CA2036816A1

CA2036816A1 - Emulsion polymerisation

Info

Publication number: CA2036816A1
Application number: CA002036816A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Razmik B. Boodaghains; Colin G. Fuller; Aloysius G. Meredith
Original assignee: Razmik B. Boodaghains; Colin G. Fuller; Aloysius G. Meredith; Unilever Plc
Current assignee: Unilever PLC
Priority date: 1990-02-23
Filing date: 1991-02-21
Publication date: 1991-08-24
Also published as: DE69112453D1; EP0444827A1; DE69112453T2; AU7126191A; ATE127133T1; EP0444827B1; US5073578A

Abstract

Abstract Emulsion copolymers having a core-shell structure with alkyl alkanoate, alkylene, alkyl acrylate and vinyl silane in the core and vinyl alkanoate in the shell are usable in pigmented surface coating compositions. These compositions have desired water permeability tensile strength and elongation properties at low temperatures.
The compositions provide bridging for cracks present or developing in the surface.

Description

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E~JLSION POLYMERISATION

Field of the Invention This invention relates to copolymer emulsions suitable for use as thick flexible coatings for concrete, brick, bitumen felt and other surfaces. They are usable on vertical, hoFizontal and sloping surfaces.

Backqround to the_invention:

The use of flexible coatings to protect surfaces from damage whether by physical or chemical means is well known. Such surface coatings will be expected to provide a decorative appearance when used internally or externally.

The invention provides copolymer emulsions suitable for incorporation in surface coatings. These coatings are ' 203~g~

sufficiently flexible to provide bridging across any cracks that may develop in the substrate due to movement and the products of the invention are effective even at relatively low temperatures. ~hey possess the necessary combination of water retention and permeability properties.

General description of the invention The invention provides a copolymer emulsion comprising a core/shell structure in which the core comprises by weight:
i) from about 10% to about 60% of vinyl C1 to C4 alkanoate, ii) from about 10% to about 30% of C2 to C4 alkylene, iii) from about 1% to about 10% of alkyl (C2 to C12 acrylate iv) from about 10% to about 40% of vinyl esters having the general formula R1R2R3CCOOCHCH2 wherein Rl R2 and R3 are each alkyl groups having at least one carbon atom and Rl + R2 + R3 have from 6 to 9 carbon atoms (vinyl versatates)~
v) from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of a vinyl silane and vi) the shell, which comprises from about 5% to about 40% by weight of the total copolymer solids, comprises vinyl C1 to C4 alkanoate at a level of at least 80%.

The copolymer will have a Tg in the range about 0C to about -30C, preferably ~5C to -20C. The Tg is obtained within a suitable range by selection of the monomers and their content. Tg of a copolymer may be calculated from the monomer values or measured using Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (D~TA).

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- ~ - R3068 The solids contents of the emulsions will usually be in the ranye 35~ to 70% by weight, preferably 45% to 60%
to provide cost effective provision of the film forming solidsO

The weight mean particle size of the emulsion particles will usually be in the range 0.5 to 3.0 microns as measured by using a Joyce Loebl disc centrifuge.

Although vinyl acetate is the preferred vinyl alkanoate monomer because of its availability, cost and known reactivity, other vinyl esters within the class defined are usa~le, in particular vinyl formate, propionate, butyrate and isobutyrate. The vinyl alkanoate monomer will be present at a level of about 10%
to ensure the copolymer has the desired properties and amounts above about 60~ are unlikely to be cost effective, preferably a level above about 40% will be used.

The preferred alkylene is ethylene but other ethylenic hydrocarbons, for example propylene butylene and isobutene are usable. Preferably tha level is above about 15%.

The alkyl acrylate monomers are present to provide physical softening of the copolymers and are preferably present at a level above about 3~ and below about 8%.
The chain length of the alkyl group is preferably in the range 4 to 10. A preferred alkyl acrylate is 2-ethyl hexyl acry~ate but butyl acrylate, hexyl acrylate and octyl acrylate are also satisfactory.

