Block or graft copolymers and their use as surfactants

• US 4,203,877 A
• Filed: 07/03/1978
• Issued: 05/20/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Limited (Nouryon BV)
• Original Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Limited (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Baker, Alan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Ronald W.
• Application Number:
  US05/921,563
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 260/18 R, 260/823, 260/DIG. 9
• US Class Current: 524/500
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 63/664 derived from hydroxy carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 23/44 Ether carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/328 Oil emulsions containing water or any other hydrophilic phase

Abstract

Block or graft copolymers useful as surfactants in oil/water systems are described. The copolymers comprise at least two polymeric components of molecular weight at least 500 which are derived from an oil-soluble complex monocarboxylic acid and a polymeric component of molecular weight at least 500 which is derived from a water-soluble polyalkylene glycol. The copolymers may be either oil-soluble or water-soluble depending on their composition and may be used as wetting agents, dispersing agents, emulsifiers or emulsion stabilizers. The oil-soluble copolymers, and their blends with low molecular weight conventional surfactants, are of particular interest for the emulsification of water in hydrocarbon fuel oils.

Claims

1. A copolymer suitable for use as a surfactant in a system consisting of an oil phase and an aqueous phase, the copolymer containing at least two polymeric components which are derived from oil-soluble complex monocarboxylic acids and another polymeric component which is the residue of a water-soluble compound containing polyoxyalkylene chains, characterized in that the copolymer has the general formula (A--COO)_m --B, wherein m is an integer at least 2, wherein each polymeric component A has a molecular weight of at least 500 and is the residue of an oil-soluble complex monocarboxylic acid having the general structural formula ##STR7## in which R is hydrogen or a monovalent hydrocarbon or substituted hydrocarbon group;

R₁ is hydrogen or a monovalent C₁ to C₂₄ hydrocarbon group;

R₂ is a divalent C₁ to C₂₄ hydrocarbon group;

n is zero or 1;

p is an integer from zero up to 200;

and wherein each polymeric component B has a molecular weight of at least 500 and, in the case where m is 2, is the divalent residue of a water-soluble polyalkylene glycol having the general formula ##STR8## in which R₃ is hydrogen or a C₁ or C₃ alkyl group;

q is an integer from 10 up to 500;

or in the case where m is greater than 2, is the residue of valency m of a water-soluble polyether polyol having the general formula ##STR9## in which R₃ and m have their previous significance;

r is zero or an integer from 1 to 500, provided that the total number of ##STR10## units in the molecule is at least 10;

R₄ is the residue of an organic compound containing in the molecule m hydrogen atoms reactive with an alkylene oxide.

2. A copolymer according to claim 1, in which each of the polymeric components A has a molecular weight of at least 1000.

3. A copolymer according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the polymeric component B has a molecular weight of at least 1000.

4. A copolymer according to claim 3, in which m is 2, the polymeric components A are derived from poly (12-hydroxystearic acid) chain-terminated with stearic acid and the polymeric component B is derived from polyethylene glycol.

5. A copolymer according to claim 4 which is water-soluble and in which the component B constitutes at least 65% by weight of the total copolymer.

6. A copolymer according to claim 4 which is soluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons and in which the component B constitutes not more than 40% by weight of the total copolymer.

7. A copolymer according to claim 6 in which each polymeric component A is of molecular weight approximately 1750 and the B component is of molecular weight approximately 1500, the B component constituting 30% by weight of the total copolymer.

8. A copolymer according to claim 2, in which m is 2, the polymeric components A are derived from poly (12-hydroxystearic acid) chain-terminated with stearic acid and the polymeric component B is derived from polyethylene glycol.

9. A copolymer according to claim 8 which is water-soluble and in which the component B constitutes at least 65% by weight of the total copolymer.

10. A copolymer according to claim 8 which is soluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons and in which the component B constitutes not more than 40% by weight of the total copolymer.

11. A copolymer according to claim 10 in which each polymeric component A is of molecular weight approximately 1750 and the B component is of molecular weight approximately 1500, and B component constituting 30% by weight of the total copolymer.

12. A copolymer according to claim 1 in which m is 2, the polymeric components A are derived from poly (12-hydroxystearic acid) chain-terminated with stearic acid and the polymeric component B is derived from polyethylene glycol.

13. A copolymer according to claim 12 which is water-soluble and in which the component B constitutes at least 65% by weight of the total copolymer.

14. A copolymer according to claim 12 which is soluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons and in which the component B constitutes not more than 40% by weight of the total copolymer.

15. A copolymer according to claim 14 in which each polymeric component A is of molecular weight approximately 1750 and the B component is of molecular weight approximately 1500, the B component constituting 30% by weight of the total copolymer.

16. A blend of from 5% to 99% by weight of a copolymer according to claim 1 with from 1% to 95% by weight of a surfactant in which the oil-soluble component has a molecular weight below 500.

17. A blend of from 98% to 40% by weight of an aliphatic hydrocarbon liquid, from 1% to 59% by weight of a copolymer according to claim 14 and from 1% to 59% by weight of a surfactant insoluble in the hydrocarbon the oil-soluble component of which has a molecular weight below 500, the combined weights of the copolymer and the surfactant not exceeding 60% of the total blend.

18. A blend of a copolymer according to claim 15 with a condensate of nonylphenol with four proportions of ethylene oxide, in the weight proportions of from 3:

1 to 1;

3 respectively.

19. A blend of from 98% to 40% by weight of an aliphatic hydrocarbon liquid, from 1% to 59% by weight of a copolymer according to claim 8 and from 1% to 59% by weight of a surfactant insoluble in the hydrocarbon the oil-soluble component of which has a molecular weight below 500, the combined weights of the copolymer and the surfactant not exceeding 60% of the total blend.

20. A blend of copolymer according to claim 11 with a condensate of nonylphenol with four molar proportions of ethylene oxide, in the weight proportions of from 3:

1 to 1;

3 respectively.

21. A blend of from 98% to 40% by weight of an aliphatic hydrocarbon liquid, from 1% to 59% by weight of a copolymer according to claim 4 and from 1% to 59% by weight of a surfactant insoluble in the hydrocarbon the oil-soluble component of which has a molecular weight below 500, the combined weights not exceeding 60% of the total blend.

22. A blend of copolymer according to claim 6 with a condensate of nonylphenol with four molar proportions of ethylene oxide, in the weight proportions of from 3:

1 to 1;

3 respectively.