Rheology modifiers

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Contents
Introduction to rheology modifiers 1
Liquid dispersion polymers 2
Mode of action 2
Products 3
Aqueous emulsion polymers 4
Mode of action 4
Products 5
Ease of use 5
Speciality polymeric gellants 6
Thermally reversible gellants 6
Mode of action 6
Polyamide compatibility chart 8
Thermally irreversible gellants 9
Mode of action 9
Rheology modifiers selection tool 10
Introducing Croda’s
rheology modifiers

Croda is a leading global developer and producer of

speciality chemicals of which the majority are naturally
derived. We offer products based on a wide range of
chemistries that are able to deliver the value adding effects
that our customers desire, in order to improve their
processing efficiency, product performance or both.
Our rheology modifiers are based on a range of technologies
and offer formulators high performance products for
rheology control of both aqueous and non-aqueous systems
The range offers liquid dispersion polymers, aqueous
emulsion polymers and speciality polymeric gellants.
If you have specific requirements not addressed here, please
contact your local sales representative. Croda has a wealth
of experience in formulating products for novel and niche
applications and we will work in partnership with you to find
the best solutions for your needs.

1
 Liquid dispersion polymers
Cold process, hot performance
Croda’s range of anionic and cationic liquid dispersion polymers are easy to use and provide instant thickening
and effective rheology control. They are supplied in both mineral oil and non-mineral oil carrier fluids.

Mode of action Once added to water Chain entanglement and

the polymer swells via cross-linking provide
osmosis structure

Carrier Fluid

Polymer
in water

Inverter

Product as Supplied The inverter will Resulting in a polymeric

emulsify the carrier oil matrix entrapping the oil

2
Liquid dispersion polymers

Viscosity cP Recommended Relative electrolyte Oil

Product Description (2%w/w 25ºC)* pH tolerance tolerance
ViscOptimaTM PL Anionic rheology modifier in mineral oil 68000 6-12 Medium Up to
20%w/w
ViscOptima SE Multifunctional anionic rheology modifier 85000
TM
6.5-12 Medium Up to
(non-mineral oil based) 30%w/w
VisCaressTM PL Cationic rheology modifier in mineral oil, 68000 3-8 Low Up to
suitable for low pH systems 20%w/w
VisCaress HPD Cationic rheology modifier (non-mineral 63000
TM
3-8 Low Up to
oil based), suitable for low pH systems 20%w/w
*in water
l Easy to use
l Creates stable pseudoplastic gels
l Formulations are freeze-thaw stable

l Very efficient, usage levels are 0.5-2%

l Able to suspend particulates

l Electrolyte will reduce viscosity, but will not affect stability

l Supplied in liquid form and can be used in cold or hot processes

l Can be added at any stage of manufacture

l Creates opaque formulations

see page 10 for the selection tool

3
 Aqueous
emulsion polymers
Enhanced rheology for exceptional performance
Aqueous emulsion polymers are easy to use, highly efficient polymers which provide unique suspension and flow properties
in water based systems.
Ionic Repulsion Cross - Linking
CrystaSenseTM Sapphire: O-
O-
O-
C=O O-
l Allows even distribution of fine droplets C=O C=O
C=O

l Viscosity is immediately recovered when shear stress is removed

O-
l Creates highly pseudoplastic gels
O-
C=O
C=O O-
l Able to suspend particulates Micellisation C=O

l Suitable for water based systems, and has tolerance of some alcohols O- C=
O O
C=
C=O
and surfactants
O-
O-
O
C=
Mode of action O
C= O-

l Ionic groups repel each other within and between the polymer chains
O-
O

l The cross-links provide additional structure

C=
O-

l Micellisation is allowed to occur due to the hydrophobic groups O- O-

l Creates dynamic formulations; the cross-links move past each other

C=O C=O
Ionic Acrylic Chain Cross-link Associative Group

to give a gel with porous properties

see page 10 for the selection tool
4
Aqueous emulsion polymers

Viscosity cP
Product Description (2%w/w 25ºC)* Recommended pH
CrystaSense Sapphire Associative anionic rheology modifier
TM
8500 – 15300 6-12
*in water

Ease of use

Neutralise with
Add CrystaSense base (e.g. sodium Stir until clear gel
Sapphire hydroxide) is formed

Water Gel starts to form

5
 Speciality polymeric gellants
Thermally reversible gellants
Croda offers a range of thermo reversible gellants based on a patented polyamide technology.
The products in this range have various terminal groups and can be used to thicken organics of almost any polarity, as
well as aqueous systems.

Mode of action

Gelled structure
Trapped liquid

The polymer forms a gelled structure, trapping the liquid in the gel network.
See polyamide compatibility chart to choose the best product for your system.