The vinyl esters of versatic acids are obtained from Shell Chemicals of Chester England under the Trade Mark ~, .
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- 4 - ~30~8 "Veova". The pre~erred levels of vinyl versatates are from about 15% and to about 30% of the m~nomer composition. The presence of these monomers psrmits balancing of the polymer Tg and improves alkaline hydrolysis resistance.

The vinyl silane is preferably present at a level of up to about 2% for cost effectiveness. The vinyl silanes have the general formula CH2=CH-Si(oX)3 wherein X
represents separately hydrogen, acyl, an unsubstituted alkyl radical or an alkoxy substituted alkyl radical with, at most, two of the X radicals being hydrogen.
Examples of these silanes are vinyl triethoxy silane, vinyl trimethoxy silane, vinyl-tris (beta-methoxy ethoxy)~
silane and vinyl triacetoxy silane.

The presence of the alkyl acrylate and vinyl silane components togPther provide the desired balance between tensile strength and elonga~ion, particularly at low temperatures.

Functional monomexs may be included in the shell, for example monomers capable of hardening the total emulsion such as vinyl pivalate and dimethly maleate. These hardening monomer~ may be present at a level of 0 to 20~ by weight of the shell, with the desired characteri tics being obtained at a cost/effective level usually in the range 5% to I0~. Hardening monomers may also be included in the core to provide the desired product features. Preferably the al~ylene content of the shell is kept a~ low as possible.

Methods for preparing the copolymer emulsions of the invention are well characterised in the literature.
Polymer Synthesis (vols I and III) by Sandler & Karo (Academic Press 1974) and Preparative Methods of Polymer ~, . :.:
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Chemistry (2nd Ed) by Sorenson and Campbell (Interscience 1968) provide preparative information. Methoden der Organischen Chemie (Houben-Wey~ Band XIV published by George Thieme Verlag Stuttgart (1961j also provides preparative descriptions.

The copolymer emulsions of the invention are usable in paints intended for surface coatings; these compositions will usually comprise (by weight):

i) 3~ to 35% dry weight copolymer solids, ii) 5% to 35% aqueous phase including water present in emulsion, iii) 5% to 55% filler, and iv) 5~ to 30% pigment Pigmented compositions of use as roof treating compositions usually comprise (by weight of solids)~
Thickener eg cellulose ether 1.5 to 3.5%
Dispersant eg sodium polyphosphate 0.75 to 2.0%
Preservative 0.05 to 0.2%
De~oamer 0.1 to 0.3%
Pigment 5 to 30%
Filler 5 to 55%
Coalescing solvent eg alcohol ester 1 to 3%
Emulsion copolymer dry solids 3 to 35%
Water, including emulsion aqueous base remainder The fillers will include quartz powder, kaolin, silica and milled minerals; the pigments include titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and xinc sulphide.

The coatings formed by these compositions have water uptake level which allows response to changing weather 2~3681~

conditions. A water uptake which is too high can lead to disintegration as the coating becomes spongy. At the other extremP a highly water resistant coating will not allow moisture between it and the substrate to escape with consequent damage from moisture retention or freezing.

These coatings will be applied by conventional means, for example, by spray, bush or roller. They are usable in protection or repair situations.

Test methods:

The following procedures were used to test emulsions prepared according to the invention.

i~ Tensile strength/elongation: An emulsion sample ~,entrifuged to remove air was drawn down to a 0.63 mm film on a ptfe coated glass plate and dried for 7 days at 21C and 65% relative humidity. For room temperature testing 1 cm by 5 cm test samples were prepared and mounted on a cardboard mount. The mounted specimen was clamped hetween a pair of jaws spaced 3 cm apart of an Instron apparatus and the jaws separated at 50 cm/min. Wet tests were performed on specimen dried films immersed in water at 21C for 24 hours before mounting.

