Abstract
In the 1980s, a new class of thickeners, i.e., associative thickener (AT), was introduced for water-based coatings to improve their rheology. Principally, they work by associating with polymer particles present in the paint. Manufacturers of ATs provide some generic guidelines to choose them based on economy, regulatory restrictions, and polymer type; however, it is very difficult to choose suitable ATs until and unless their interactions with polymer particles are studied by rheology. This article focuses on developing a rheological approach to identify a suitable AT for a paint formulation. In this approach, a rheology viscosity curve was used on AT–emulsion polymer mix and AT–emulsion polymer–surfactant mix to short-list a suitable AT. Subsequently, the shortlisted ATs were tested in the paint formulation to study their efficacy. Commonly used, hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)-free, commercially available ATs, viz. hydrophobically modified ethoxylated urethane thickener (HEUR) and hydrophobically modified poly(acetal- or ketal-polyether) thickener (HMPE), were selected to study their interaction with a unique surfactant-stabilized acrylic–polyurethane hybrid emulsion. A range of acrylic–polyurethane hybrid emulsions were prepared by increasing the polyurethane content in the emulsion. As the polyurethane content increased in the emulsion polymer, the thickening efficiency of AT decreased.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Eley, RR, “Applied Rheology in the Protective and Decorative Coating Industry.” Rheol. Rev., 173–240 (2005)
Shay, GD, “Ch-30, Thickeners and Rheology Modifiers.” In: Koleske, JV (ed.), Paints and Coating Testing Manual, 14th Ed. Gardner-Sward Handbook (ASTM Manual Series) 268 London (1995)
Bieleman, J, Additives for Coatings. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim (2000)
Hester, RD, Squire, DR, Jr, “Rheology of Waterborne Coatings.” J. Coat. Technol., 69 (864) 109–114 (1997)
Hirose, M, Zhou, J, Nagai, K, “The Structure and Properties of Acrylic-Polyurethane Hybrid Emulsions.” Prog. Org. Coat, 38 (1) 27–34 (2000)
Ma, G, Guan, T, Hou, C, Wu, J, Wang, G, Ji, X, Wang, B, “Preparation, Properties and Application of Waterbased Hydroxyl-Functional Polyurethane/Acrylic Emulsion in Two-Component Coatings.” J. Coat. Technol. Res., 12 (3) 505–512 (1995)
Chen, G, Chen, K, “Hybridization of Aqueous Based Polyurethane with Glycidyl Methacrylate Polymer.” J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 71 (6) 903 (1999)
Hegedus, CR, Kloiber, KA, “Aqueous Acrylic-Polyurethane Hybrid Dispersions and Their Use in Industrial Coatings.” J. Coat. Technol., 68 (860) 39–48 (1996)
Okamoto, Y, Hasegawa, Y, Yoshino, F, “Urethane/Acrylic Composite Polymer Emulsion.” Prog. Org. Coat., 29 (1–4) 175–182 (1996)
Nakayama, Y, “Polymer Blend Systems for Waterborne Paints.” Prog. Org. Coat., 33 (2) 108–116 (1998)
Quadrat, O, Horsky, J, Mrkvickova, L, Mikesova, J, Snuparek, J, “Thickening of Butyl Acrylate/Styrene/2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate/Acrylic Acid Lattices with an HEUR Associative Thickener.” Prog. Org. Coat., 42 (1–2) 110–116 (2001)
Quadrat, O, Horsky, J, Snuparek, J, “Effect of Styrene Units in Lattices of Acrylate Copolymers with Structured Particles on the Thickening with Associative Thickeners.” Prog. Org. Coat., 50 (3) 166–171 (2004)
Quadrat, O, Mikesova, J, Horsky, J, Snuparek, J, “Viscoelastic Behaviour of Butyl Acrylate/Styrene/2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate/Acrylic Acid Lattices Thickened with Associative Thickeners.” C.R. Chimie, 6 1411–1416 (2003)
Quadrat, O, Snuparek, J, Mikesova, J, Horskey, J, “Effect of “Hard Comonomers Styrene and Methyl Methacrylate in Ethyl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Lattices on Their Thickening with Associative Thickeners.” Coll. Surf. A Physiochem. Eng. Aspects, 253 (1–3) 163–168 (2005)
Hulden, M, “Hydrophobically Modified Urethane-Ethoxylate (HEUR) Associative Thickeners 2. Interaction with Latex.” Coll. Surf. A Physiochem. Eng. Asp., 88 (2–3) 207–221 (1994)
Svanholm, T, Molenaar, F, Toussaint, A, “Associative Thickeners: Their Adsorption Behaviour onto Latexes and Rheology of Their Solutions.” Prog. Org. Coat., 30 (3) 159–165 (1997)
Annable, T, Buscall, R, Eltelaie, R, Shepherd, P, Wittlestone, D, “Influenece of Surfactant on the Rheology of Associative Polymer in Solution.” Langmuir, 10 (4) 1060–1070 (1994)
Manion, SJ, Johnson, LL, Fernando, RH, “Shear Thickening in Aqueous Surfactant-Associative Thickener Mixture.” J. Coat. Technol. Res., 8 (3) 299–309 (2011)
Doolan, JG, Cody, CA, “A Pourable Water Dispersible Thickening Composition for AQUEOUS System.” US patent CA2144101C, 1995
Kruse, U, Tituscille, Crowley, BC, River, T, both of N. J., Wilbur S. Mardis, East Amherst, N. Y. “Water Dispersible Modified Polyurethane Thickener with Improved High Shear Viscosity in Aqueous System.” US Patent 5023309, 1991
Sau, AC, “Hydrophobically Modified Poly(Acetal-Polyethers).” US patent 5574127, 1996
Hendel, RA, Yan, L, Cheng, L, “Methods for Controlling Silica Scale in Aqueous Systems.” US Patent 7316787 B2, 2008
Sau, AC, “Supression of Aqueous Viscosity of Associative Polyacetal–Polyethers.” US Patent 6809132 B2, 2004
Patton, TC, Paint Flow and Pigment Dispersion, 2nd ed. Interscience Publishers, New York (1964)
Auschra, C, Romero, IG, Willerich, I, Reichardt, R, Muenzenberg, C, Martinez, E, He, H, “The Role of Thickeners in Optimizing Coating Formulations.” In: ChinaCoat 2014, 19th China Exhibition for Coatings, Printing Inks and Adhesives, Guanzhou, China, Dec. 2014, Paper no-7
Glass, JE, “Adsorption of Hydrophobically-Modified Ethoxylated Urethane Thickeners on Latex and Titanium Dioxide Dispersed Phases.” Adv. Coll. Interface Sci., 79 123–148 (1999)
Acknowledgments
Authors are thankful to Asian paints management for giving permission to submit this paper for international publication. Authors are also thankful to Mr. Girish Gurjar, Mr. Vijay Shigwan, and Mr. Sushant Barve from Modern Instrumentation Laboratory for their help in FTIR, PSA, and DSC. Thanks are also due to Dr. Subrahmanya Shreepathi, Dr. Sisirkumar Mandal, Dr. Subarna Shyamroy, Dr. Raja Krishnamurthy, and Dr. Venkata Chada for their suggestion and encouragement.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bhavsar, R.A., Nehete, K.M. Rheological approach to select most suitable associative thickener for water-based polymer dispersions and paints. J Coat Technol Res 16, 1089–1098 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-019-00194-6
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-019-00194-6