EP2776477A1

EP2776477A1 - Thickener containing at least one polymer based on associative monomers and which can be obtained by inverse emulsion polymerization

Info

Publication number: EP2776477A1
Application number: EP12781115.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Reinhold J. Leyrer; Christofer Arisandy; Ouidad Benlahmar
Original assignee: BASF SE
Current assignee: BASF SE
Priority date: 2011-11-11
Filing date: 2012-11-07
Publication date: 2014-09-17
Also published as: MX2014005024A; RU2014123616A; CO6950498A2; WO2013068388A1; BR112014011157A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a thickener which can be obtained according to a method, characterized in that a polymer is obtained by an inverse emulsion polymerization of a) at least one water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least one anionic monomer and/or at least one non-ionic mononer, b) at least one ethylenically unsaturated associative monomer, c) optionally at least one cross-linking agent, d) optionally at least one chain transfer agent. The temperature is kept constant during the inverse emulsion polymerization and is at least 40 °C, preferably between 50 - 90 °C, and the activator is added after the inverse emulsion polymerization in order to obtain the thickness.

Description

Thickener comprising at least one polymer based on associative monomers and preparable by inverse emulsion polymerization

description

The present invention relates to a thickener preparable by a process in which a polymer is prepared by inverse emulsion polymerization at a constant temperature of at least 40 ° C. In the inverse emulsion polymerization, at least one water-soluble, ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least one anionic monomer and / or at least one nonionic monomer and at least one ethylenically unsaturated associative monomer are used as components. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process for the preparation of the thickener according to the invention and to surfactant-containing formulations comprising at least one thickener. Further subject matters of the invention are the use of the surfactant-containing formulations, for example as fabric softeners or as liquid detergents, and the use of the thickener, for example as a viscosity modifier.

WO 03/102043 relates to aqueous formulations comprising a cationic polymer prepared from (i) a water-soluble, ethylenically unsaturated monomer or a monomer mixture comprising at least one cationic monomer, (ii) at least one crosslinker in an amount of more than 50 ppm based on the component (i), and (iii) at least one chain transfer agent. The aqueous formulations can be used as thickeners in household formulations.

WO 2009/019225 relates to an aqueous dispersion of an alkali-soluble copolymer which is suitable as an associative thickener. The copolymer comprises copolymerized units of a) at least one ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, b) at least one nonionic ethylenically unsaturated surfactant monomer, c) at least one C ₁ -C ₂ -alkyl methacrylate, and d) at least one C ₂ -C ₄ -alkyl acrylate, wherein the the number of alkyl groups of the alkyl acrylate averaged alkyl chain length is 2.1 to 4.0. The associative thickeners can be prepared by emulsion polymerization. The associative thickeners are suitable for use in detergents and cleaners.

Liquid dispersion polymer (LDP) compositions are disclosed in WO 2005/097834. These LDP compositions comprise a hydrophilic, water-soluble or swellable polymer having a neutralization level of about 25 to about 100%, a non-aqueous carrier phase, and an oil-in-water surfactant. The hydrophilic, water-soluble or swellable polymer is preferably by Polymerization, for example of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid. The LDP dispersions are suitable for the production of microparticulate thickeners, as used for example in aqueous or organic compositions, in particular in personal care or pharmaceutical formulations.

WO 2010/078959 relates to cationic polymer thickeners consisting of a crosslinked water-swellable cationic polymer containing at least one cationic monomer and optionally nonionic or anionic monomers, the polymer comprising less than 25% of water-soluble polymer chains based on the total weight of the polymer. Furthermore, the polymer contains a cross-linker in a concentration of 500 to 5000 ppm relative to the polymer. The cationic polymer is prepared by inverse emulsion polymerization.

WO 2010/079100 discloses softener compositions containing polymers according to WO 2010/078959.

US 2008/0312343 relates to inverse latex compositions and their use as thickeners and / or emulsifiers, for example for the production of cosmetic or pharmaceutical formulations. The inverse latex compositions comprise at least 50 to 80% by weight of at least one linear, branched or cross-linked organic polymer (P), at least 5 to 10% by weight of a water-in-oil type emulsifier system, 5 to 45 Wt .-% of at least one oil and up to 5% water. The polymer P comprises neutral monomers and optionally cationic or anionic monomers. The inverse latex composition may optionally comprise up to 5% by weight of an emulsifier system of the oil-in-water type. The inverse latex compositions can be prepared by inverse emulsion polymerization. EP-A 172 025 relates to a dispersion in a continuous liquid phase of a polymer which is formed by polymerization of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a hydrophobic group of at least 8 carbon atoms and a copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer. The dispersion is stable, substantially anhydrous and contains at least 40% by weight of polymer. In the polymerization, for example, anionic monomers may be used as the copolymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomer. The polymerization can be carried out as an inverse emulsion polymerization.

EP-A 172 724 relates to polymers obtained by copolymerization of a) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a hydrophobic group having at least 8 Carbon atoms and b) water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomers. All monomers are soluble in water as a mixture and the polymer is prepared by inverse emulsion polymerization. The polymer particles have a dry size of <4 μηη. As the monomer component b), anionic monomers such as acrylic acid in the form of the free acid or as a water-soluble salt and nonionic monomers such as acrylamide can be used.

