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Spray applications: Part IV. Compositional influences of HEUR thickeners on the spray and velocity profiles of waterborne latex coatings

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Abstract

In this study, the focus is on the spray behavior of latex coatings thickened with structurally different surfactant-modified, water-soluble polymers (associative thickeners of the hydrophobically modified, ethoxylated urethane [HEUR] type). Particle image velocimetry (PIV) profiles are considered in the perspective of the dynamic uniaxial extensional viscosity (DUEV) of the coatings and an effort to understand the results in terms of the structural aspects of the thickener molecules is undertaken. A high-M v hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) thickened formulation, with a significant DUEV, does not atomize well. Among the HEUR thickeners, the addition of larger hydrophobes in the terminal positions requires less thickener to achieve a 90 KU viscosity and produces lower DUEVs and lower viscosities at high-shear rates. This is necessary to produce formulations with acceptable spray characteristics (i.e., good atomization). The sprayability of these systems is reflected in their velocity profiles and particle size/particle size distributions. Poorer spray characteristics are reflected in ligaments and broad particles size distributions. This study highlights the ability to control the particle size/size distribution and velocity profiles of coatings formulations through the use of structurally different HEUR associative thickeners. Variations in sprayability among different nozzle geometries are also studied.

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Acknowledgments

Appreciation is expressed to those corporations who supported the extensional viscosity studies in an academic environment over several decades: Aqualon Division of Hercules, Armstrong, 3M, H.B. Fuller, James River, and Phillips-Conocco. Appreciation is also expressed to Professor Ken Ebling of the Mechanical Engineering department at NDSU, for assistance in the instrumental part of this study, and to Professor Art Metzner, recently deceased, of the University of Delaware and former editor of the J. Rheology, for introducing the concept of extensional viscosities to an organic chemist in a short course at the old Union Carbide Technical Center in South Charleston, WV, nearly four decades ago.

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  1. Coatings Plus Department, University of Lake Wobegon, 1751 S. 23rd Street, Fargo, ND, 58103, USA

    Peter T. Elliott, David M. Mahli & J. Edward Glass

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  1. Peter T. Elliott
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Correspondence to J. Edward Glass.

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Elliott, P.T., Mahli, D.M. & Glass, J.E. Spray applications: Part IV. Compositional influences of HEUR thickeners on the spray and velocity profiles of waterborne latex coatings. J Coat Technol Res 4, 351–374 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-007-9051-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-007-9051-y

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