Carbowet 300 Surfactant Nonionic, Non-APE Wetting Agent for Resinated Pigment Dispersions

Applications
Carbowet 300 surfactant can be used as an alternative to nonyl- and octylphenol ethoxylates in a wide range of applications including: Pigment Dispersions Inks Architectural Coatings Industrial Coatings Adhesives

Description
Carbowet 300 surfactant is a multifunctional, nonionic, solvent-free and nonalkylphenol ethoxylate (APE) additive for pigment and substrate wetting. This cost effective surfactant can provide substrate wetting, pigment wetting and stabilization, and emulsification in a wide range of applications and polymer systems. Carbowet 300 surfactant offers improved dispersion and viscosity stability in resinated pigment dispersions where it functions as an environmentally preferable alternative to alkylphenol ethoxylates and other surfactants used to provide color stability in printing inks and coatings. Typical physical and performance properties of Carbowet 300 surfactant are shown in Tables 1 and 2, respectively.

Features and Benefits of Carbowet 300 Surfactant

Improved dispersion and viscosity stability of resinated pigment dispersions Excellent surface tension reduction and wetting characteristics Improves color stability and color acceptance for enhanced touch-up Environmentally preferable to alkylphenol ethoxylates Zero VOC in US and Europe FDA compliances include 21CFR 175.105, 176.170, 176.180 and 181.30 Readily biodegradable

Table 1. Carbowet 300 Surfactant Typical Physical Properties

Appearance Color Activity in Water (%) Viscosity (mPas at 21 C) Specific Gravity at 21 C Wt % VOC (US EPA Method 24) VOC (European Solvent and Paint Directives) HLB Cloud Point, 1% in water (C) Liquid to waxy solid* White to pale yellow 70 16000; waxy slush 1.09 0 0 18.2 >100

*Handling of Carbowet 300 surfactant: Should this material solidify, heat it to 50 C and mix thoroughly to ensure homogeneity before use.

Table 2. Carbowet 300 Surfactant Typical Performance Characteristics

Equilibrium Surface Tension 1 @ 0.1 wt% (mN/m) Equilibrium Surface Tension 1 @ 1.0 wt% (mN/m) Dynamic Surface Tension @ 0.1 wt% (mN/m, 6 bubbles/sec)
2

47 46 57 54 8 6

Dynamic Surface Tension 2 @ 1.0 wt% (mN/m, 6 bubbles/sec) Initial Ross-Miles Foam Height 3 (cm) Final Ross-Miles Foam Height 3 at 5 minutes (cm)
1 2

Measured using the Wilhelmy plate method Measured using a Kruss BP-II Maximum Bubble Pressure Tensiometer ASTM D 1173, 25C, 0.1 wt. % surfactant in water

Improved Wetting and Dispersing

Carbowet 300 surfactant has been specifically designed to achieve excellent wetting of hydrophobic materials leading to rapid incorporation of dry pigments and improved milling efficiency during the dispersion process. Formulating a stable dispersion is critical to application performance as is the performance of the dispersion in the intended application. Formulating issues such as shock, flocculation, floating or flooding can develop when a dispersion is letdown into an ink or coating. Choosing the correct wetting and dispersing additive, designed to provide strong particle affinity and robust stabilization, will minimize these problems.

Table 3. Resinated Model Formulations for Raven 820 and PR22 Red
Component Pigment Joncryl 63 Joncryl 60 Surfactant (Carbowet 300) Surfynol DF-58 Defoamer Water Total

Raven 820 (wt%) 35.0 15.5 1.4 0.5 47.6 100.0

PR22 Red (wt%) 37.0 18.2 1.5 0.5 42.8 100.0

Figure 1. Viscosity Stability of Raven 820 Dispersions

7000 Viscosity (cps @ 30rpm) 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 Carbowet 300 Initial (24hr) Carbowet 13-40 7 day Competitive Competitive APE #1 APE #2 14 day Resin Only 21 day

Improved Viscosity Stability, Foam Control and Color Development

Viscosity Stability
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the improvement in viscosity stability of carbon black and red pigments dispersions (see Table 3) prepared using Carbowet 300 surfactant in combination with a Joncryl dispersing resin. The dispersions containing Carbowet 300 surfactant show improved initial viscositites as well as better viscosity and dispersion stability after 3 weeks at 50 C when compared with the dispersions prepared with the grind resin alone.

Figure 2. Viscosity Stabilitiy of PR22 Dispersions

1600 Viscosity (cps @ 30rpm) 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Carbowet 300 Initial (24hr) Competitive APE #1 7 day Carbowet 13-40 Competitive APE #2 14 day Resin Only 21 day

Foam Control
Foam generated during the dispersion process can lead to poor grinding and decreased color development. Figure 3 illustrates how dispersions prepared with Carbowet 300 surfactant show less foam than those prepared with competitive grind aids.

Improved Color Acceptance/ Rub-Up Performance

Carbowet 300 surfactant is specially designed to improve color strength of resinated pigment dispersions and to aid in color acceptance when added to a base paint. Figure 4 shows the color rub-up performance advantage of a semi-gloss paint formulated with 2% of Carbowet 300 surfactant. With a E rub-up value of less than 0.6, Carbowet 300 surfactant improves the color acceptance and rub-up performance of the control paint.

Figure 3. Carbowet 300 Surfactant Creates Less Foam in Resinated Dispersions

Better 10 9.5 9 8.5 8 7.5 7 6.6 6 5.5 5

Density (lbs/gal)

Carbowet 300 Raven 820

Competitive APE #1

Carbowet 13-40 PR 22

Competitive APE #2

Figure 4. Color Acceptance/Rub-Up Performance of Carbowet 300 Surfactant

Control Paint Control Paint with 2% Carbowet 300 Surfactant

For More Information

The information in this literature is offered without charge for use by technically qualified personnel at their discretion and risk. All statements, technical information and recommendations are based on tests and data which we believe to be reliable, but their accuracy or completeness is not guaranteed and no warranty of any kind is made.

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Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., 2011 (33921) 120-11-030-GLB-Oct11