EP-A 172 723 relates to a process for flocculating a suspension using a water-soluble, substantially linear polymer having a "one-point intrinsic viscosity" of> 3. The polymer is a copolymer of two or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising at least 0 The object of the present invention is to provide novel thickeners. The object is achieved by the thickeners according to the invention preparable by a process, characterized in that a polymer is prepared by an inverse emulsion polymerization of at least one water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least one anionic monomer and / or at least one nonionic monomer,

at least one ethylenically unsaturated associative monomer, optionally at least one crosslinker,

optionally at least one chain transfer agent is obtained, wherein the temperature during the inverse emulsion polymerization is kept constant and at least 40 ° C, preferably 50 to 90 ° C, and after completion of the inverse emulsion polymerization, the Aktivatorzugabe to obtain the thickener.

The thickeners according to the invention are characterized in that they have advantageous properties with regard to deposition, shear thinning, stabilization and / or viscosity (thickening). Depositioning (deposition) is understood to mean the deposition of the active ingredients of, for example, a fabric softener on a fiber during a washing process. When applied to the present invention, this means, for example, that a thickener according to the invention containing at least one polymer (active ingredient) is contained in a fabric softener and the fabric softener is used during or after the washing process. The thickeners according to the invention promote this deposition of the Active ingredient during or after the washing process to a considerable extent. Particularly good deposition properties can be achieved when using polymers based on at least one associative monomer, a nonionic monomer such as acrylamide, and optionally an anionic monomer.

In evaluating shear thinning, it is important that the thickener or fabric softener is creamy and thick in its ground state, while it is thin when stirred. The improved shear thinning has a positive effect on the service life and properties of pumps in the production of fabric softener, promotes the comfortable dosing at the customer and promotes the residue-free use of fabric softener, especially in the washing machines, which have an automatic dosing device. The thickeners according to the invention increase the stability of the thickener itself and that of the corresponding formulation. The settling or creaming of particles is effectively prevented, regardless of whether they are on the order of nanometers, microns or millimeters. This contributes to the advantageous yield point of the thickener according to the invention. In addition, they have the advantage that the redispersion and thickening that may be required are achieved very quickly.

Thickeners according to the invention, in which a mixture of at least two activators are contained, wherein at least one activator has a high HLB value and at least one activator a low HLB value, are associated with an additional advantage. The combination of such an activator mixture with polymers containing at least one ethylenically unsaturated associative monomer building block results in spontaneous phase inversions (within seconds) of diluting a thickener with water without requiring additional energy input, for example in the form of agitation. Furthermore, it is advantageous with thickeners according to the invention that the ratio of associative monomer to the total polymer is relatively low. When the thickener is used in surfactant-containing formulations, the action of the associative monomers is optimal even at about 0.5% by weight (based on the polymer). Another advantage is the fact that the polymer of the thickener according to the invention is prepared by inverse emulsion polymerization in which the temperature is kept constant at at least 40 ° C, whereby a good uniform distribution of associative monomer building blocks in the polymer is observed. This is advantageous in particular with small amounts of, for example, from 0.1 to 1% by weight of associative monomers with respect to the entire above-mentioned rheological properties such as thickening, shear thinning, stabilization and washing and rinsing effects.

Embodiments of the present invention in which the polymers contained in the thickener are prepared using little or no crosslinker are also associated with advantages. Due to the higher (in water) soluble portions of the polymer, redeposition during a wash is reduced. Consequently, the object to be washed even after repeated washing processes, pure fibers that are effectively removed from dirt particles, so that no graying is found. There is no or very little adhesion or redistribution of dirt particles / polymers observed on the washed items.

In the present invention, the definitions as CiC mean ₃ of o-alkyl, as for example defined below for the radical R ₉ in the formula (I) that this substituent (radical) is an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1 to 30 The alkyl radical can be both linear and branched and optionally cyclic. Alkyl radicals which have both a cyclic and a linear component are also covered by this definition. The same applies to other alkyl radicals, such as, for example, a C ₁ -C ₄ -alkyl radical or a C ₁₆ -C ₂ -alkyl radical. Optionally, the alkyl radicals may also be monosubstituted or polysubstituted by functional groups such as amino, quaternary ammonium, hydroxy, halogen, aryl or heteroaryl. Unless stated otherwise, the alkyl radicals preferably have no functional groups as substituents. Examples of alkyl radicals are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, 2-ethylhexyl, tertiary-butyl (tert-Bu / t-Bu), cyclohexyl, octyl, stearyl or behenyl.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be further clarified.

First, the monomer components which are used for the preparation of the polymer contained in the thickener according to the invention are further defined. The inverse emulsion polymerization process as such for the preparation of the polymer or thickener according to the invention comprising at least one polymer and any additives or auxiliaries optionally used in the inverse emulsion polymerization or the thickener production process are further defined below in the text.

The thickener according to the invention comprises at least one polymer which is obtained by inverse emulsion polymerization of the following components a) and b) and optionally c) and d). At least one water-soluble, ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least one anionic monomer and / or at least one nonionic monomer is used as component a). Anionic and nonionic monomers as such are known to those skilled in the art.