Tests were performed over a range of temperatures by using an Instron en~ironment cabinet.

ii) The tensile strength/elongation tests on pigmented products were performed using procedure (i) but with a wet drawn down film o~ 0.25 mm thickness.

i ~3~6 iii) Water uptake: Dried (5 cm x 5 cm) films of the emulsion or pi~mented product were prepared as in methods (i) or ~ii) and immersed in water at 21C.
Water uptake was determined by weighing after 1 day and 7 days.

When reporting the elongation results the use of a +
sign indicates the sample did not break at the maximum extension available with the machine at the test conditions.

Specific description of the invention Copolymer emulsions were prepared to illustrate the invention.

% wt.
Vinyl Acetate ) 39.00 VeoVa 9 * ) monomer 25.00 2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate ) phase 1 5.00 Silane A172 ** ) 1.00 Vinyl Acetate (monomer phase 2) 10.00 , Ethylene 20.00 Stabilisin~ System Natrosol 2S0 LR *** 1.00 Perlankrol FN 65 **** 3.08 Initi.ator System Sodium persulphate 0.45 Formaldehyde sulphoxylate (Formosul)0.28 .. . .

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- ~ - R3068 Finishing o~f stage t-butyl hydroperoxide 0.30 Sodium metabisulphite 0~20 T~ (C) -8.0 * a vinyl ester of versatic acid in which R1+R2+R3 is 7.
** vinyl-tris (beta-methoxyethoxy) silane obtainable from Union Carbide of USA.
*** hydroxy e$hyl cellulose obtainable from Hercules Chemicals Ltd of London England.
**** sodium nonyl phenol 20E0 sulphate obtainable from Lankro Chemicals of Manchester England.

The Natrosol 250 LR (54 gm.) and the 65% aqueous solution of Perlankrol FN65 (166~2 gm.) w re dissolved in deionised water (3700 gm) at 50C. The solution was then cooled to 30C and the pH adjusted with formic acid. The ferric chloride and 3.5% of the Formosul (O.5 gm.~ was added and the water phase immediately loaded to a stirred 10 litre reactor.

The reactor (at 30C), was purged twice with nitrogen to 7 Bar (guage) and then once with ethylene to 7 Bar (guage). 25% of monomer phase 1 (945 gm.) and 70%
of the ethylene (756 gm.) were then added and the internal temperature stabilised at 30C.

The continuous additions of the remainder of monomer phase 1 and the initiators (24.3 gm. of sodium persulphate and 14.6 gm. of Formosul each in 625 gm. of deionised water) was then commenced. The initiators were added over seven hours with the first quarter hour and last half hour at double rate, and the monomer over five houxs. The internal temperature was allowed to rise to ., . :
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55C over the first 30 minutes of additions and was then maintained at 54-56C until the end of the continuous additions. At 55C the reactor pressure was increased and maintained at 65 Bar (guage~ until the remainder of the ethylene had been added (approximately two hours).
When monomer phase 1 addition was complete, monomer phase 2 (540 gm.) was added over one hour. When all additions were added the reaction mass was cooled to 50C and the finishing off stage (16.2 gm of t-butyl hydroperoxide and 10.8 gm. of sodium metabisulphite each in 150 gm. of deionised water) was added to the reactor in separate streams over thirty minutes whilst cooling the emulsion to 30C. The emulsion was then discharged to a degassing tank. the solidc content was 50% and weight means particle size 1.5 micron.

The tensile strength and elongation of this emulsion were measured and the results given in Table I.

Table I

Temperature(C) Tensile Strength (Kg/cm2) Elongation(%) Dry Wet Dry Wet 21 6.1 1.8 2150 1465 0 35.8 NM 339 NM
37.3 NM 339 NM
-10 37.5 NM 254 NM
M - Not measured as wet properties cannot be measured below 0C.

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~xample 2 ~comparison) Copol~mer emulsions A, B and C were prepared using the procedure of Example 1. They were subjected to the tensile strength and elongation tests described previously at a number of temperatures (room temperature 2~C).

