claim 1  and water. 
     
     
         15 . The aqueous thickener composition according to  claim 14 , having 5 wt. % to 50 wt. % of the viscosity regulating composition. 
     
     
         16 . The aqueous thickener composition according to  claim 15 , further comprising a viscosity suppressant independently selected from the group consisting of organic solvents, butoxyethanol, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol, and other water miscible organic solvents, an inorganic salt, sodium chloride or a nonionic or anionic surfactant. 
     
     
         17 . The aqueous thickener composition according to  claim 15 , having a viscosity ranging from 100 to 10000 cP in the absence of a viscosity suppressant independently selected from the group consisting of organic solvents, butoxyethanol, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol, and other water miscible organic solvents, an inorganic salt, sodium chloride or a nonionic or anionic surfactant. 
     
     
         18 . A method to improve ICI viscosity of an aqueous composition comprising: providing an effective amount of a viscosity regulating composition to an aqueous composition, the viscosity regulating composition comprises the viscosity regulating composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the ICI viscosity of the aqueous composition ranges from 0.5 to 5.0 Poise. 
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a viscosity regulating composition according to  claim 1  comprising the steps of:
 forming a solvent-free melt of (i) an alkoxylated polyhydroxyl segment, having the formula [M]-(AO) n  having 3 to 6 reactive hydroxyl linking groups, n ranges from 3 to 6, a molecular weight ranging from 10,000 g/mole to 50,000 g/mole, and (ii) an alkoxylated aliphatic end segment or alkoxylated aromatic end segment, having the formula (AO)—R and a reactive hydroxyl linking group and a molecular weight ranging from 2,000 g/mole to 10,000 g/mole; 
 contacting the solvent-free melt with aliphatic linking segments or aromatic linking segments, L, each having at least two hydroxyl reactive linking groups under conditions sufficient to form a composition comprising a mixture of a branched polymer having the formula [M]-[(AO)-L-(AO)—R] n  and a polymer having the formula R-(AO)-L-(AO)—R, wherein the mole ratio of the alkoxylated polyhydroxyl segment to the alkoxylated aliphatic end segment or alkoxylated aromatic end segment ranges from 1:3 to 1:30; 1:3 to 1:14; 1:9 to 1:22. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing a viscosity regulating composition according to  claim 1  comprising the steps of:
 forming a solvent-free melt of (i) an alkoxylated polyhydroxyl segment, having the formula [M]-(AO) an  having 3 to 6 reactive hydroxyl linking groups, n ranges from 3 to 6, a molecular weight ranging from 1,000 g/mole to 10,000 g/mole, and (ii) an alkoxylated aliphatic end segment or alkoxylated aromatic end segment, having the formula (AO)—R, a reactive hydroxyl linking group and a molecular weight ranging from 500 g/mole to 2,000 g/mole; 
 contacting the solvent-free melt with ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or combination thereof under conditions sufficient to form a mixture of an alkoxylated polyhydroxyl segment having a molecular weight ranging from 10,000 g/mole to 50,000 g/mole and an alkoxylated aliphatic end segment or alkoxylated aromatic end segment having a molecular weight ranging from 2,000 g/mole to 10,000 g/mole; 
 contacting the solvent-free melt with aliphatic linking segments or aromatic linking segments, L, each having at least two hydroxyl reactive linking groups under conditions sufficient to form a composition comprising a mixture of a branched polymer having the formula [M]-[(AO)-L-(AO)—R] n  and a polymer having the formula R-(AO)-L-(AO)—R, wherein the mole ratio of the alkoxylated polyhydroxyl segment to the alkoxylated aliphatic end segment or alkoxylated aromatic end segment ranges from 1:3 to 1:30; 1:3 to 1:14; 1:9 to 1:22. 
 
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing a viscosity regulating composition according to  claim 1  comprising the steps of:
 reacting at least two moles of alkoxylated aliphatic end segment or alkoxylated aromatic end segment, having the formula (AO)—R and a reactive hydroxyl linking group and a molecular weight ranging from 2,000 g/mole to 10,000 g/mole, with an aliphatic linking segments or aromatic linking segments, L, having at least two hydroxyl reactive linking groups under conditions sufficient to form a composition having a formula of R-(AO)-L-(AO)—R; 
 adding the composition having a formula of R-(AO)-L-(AO)—R to a solvent free melt of (i) an alkoxylated polyhydroxyl segment, having the formula [M]-(AO) n  having 3 to 6 reactive hydroxyl linking groups, n ranges from 3 to 6, a molecular weight ranging from 10,000 g/mole to 50,000 g/mole, and (ii) an alkoxylated aliphatic end segment or alkoxylated aromatic end segment, having the formula (AO)—R and a reactive hydroxyl linking group and a molecular weight ranging from 2,000 g/mole to 10,000 g/mole; 
 contacting the solvent-free melt with aliphatic linking segments or aromatic linking segments, L, each having at least two hydroxyl reactive linking groups under conditions sufficient to form a composition having the formula branched polymer having the formula [M]-[(AO)-L-(AO)—R] n , wherein the mole ratio of the alkoxylated polyhydroxyl segment to the alkoxylated aliphatic end segment or alkoxylated aromatic end segment ranges from 1:3 to 1:30; 1:3 to 1:14; 1:9 to 1:22.