If at least one anionic monomer is contained in component a), it is preferably selected from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid or a salt thereof, in particular the anionic monomer is sodium acrylate.

If component a) contains at least one nonionic monomer, esters of the anionic monomers described above are suitable as nonionic monomers, in addition to the nitrogenous monomers described below, such as, for example, the compounds of the formula (I). Such nonionic monomers are preferably the methyl or ethyl esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid such as ethyl acrylate or methyl acrylate. Further preferred are the corresponding dimethylamino-substituted esters, such as dimethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate.

Preferably, the nonionic monomer is selected from N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinylimidazole or a compound of the formula (I)

in which

R ₇ is H or d - C ₄ alkyl,

R ₈ is H or methyl, and

R ₉ and R-io independently of one another are H or C 1 -C ₃₀ -alkyl.

Most preferably, the nonionic monomer is acrylamide, methacrylamide or dialkylaminoacrylamide.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, component a) in the polymer comprises from 30 to 99.5% by weight of at least one anionic monomer and from 0.5 to 70% by weight of at least one nonionic monomer. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, component a) comprises 100% by weight of at least one nonionic monomer.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, component a) comprises 100% by weight of at least one anionic monomer.

Furthermore, it is preferred in the context of the present invention that component a) comprises no cationic monomer. As component b) at least one ethylenically unsaturated associative monomer is used for the preparation of the polymer in the inverse emulsion polymerization. Associative monomers as such are known to those skilled in the art. Suitable associative monomers are described, for example, in WO 2009/019225. Associative monomers are also referred to as surfactant monomers.

Preferably, in the polymer, the ethylenically unsaturated associative monomer according to component b) is selected from a compound according to formula (II)

R-O- (CH ₂ -CHR'-O) _n -CO-CR "= CH ₂ (II) where

R is C ₆ -C ₅₀ -alkyl, preferably C ₈ -C ₃₀ -alkyl, in particular C ₁₆ -C ₂₂ -alkyl,

R 'is H or C 1 -C ₄ -alkyl, preferably H,

R "is H or methyl,

n is an integer from 0 to 100, preferably from 3 to 50, in particular 25.

Particular preference is given to using as component b) a compound of the formula (II) in which

R is C ₁₆ -C ₂₂ -alkyl,

R 'is H,

R "is H or methyl and

n are 25.

Compounds according to the formula (II) are commercially available in solution, for example under the name Plex 6954 O from Evonik Röhm GmbH. These are methacrylates of fatty alcohol ethoxylates. A suitable fatty alcohol ethoxylate is for example the commercially available Lutensol ^® AT 25 (BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany). The radical R can be present in the compounds of formula (II) as a mixture of residues with different chain length as Ci and Ci _6. ₈ An example of this is C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ fatty alcohol (ethylene glycol) 25-ether methacrylate, where both C ₁₆ - and C ₁₈ - Fettal koholreste (in non-negligible amounts) as a mixture. In contrast, in the compounds (according to formula (II)) behenyl-25-methacrylate and cetyl-25-methacrylate, the respective radical R is not present as a mixture, but as C ₂ 2- or C ₁₆ chain. Other chain lengths occur only in the form of impurities. The number "25" in these compounds according to formula (II) stands for the size of the variable n.

In the preparation of the polymer by inverse emulsion polymerization, optionally at least one crosslinker may be present as component c). Suitable crosslinkers are known to the person skilled in the art. In the polymer, the crosslinker according to component c) is preferably selected from divinylbenzene; Tetraallyl ammonium chloride; allyl acrylates; Allylmethacrylaten; Diacrylates and dimethacrylates of glycols or polyglycols; butadiene; 1, 7-octadiene, allyl acrylamides or allyl methacrylamides; bisacrylamidoacetic; Ν, Ν'-methylene-bisacrylamide or Polyolpolyallylethern such as polyallylsucrose or pentaerythritol triallyl ether. Also suitable as a preferred crosslinker is dialkyldimethylammonium chloride.

Furthermore, in the preparation of the polymer by inverse emulsion polymerization as component d) at least one chain transfer agent can be used. Suitable chain transfer agents are known to the person skilled in the art. Preferred chain transfer agents according to component d) are selected from mercaptan, lactic acid, formic acid, isopropanol or hypophosphites.

The thickener according to the invention preferably contains at least one polymer which can be prepared by inverse emulsion polymerization of a) from 20 to 99.99% by weight, preferably from 90 to 99.95% by weight (based on the polymer), of at least one water-soluble ethylenic unsaturated monomers comprising at least one anionic monomer and / or at least one nonionic monomer, b) 0.01 to 80 wt .-%, preferably 0.05 to 5 wt .-%, particularly preferably 0.1 to 1 wt. % (based on the polymer) of at least one ethylenically unsaturated associative monomer, c) 0 to 0.3 wt .-%, preferably 0.01 to 0.1 wt .-% (based on the polymer) of optionally at least one crosslinking agent,

0 to 0.3 wt .-%, preferably 0.01 to 0.1 wt .-% (based on the polymer) optionally at least one chain transfer agent.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the water-soluble moieties of the polymer are greater than 25% by weight (based on the total weight of the polymer), especially when little or no crosslinker is used in addition to the associative monomer. Preferably, more than 40% by weight, in particular 70 to 100% by weight, of the polymer is soluble in water. The solubility of the polymer is determined by methods known to the person skilled in the art, to which the polymer containing thickener according to the invention is admixed with a defined amount of water (see, for example, EP-A 343 840 or preferably the determination method of the sedimentation coefficient in the dimension Svedberg (sved) according to P Schuck, Size distribution analysis of macromolecules by sedimentation velocity ultracentrifugation and lamb equation modeling, Biophysical Journal 78, (3) (2000), 1606-1619). In this embodiment, the proportion of crosslinker (component c) used in the inverse emulsion polymerization of the polymer is preferably <10% by weight (based on the total amount of components a) to d)). With particular preference, no crosslinker is used in the inverse emulsion polymerization of the polymer.