The compositions of A, B and C were (by weight):
A B* C
Yinyl acetate ) 3534.5 40 Veova 9 ~ Phase 25 25 25 2 ethyl hexyl acrylate) 1 5 5 None Silane A172 ) none0.5 None Vinyl acetate (Phase 2) 10 10 10 Ethylene 25 25 25 Tg (C) -10 -10 -6.5 * B was a composition according to the invention having solids content of 50~ and weight mean particle size of 0.74 micron.

The change in Tg for composition C is not unexpected because the composition has been balanced for comparison purposes. The properties of these emulsions are given in Tables II and III. The benefit obtained by including the vinyl silane in emulsion B is clearly seen and comparison of B and C shows the benefit of including the vinyl silane and alkyl acrylate together.

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Table II

Room Temperature Testing Tensil~ Strength (Kg/cm~) Dry Wet A B C A B C
1.8 3.4 2.1 0.7 1.5 1.1 The three emulsions were satisfactory on elongation to the limits of the test machine.

Table III

Low Temperature Testin~

Temperature Tensile strength Elongation (%) ~Kg/cm ) A B C A B C
0C 18.923.238.1 350 350 350 -5C 36.338.237.6 350 350 275 -10C 41.043.038.2 266 275 258 -15C 40.742.540.5 175 225 158 These lower temperature results show the benefits obtained by incorporating vinyl silane and alkyl acrylate together.

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2~3fi8~ 6 Example 3 ~comparison) Copolymer emulsions D and E were prepared using the procedure of Example 1 with the excaption that all the athylene charge was introduced initially. The compositions of D and E were (by weight):

D E*
Vinyl acetate ) 49 39 Veova 9 ) Phase 25 25 2 ethyl hexyl acrylate) 1 5 5 Silane A172 Vinyl a~etate (Phase 2) none 10 Ethylene 20 20 Tg (C) -7.5 -8.0 The properties o~ these emulsions are given in Tables IV & V.

* E was a composition according to the invention having a solids content of 50% and a weight mean particle size of 2.5 micron.

Table IV

Room Temperature Testing Tensile strength (Kg/cm ) Elongation %
Dry Wet Dry Wet D E D E D E D E
10.1 7.9 5.4 ~.7 1000 10331375 1733 ~, :
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The presence of the shell formed by the phase 2 vinyl acetate is seen to improve the wet characteristics of the emulsion.

Table V

Low Temperat~ure~ Testin~

Temperature Tensile strength Elongation %
kg/cm2 Example D E D E
0C 32.5 43. ~ 350+ 350+
32.6 43.4 350+ 350 -10 32.1 43.1 300 275 -15 34.2 46.0 275 170 The presence of the shell is seen to give considerable improvement to the tensile strength at these lower temperatures while the elongation, although reduced, is still at a satisfactory level.

Example 4 (comparison) The effect of vinyl silane at a level of 1% was investigated by comparing composition E from Example 3 with a composition F containing no vinyl silane and with 40% vinyl acetate in the core. The ethylene charge was introduced initially but otherwise the pxocedure of Example 1 was followed. Composition E had a Tg of -8. ooc and composition F a Tg of -7.0C.

The properties of these emulsions are given in Tables VI
and VII

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Table VI

Room Temperature Testing Tensile strength (Kg/~m2) Elongation %
Dry Wet Dry Wet F E F E F E F E
2.1 7.9 1.0 8.7 2166+ 1033 2166+ 1733 Table VII

Low Temperature Testing Temperature Tensile strength Elongation %
kg/cm2 Example F E F E
0C 28.7 43.8 350~ 350+
-5 34.4 43.4 350+ 350 -10 33.5 43.1 283 275 :~--15 34.7 46.0 241 170 Thus the presence of the vinyl silane has a clear effect on the tensile strength while retaining effective elongation properties.