6
Thermally reversible gellants

Product Description Form at 25ºC Softening point / ºC

Speciality polyamides
CrystaSenseTM LP1 Ester Terminated Polyamide Solid 92
CrystaSense LP2
TM
Ester Terminated Polyamide Solid 83
CrystaSense LP3
TM
Tertiary Amide Terminated Polyamide Solid 94
CrystaSense HP4
TM
Polyether Polyamide Solid 105
CrystaSense HP5
TM
Polyalkyleneoxy Terminated Polyamide Solid 93
CrystaSense MP
TM
Polyalkyleneoxy Terminated Polyamide Solid 95

l At low concentrations (<5%) they exhibit thixotropic rheology

l The gel is formed by dissolving CrystaSenseTM at elevated temperatures
and allowing the clear solution to cool down
l The process is thermally reversible

l T
 hey can be used as steric stabilisers for particulates due to their acid

and amine functionality

l T
 he high polarity gellants can be used in aqueous systems and are

unaffected by electrolytes and pH variations

Recommended usage levels

At room temperature:
l 1-2% gives a flowable system

l 3-8% gives a gel

l 8% and above gives a solid

see page 10 for the selection tool

7
 CrystaSenseTM LP3

CrystaSenseTM LP1 CrystaSenseTM HP5

CrystaSenseTM MP

CrystaSenseTM LP2 CrystaSenseTM HP4

7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 14.0 15.0

Increasing Polarity

Oil Like Mineral MEK Water Like

Ethylene glycol
Oil PEG DPG
Tolulene Ethanol
N-Hexane
Silicones Glycerol
Methyl Alcohols/Glycols
Esters

Hydrocarbons

Ketones

Esters

Polyamide compatibility chart using Hildebrand solubility parameter

8
Thermally irreversible gellants Mode of action
The thermally irreversible gellants are also based on
a renewable polyamide, however they are amine
terminated which enables them to react further upon
addition of isocyanurate to form a cross-linked gel.
The cure rate can be controlled by blending both Trapped
grades together before addition of the cross-linker. liquid

l The process can be performed at room

temperature Solid gel
network
l The cure rate is controllable and catalyst free

l Even dilute systems can be gelled, up to 70%

loadings of liquid
l Gel structure is formed by a cross-linking reaction

l The gel network forms a solid structure which is

irreversible
l The gels are water and heat resistant
A solid gel structure is formed by a reaction with a cross-linker, trapping
up to 70% oil in the network. Oil leaves the network through syneresis
or evaporation.
Form at Relative
Product Description 25°C cure rate
Thermally irreversible gellants
CrystaSenseTM Polyamide Liquid Fast
IM700 Polyamine
CrystaSenseTM Polyamide Liquid Slow
IM800 Polyamine

9
 Rheology modifiers selection tool
Product Processing Used to thicken Forms gels which are...

characteristics
Heat resistant
High polarity
Low polarity
processable

particulates

Rheological

Electrolyte
Thermally

Clear gels
reversible

tolerance
Suspends
Aqueous

resistant
organics

organics

organics
Medium

systems
process

polarity

Water
Speed
Cold
Liquid Dispersion Polymers
ViscOptimaTM PL l 1 l l l P M
ViscOptimaTM SE l 1 l l l P M
VisCaress PL
TM
l 1 l l l P L
VisCaressTM HPD l 1 l l l P L
Aqueous Emulsion Polymers
CrystaSenseTM Sapphire l 1 l l l l P L
Thermally Reversible Gellants
CrystaSenseTM LP1 l 2 l l l l T -
CrystaSenseTM LP2 l 2 l l l l T -
CrystaSenseTM LP3 l 2 l l l l T -
CrystaSenseTM MP l 2 l l* l l l T H
CrystaSenseTM HP4 l 2 l l l l T -
CrystaSenseTM HP5 l 2 l l l l T H
Thermally Irreversible Gellants
CrystaSenseTM IM700 l 2 l l l l l l S -
CrystaSense IM800
TM
l 3 l l l l l l S -
1: Fast process; 2: Medium process; 3: Slow process; P: Pseudoplastic; S: Solid; T: Thixotropic; M: Medium; L: Low; H: High; *Non-ionic surfactant required
10
Didn’t find what you
were searching for?
The Croda product portfolio does not stop at the products listed in this brochure. If a specific chemistry or physical property
is required, Croda, a world leader in speciality chemicals has the facilities and expertise to help you find a tailored solution for
your application.
Please visit our website www.CrodaAdvancedMaterials.com, or contact your Croda sales representative to explore what other
products are available to meet your requirements.

11
 Notes

12
The information in this publication is believed to be accurate and is given in good faith but no representation or warranty as to its completeness or accuracy is made. Suggestions for
uses or applications are only opinions. Users are responsible for determining the suitability of these products for their own particular purpose. No representation or warranty, express or
implied, is made with respect to information or products including without limitation warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement of any third party
patent or other intellectual property rights including without limit copyright, trademark and designs. Any trademarks identified herein are trademarks of the Croda group of companies.

©2015 Croda Europe Ltd 03/15 ICB010v1.1

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