The thickener according to the invention contains as further component at least one activator. Activators as such are known in principle to the person skilled in the art.

Suitable activators are preferably surfactants, for example anionic, nonionic, cationic and / or amphoteric surfactants, which are disclosed, for example, in WO 2009/019225. Preferably, anionic and / or nonionic surfactants are used.

As nonionic surfactants preferably fatty alcohol alkoxylates are used. Fatty alcohol alkoxylates are also referred to as polyalkylene glycol ethers. Preferred fatty alcohol alkoxylates are alkoxylated, advantageously ethoxylated, in particular primary alcohols having preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms and an average of 1 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide (EO) per mole of alcohol, in which the alcohol radical can be linear or branched, preferably methyl-branched in the 2-position or may contain linear and methyl-branched radicals in the mixture, as they usually in Oxoalkoholresten available. In particular, however, are alcohol ethoxylates having linear radicals of alcohols of native or technical origin having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, for example of coconut, palm, tallow or oleyl alcohol - or mixtures thereof, such as derived from castor oil - and an average of 2 to 8 EO per mole of alcohol preferred. The preferred ethoxylated alcohols include, for example, C- ₂ - C ₁₄ -alcohols with 3 EO, 4 EO or 7 EO, Cg-Cn-alcohol with 7 EO, C ₁₃ -C ₁₅ -alcohols with 3 EO, 5 EO, 7 EO or 8 EO, Ci ₂ -Ci ₈ Alcohols with 3 EO, 5 EO or 7 EO and mixtures of these, such as mixtures of C ₁₂ -C ₁₄ alcohol with 3 EO and C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ - alcohol with 7 EO. The degrees of ethoxylation given represent statistical means which, for a particular product, may be an integer or a fractional number. Preferred alcohol ethoxylates have a narrow homolog distribution (narrow rank ethoxylates, NRE). In addition to these nonionic surfactants, fatty alcohols with more than 12 EO can also be used. Examples include tallow fatty alcohol with 14 EO, 25 EO, 30 EO or 40 EO. Nonionic surfactants containing EO and PO groups together in the molecule can also be used. Here, block copolymers with EO-PO block units or PO-EO block units can be used, but also EO-PO-EO copolymers or PO-EO-PO copolymers. It is of course also possible to use mixed alkoxylated nonionic surfactants ("nonionic surfactants") in which EO and PO units are not randomly distributed but randomly distributed Such products are obtainable by simultaneous action of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide on fatty alcohols.

In addition, other nonionic surfactants also alkyl glycosides or alkyl polyglycosides can be used. By alkyl glycosides or alkyl polyglycosides, the skilled person generally understands compounds which are composed of at least one alkyl fragment and at least one sugar or poly-sugar fragment. The alkyl fragments are preferably derived from fatty alcohols having a carbon atom number of 12 to 22 and the sugar fragments preferably from glucose, sucrose or sorbitan.

For example, it is possible to use alkyl glycosides of the general formula (1) 10 (G) _x (1) in which R ^{1 is} a primary straight-chain or methyl-branched, in particular methyl-branched, 2-position aliphatic radical having 8 to 22, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms. Atoms is and G is a glycoside unit having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably glucose. The degree of oligomerization x, which indicates the distribution of monoglycosides and oligoglycosides, is any number between 1 and 10; preferably x is 1, 2 to 1, 4. Another class of preferred nonionic surfactants used either as the sole nonionic surfactant or in combination with other nonionic surfactants are alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or ethoxylated and propoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, preferably having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, especially fatty acid methyl esters, as they are for example, in Japanese Patent Application JP 58/217598, or preferably prepared according to the method described in International Patent Application WO-A-90/13533.

Nonionic surfactants of the amine oxide type, for example N-cocoalkyl-N, N-dimethylamine oxide and N-tallowalkyl-N, N-dihydroxyethylamine oxide, and the fatty acid alkanolamides may also be suitable. The amount of these nonionic surfactants is preferably not more than that of the ethoxylated fatty alcohols, especially not more than half thereof.