Example 5 Compounds containing pigments and intended for roof treatment were prepared using a standard test commercial formulation and emulsions of the invention. The test roofing compound had the composition in parts by weight:

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~ 15 - R3068 Materials Parts by Weiqht i) Bermocoll E3209 (5% soln) 56 ii) Calgon S (5% soln) 25 iii) Acticide MPM
iv) Hercules 1512 M 2 v~ Tioxide RCR 2 176 vi) Queensfil 25 124 vii) Texanol 20 Water 48 Emulsion 548 i) Thickener. Ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose.
Obtainable from Berol Kemi (UK) Ltd., Watford, England.

ii) Dispersant. Sodium polyphosphate. Obtainable from Albright and Wilson, Phosphate Group, Trinity St., Oldbury, Warley, England.

iii) Mercurial biocide. Obtainable from Thor Chemicals UK Ltd., Cheadle Hulme, England.

iv) Defoamer. Obtainable from Hercules Chemicals Ltd., London, England.

v) Titanium dioxide. Obtainable from Tioxide UK Ltd., Billingham, England.

vi) Extender. Obtainable from ECC International Ltd., St. Austell, England.

vii) Coalescing agent. Obtainable from Eastman Chemicals International A.G., Hemel Hempstead, England.

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The emulsions of the invention, ie Example I and compositions B and E, were formulated into the above roofing compound together with composition F as comparison. The tensile strength and elongation were measure~ and are given in Table VIII.

Table VIII

Emulsion E ~ B Ex I
Tensile strength (Kg/cm ) 21C dry 1008 3.0 NM 14.6 21C wet 5O7 1.6 NN 6.3 0C 58.0 28.3 NM 53.6 -5C 92.0 72.9 32.5 92.6 -10C 114.0 110.0 63.6 110.0 -15C 11800 110.0 40.1 113.6 Elongation (%) 21C dry 1500 2166 NM 1350 21C wet 1116 1733 NM 833 0C 350+ 350+ NM 350+
-5C 350 350+ 350 343 -1~C 207 293 241 250 water uptake (%) NM 47 28 25 Comparison of E and F demonstrates the application properties of the emulsions reflect the test results of the emulsions.

The water uptake of the polymer films and films of the pigmented roofing compounds were measured for the four emulsions quoted above; the results are given in Table IX.

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'-Table IX

Water uptake (~?
Polymer film Pigmented film Example I 25 10 Composition B 28 11 Composition E 30 11 Composition F 47 17 These results demonstrate the reduction in water sensitiv.ity obtained when using the copolymer emulsions of the invention.

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Claims

1. A copolymer emulsion, having a Tg in the range from about 0°C to about -30°C, comprising a core/shell structure in which the core comprises by weight:
i) from about 10% to about 60% of vinyl C1 to C4 alkanoate, ii) from about 10% to about 30% of C2 to C4 alkylene, iii) from about 1% to about 10% of alkyl (C2 to C12) acrylate, iv) from about 10% to about 40% of vinyl esters having the general formula R1R2R3CCOOCHCH2 wherein R1 R2 and R3 are each alkyl groups having at least one carbon atom and R1 + R2 + R3 have from 6 to 9 carbon-atoms, v) from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of a vinyl silane and vi) the shell, which comprises from about 5% to about 40% by weight of the total copolymer solids, comprises vinyl C1 to C4 alkanoate at a level of at least 80%.

2. An emulsion as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vinyl alkanoate is present in the range above about 40%.

3. An emulsion as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the alkylene monomer is present at a level above about 15%.

4. An emulsion as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the alkyl acrylate is present in the range from about 3% to about 8%.

5. An emulsion as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the chain length of the alkyl group in the alkyl acrylate is from 4 to 10.

6. An emulsion as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the vinyl alkanoate is vinyl acetate.

7. An emulsion as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the alkylene monomer is ethylene.

8. An emulsion as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the solids content is in the range 35% to 70% by weight.

9. An emulsion as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shell contains form 0% to 20%by weight of hardening monomer selected from vinyl pivalate and dimethl maleate.

10. The use of the copolymer emulsion as defined in any preceding claim in pigmented surface coating compositions.

11. Pigmented surface coating compositions containing an effective amount, preferably from about 3% to about 35%
solids, of an emulsion claimed in any of claims 1 to 9.

12. A copolymer emulision as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as described herein.