Further suitable surfactants are polyhydroxy fatty acid amides of the formula (2),

wherein R ^{2 is} C (= O) for an aliphatic acyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R ^{3 is} hydrogen, an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl radical having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and [Z] is a linear or branched polyhydroxyalkyl radical having 3 to 10 carbon atoms and 3 to 10 hydroxyl groups. The polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are known substances which can usually be obtained by reductive amination of a reducing sugar with ammonia, an alkylamine or an alkanolamine and subsequent acylation with a fatty acid, a fatty acid alkyl ester or a fatty acid chloride. The group of polyhydroxy fatty acid amides also includes compounds of the formula

(3)

wherein R ^{4 is} a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl radical having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, R ^{5 is} a linear, branched or cyclic alkylene radical having 2 to 8 carbon atoms or an arylene radical having 6 to 8 carbon atoms and R ^{6 is} a linear, branched or is a cyclic alkyl group or an aryl group or an oxyalkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, with C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl or phenyl groups being preferred, and [Z] ^{1 being} a linear polyhydroxyalkyl group whose alkyl chain is substituted with at least two hydroxyl groups , or alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated derivatives of this group. [Z] ¹ is preferably obtained by reductive amination of a sugar, for example glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose or xylose. The N-alkoxy- or N-aryloxy-substituted compounds can then be converted into the desired polyhydroxy fatty acid amides according to WO-A-95/07331, for example, by reaction with fatty acid methyl esters in the presence of an alkoxide as catalyst.

Suitable anionic surfactants ("anionic surfactants") are, for example, those of the sulfonate-type and sulfates type. The surfactants of the sulfonate type are alkylbenzenesulfonates, preferably C ₉ -C ₁₃ -alkylbenzenesulfonates, olefin-sulfonates, ie mixtures of alkene- and hydroxyalkanesulfonates and disulfonates. suitable for example from C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ monoolefins having terminal or internal double bonds by sulfonation with gaseous sulfur trioxide and subsequent alkaline or acidic hydrolysis of the sulfonation products are also suitable alkanesulfonates, preferably secondary alkanesulfonates, for example, from C ₁₂ C ₁₈ -alkanes can also be obtained by sulfochlorination or sulfoxidation with subsequent hydrolysis or neutralization, likewise suitable are the esters of α-sulfo fatty acids (ester sulfonates), for example the α-sulfonated methyl esters of hydrogenated coconut, palm kernel or tallow fatty acids ,

Further suitable anionic surfactants are sulfated fatty acid glycerol esters. Fatty acid glycerol esters are to be understood as meaning the mono-, di- and triesters and mixtures thereof, as obtained in the preparation by esterification of a monoglycerol with 1 to 3 moles of fatty acid or in the transesterification of triglycerides with 0.3 to 2 moles of glycerol. Preferred sulfated fatty acid glycerol esters are the sulfonation products of saturated fatty acids having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, for example caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, myristic acid, lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid or behenic acid.

Further suitable anionic surfactants are fatty alcohol sulfates, for example alk (en) ylsulfates. As alk (en) ylsulfate are the alkali and especially the Sodium salts of sulfuric acid half esters of C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ fatty alcohols, for example from coconut fatty alcohol, tallow fatty alcohol, lauryl, myristyl, cetyl or stearyl alcohol or the Cio-C ₂ o-oxo alcohols and those half-esters of secondary alcohols of these chain lengths are preferred. Also preferred are alk (en) ylsulfates of said chain length, which contain a synthetic, produced on a petrochemical basis straight-chain alkyl radical, which have an analogous degradation behavior as the adequate compounds based on oleochemical raw materials. Of washing technology interest, the C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ alkyl sulfates and C ₁₂ -C ₁₅ alkyl sulfates and Ci4-Ci ₅ alkyl sulfates are preferred. In addition, 2,3-alkyl sulfates, which are produced for example in accordance with US Patent No. 3,234,258 or 5,075,041 and can be obtained as commercial products from Shell Oil Company under the name DAN ^®, are suitable anionic surfactants.

Also, the sulfuric acid monoesters of straight-chain or branched C ₇ -C ₂₁ -alcohols ethoxylated with 1 to 6 mol of ethylene oxide, such as 2-methyl-branched C ₉ -C 20 -alcohols having on average 3.5 mol of ethylene oxide (EO) or C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ Fatty alcohols containing 1 to 4 EO are suitable.

Further suitable anionic surfactants are also the salts of alkylsulfosuccinic acid, which are also referred to as sulfosuccinates or as sulfosuccinic acid esters and the monoesters and / or diesters of sulfosuccinic acid with alcohols, preferably fatty alcohols and in particular ethoxylated fatty alcohols. Preferred sulfosuccinates contain C ₈ -C ₁₈ fatty alcohol residues or mixtures of these. Particularly preferred sulfosuccinates contain a fatty alcohol residue derived from ethoxylated fatty alcohols. Sulfosuccinates, whose fatty alcohol residues are derived from ethoxylated fatty alcohols having a narrower homolog distribution, are again particularly preferred. Likewise, it is also possible to use alk (en) ylsuccinic acid having preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the Al k (en) yl chain or salts thereof.

Further suitable anionic surfactants are alkyl carboxylates, for example the sodium salts of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, wherein the alkyl radical of the alkyl carboxylate is preferably linear. In the context of the present invention, the activator is preferably selected from fatty alcohol alkoxylates, alkyl glycosides, alkyl carboxylates, alkyl benzene sulfonates, secondary alkane sulfonates and fatty alcohol sulfates, more preferably selected from fatty alcohol alkoxylates. An example of a preferred fatty alcohol alkoxylate is C ₆ -C ₁₇ (secondary) poly (3-6) ethoxylate. Furthermore, it is preferred in the context of the present invention to use an activator which has a (relatively) high HLB value (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value). Preferably, the activator has an HLB value of 7 to 18, more preferably 8 to 15, and most preferably 9 to 13.

Activators with a high HLB value are preferably i) fatty alcohol alkoxylates of secondary alcohols or mixtures of alcohols having 12 to 18 carbon atoms and ethylene oxide or propylene oxide and ii) alkyl glycosides of sucrose and C ₈ to C ₂ fatty alcohols. Examples of such activators are the commercially available Synperonic 87K from Croda GmbH, Herrenpfad-Süd 33, 41334 Nettetal, Germany; Croduret 40 or other ethoxylated hydrogenated castor oils (castor oils), such as Etocas 40 or Crodesta F1 10, all from Croda.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred to use a mixture of at least two activators, wherein at least one activator has a high HLB value and at least one activator has a low HLB value. The high HLB activator preferably has an HLB value of> 12 to 20, and the low HLB activator preferably has an HLB value of 1 to 12. In this embodiment, the high HLB activator may have a high HLB value. Value and the activator with a low HLB value in any known to those skilled ratios to each other. Preferably, 20 to 50% by weight of high HLB activator and 50 to 80% by weight of low HLB activator are employed in the blend. Further preferably, this ratio of high HLB activator to low HLB activator is adjusted so that the total HLB is 7 to 18, more preferably 8 to 15 and most preferably 9 to 13.

In these mixtures of at least two activators are preferably used as activators with a high HLB value alkyl glycosides or Polyalkylglykoside or Polyalkyloligoethylenoxidglykosid based on sucrose or sorbitan and C ₈ to C ₂ 2- fatty alcohols such as Polyethylenglykolsorbitanmonostearat or Polyoxyethylen- sorbitanmonostearat. Examples of such activators are the commercially available Crillet 1, Crillet 3 or Crodesta F160, all available from Croda. As activators with a low HLB value, preference is given to using alkyl glycosides of sucrose or sorbitan and C ₈ to C ₂ fatty alcohols or fatty acids, such as sorbitan laurate or sorbitan stearate. Examples of such activators are the commercially available Crill 1, Crill 3 or Crodesta F10 from Croda.

The ratio of activator to polymer can be adjusted within the scope of the present invention at any values known to those skilled in the art. Preferred is the ratio of activator to polymer> 10: 100 [% by weight /% by weight], more preferably 10.5 to 50: 100 [% by weight /% by weight], particularly preferably 1 1 to 5% 20: 100 [wt% / wt%]. In addition to the polymer and the activator, further components may be present in the thickeners according to the invention. Suitable further components are defined in more detail in the following text within the scope of the preparation of the thickener or of the polymer. Suitable further components may be, for example, oils and solvents.

In the thickener according to the invention, the polymer can be dispersed in the oil phase, preferably as an inverse dispersion, water-in-oil dispersion or as dispersed anhydrous polymer in oil. In the context of the present invention, the polymer is prepared by inverse emulsion polymerization. The inverse emulsion polymerization as such is known to the person skilled in the art. By inverse emulsion polymerization, one skilled in the art will generally understand polymerization processes as defined below. The hydrophilic monomers are dispersed in a hydrophobic oil phase. The polymerization takes place directly in these hydrophilic monomer particles by addition of initiator.

Furthermore, in the context of the present invention, the temperature during the inverse emulsion polymerization is kept constant, wherein the temperature is at least 40 ° C, preferably 50 to 90 ° C. Normally, the upper temperature limit of 150 ° C is not exceeded in the inverse emulsion polymerization.

If the temperature is kept constant in the context of the present invention in an inverse emulsion polymerization, this means that from the beginning of the inverse emulsion polymerization, the temperature is maintained at a constant value. Fluctuations of +/- 5 ° C, preferably +/- 2 ° C and especially +/- 1 ° C during the polymerization process are considered to be a constant temperature (based on the desired constant temperature value). The temperature is kept constant until the inverse emulsion polymerization is complete, this is preferably the case after a conversion of more than 90% of the monomers used, more preferably more than 95 wt .-% and particularly preferably at full conversion (100 wt. %). The temperature can be kept constant by the resulting heat of reaction is removed by cooling. The start of the polymerization is usually the addition of the Polymerization initiator, preferably the addition of a redox initiator system. Normally, the system is first heated to the desired temperature and maintained under stirring until the temperature is constant. Subsequently, the addition of the polymerization initiator, whereby the polymerization process is started. In one embodiment of the present invention, the temperature is kept constant at a value which is above the melting point of the associative monomer employed.

After completion of the inverse emulsion polymerization, the activator addition to the polymer (or to the reaction mixture containing the polymer) takes place to obtain the thickener according to the invention. The activator addition takes place according to steps known to those skilled in the art, for example in one or more portions, it also being possible for further components to be added together with the activator.

For inverse emulsion polymerization, a suitable polymerization initiator is used. Redox initiators and / or thermally activatable radical polymerization initiators are preferred. Suitable thermally activatable radical initiators or the oxidative component of the redox initiator pair are especially those of the peroxy and azo types. These include, among others, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, t-butyl hydroperoxide, di-t-butyl peroxide, dibenzoyl peroxide, benzoyl hydroperoxide, 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl peroxide, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis (hydroperoxy) hexane, perbenzoic acid, t-butyl Butyl peroxypivalate, t-butyl peracetate, dilauroyl peroxide, dicapryloyl peroxide, distearoyl peroxide, dibenzoyl peroxide, diisopropyl peroxydicarbonate, didecyl peroxydicarbonate,

Dieicosyl peroxydicarbonate, di-t-butyl perbenzoate, azobisisobutyronitrile, 2,2'-azobis-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile, ammonium persulfate, potassium persulfate, sodium persulfate and sodium perphosphate.

The persulfates (peroxodisulfates), especially sodium persulfate, are most preferred.

In performing the inverse emulsion polymerization, the initiator is used in an amount sufficient to initiate the polymerization reaction. The initiator is usually used in an amount of about 0.01 to 3 wt .-%, based on the total weight of the monomers used. The amount of initiator is preferably about 0.05 to 2 wt .-% and in particular 0.1 to 1 wt .-%, based on the total weight of the monomers used. The inverse emulsion polymerization can be carried out both as a batch process and in the form of a feed process. In the feed mode, at least one part of the polymerization initiator can be initially charged, heated to polymerization temperature and then leads to the rest of the polymerization mixture, usually via several separate feeds, one or more of which contain the monomers in pure or emulsified form, continuously or stepwise while maintaining the polymerization to. Preferably, the monomer feed takes place in the form of an inverse monomer emulsion. Additional polymerization initiator can be added in parallel to the monomer feed.

In preferred embodiments, the total amount of initiator is given, i. H. no additional initiator feed takes place parallel to the monomer feed.

In a preferred embodiment, therefore, the thermally activatable radical polymerization initiator is completely introduced and the monomer mixture, preferably in the form of an inverse monomer emulsion, is allowed to run in. Before starting the feed of the monomer mixture, bringing the template on the activation temperature of the thermally activated radical polymerization initiator or a higher temperature, but at least to 40 ° C, and keeps the corresponding temperature constant. The activation temperature is considered to be the temperature at which at least half of the initiator has decomposed after one hour.

According to another preferred method of preparation, the polymer is obtained by inverse emulsion polymerization of a monomer mixture in the presence of a redox initiator system. A redox initiator system comprises at least one oxidizer component and at least one reductant component, with heavy metal ions as catalyst being additionally present in the reaction medium, for example cerium, manganese or iron (II) salts.

Suitable oxidizing agent components are, for example, peroxides and / or hydroperoxides such as hydrogen peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide, pinane hydroperoxide, diisopropylphenyl hydroperoxide, dicyclohexyl percarbonate, dibenzoyl peroxide, dilauroyl peroxide and diacetyl peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide are preferred.

Suitable reducing agent components are alkali metal sulfites, alkali metal dithionites, alkali metal hyposulfites, sodium hydrogen sulfite, Rongalit C (sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate), mono- and dihydroxyacetone, sugars (eg glucose or dextrose), ascorbic acid and its salts, acetone bisulfite adduct and / or an alkali metal salt of Hydroxymethanesulfinic. Sodium hydrogen sulfite or sodium metabisulfite are preferred.

Also suitable as the reducing agent component or catalyst are iron (II) salts, e.g. Iron (II) sulfate, stannous salts, e.g. Tin (II) chloride, titanium (III) salts such as titanium (III) sulfate.

The amounts of oxidizing agent are from 0.001 to 5.0 wt .-%, preferably from 0.005 to 1, 0 wt .-% and particularly preferably from 0.01 to 0.5 wt .-%, based on the total weight of the monomers used. Reducing agents are used in amounts of 0.001 to 2.0 wt .-%, preferably from 0.005 to 1, 0 wt .-% and particularly preferably from 0.01 to 0.5 wt .-%, based on the total weight of the monomers used , A particularly preferred redox initiator system is the system sodium peroxodisulfate / sodium bisulfite, e.g. B. 0.001 to 5.0 wt .-% sodium peroxodisulfate and 0.001 to 2.0 wt .-% sodium bisulfite, in particular 0.005 to 1, 0 wt .-% sodium peroxodisulfate and 0.005 to 1, 0 wt .-% sodium bisulfite, particularly preferably 0 , 01 to 0.5 wt .-% sodium peroxodisulfate and 0.01 to 0.5 wt .-% sodium hydrogen sulfite.

Another particularly preferred redox initiator system is the system t-butyl hydroperoxide / hydrogen peroxide / ascorbic acid, e.g. 0.001 to 5.0% by weight of t-butyl hydroperoxide, 0.001 to 5.0% by weight of hydrogen peroxide and 0.001 to 2.0% by weight of ascorbic acid, in particular 0.005 to 1.0% by weight of t-butyl hydroperoxide , 0.005 to 1, 0 wt .-% hydrogen peroxide and 0.005 to 1, 0 wt .-% ascorbic acid, particularly preferably 0.01 to 0.5 wt .-% t-butyl hydroperoxide, 0.01 to 0.5 wt. % Hydrogen peroxide and 0.01 to 0.5% by weight ascorbic acid. Preferably, the polymer is prepared by inverse emulsion polymerization by first preparing an aqueous phase of the water-soluble components and an oil phase separately from each other. The two phases are then mixed together to give a water-in-oil dispersion. The mixture is polymerized by adding a redox initiator system, optionally thereafter a thermal initiator may be added or, if already present, thermally activated.

In the aqueous phase, preferably a chain transfer agent, a crosslinker, an anionic and / or neutral monomer and optionally the associative monomer are included and optionally further components. Suitable others Components are, for example, complexing agents for salts such as pentasodium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid.

In the oil phase, an emulsifier, a stabilizer, a high-boiling oil, a low-boiling oil and / or optionally the associative monomer are preferably contained. Furthermore, in the oil phase may optionally be contained a non-ionic monomer.

Emulsifiers, stabilizers, low-boiling oils and high-boiling oils as such are known to the person skilled in the art. These compounds can be used singly or in the form of mixtures.

Typical emulsifiers are anionic emulsifiers such. Sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium tridecyl ether sulfates, dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium salt and sodium salts of alkylaryl polyether sulfonates; and nonionic emulsifiers such. B. Alkylarylpolyetheralkohole and ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers. Sorbitan trioleate is also suitable as an emulsifier.

Preferred emulsifiers have the following general formula:

R-O- (CH ₂ -CHR'-O) _n -X, wherein R is C ₆ -C ₃₀ -alkyl,

R 'is hydrogen or methyl,

X is hydrogen or SO ₃ M,

M is hydrogen or an alkali metal, and

n is an integer from 2 to 100

Suitable stabilizers are described, for example, in EP-A 172 025 or EP-A 172 724. Preferred stabilizers are copolymers of stearyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid.

Examples of suitable high-boiling oils are 2-ethylhexyl stearate and hydroheated heavy naphtha, and as low-boiling oils, for example, dearomatized aliphatic hydrocarbons or mineral oils of low viscosity.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the inverse emulsion polymerization component b) (at least one ethylenic unsaturated associative monomer) also or exclusively in the oil phase.

Furthermore, it is preferred that after the inverse emulsion polymerization and before the activator addition at least a portion of water and at least a portion of the low-boiling components of the oil phase are distilled off, in particular by means of LDP technology (Liquid Dispersion Polymer Technology). The LDP technology as such is known to the person skilled in the art, it is described, for example, in WO 2005/097834.

Another object of the present invention is the process as such for the preparation of the thickener according to the invention as described above. Another object of the present invention are surfactant-containing acidic formulations containing at least one thickener according to the invention according to the above definitions. The pH of the formulation is 1 to <7.

Another object of the present invention are surfactant-containing alkaline formulations containing at least one thickener according to the invention according to the above definitions. The pH of the formulation is 7 to 13.

The surfactant-containing acidic or alkaline formulations according to the invention may contain further ingredients which are known to the person skilled in the art. Suitable ingredients include one or more of builders, bleaches, bleach activators, enzymes, electrolytes, non-aqueous solvents, pH adjusters, perfumes, perfume carriers, fluorescers, dyes, hydrotropes, foam inhibitors, silicone oils, antiredeposition agents, optical brighteners, grayness inhibitors, anti-shrinkage agents , Anti-crease agents, color transfer inhibitors, antimicrobial agents, germicides, fungicides, antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, antistatic agents, ironing aids, repellents and impregnating agents, swelling and anti-slip agents and UV absorbers.

Another object of the present invention is the use of a surfactant-containing acidic formulation according to the invention in hair cosmetics, hair styling, as a shampoo, as a fabric softener, as a conditioner, as a skin cream, as a shower gel, as a softener for laundry, or as an acidic cleaner , preferably for the toilet or the bathroom. Another object of the present invention is the use of a surfactant-containing alkaline formulation as a care agent, as a liquid detergent or dishwashing detergent for machine or hand washing. Another object of the present invention is the use of the thickener according to the invention as a viscosity modifier, to optimize the shear thinning, as a thickener, for stabilizing suspended ingredients with a size in the range of nanometers to millimeters and / or in surfactant-containing acidic or alkaline formulations.

The following abbreviations are used in the description including the examples:

monomers

ACM acrylamide

AA acrylic acid

MAA methacrylic acid

NaAc sodium acrylate

BEM behenyl-25-methacrylate

MBA methylene-bis-acrylamide (crosslinker)

TAAC tetraallyl-ammonium chloride (crosslinker)

NaHP sodium hypophosphite (chain transfer agent)

C16E025MAc C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ fatty alcohol (ethylene glycol) ₂ 5 ether methacrylate

other

pphm parts per hundred parts of monomers (in terms of.

Components a) and b))

VE demineralized

The invention is illustrated below with reference to the examples.

Examples

Comparative Example C1

Synthesis of a thickener / polymer starting from anionic monomers without associative monomer but with crosslinker and chain transfer agent as well as increasing polymerization temperature.

An aqueous phase of water-soluble components is prepared by admixing the following components: 250.24 g (139.02 pphm) of water,

0.89 g (0.49 pphm) of pentasodium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid,

1, 0.05 g (0.06 pphm) of methylenebisacrylamide (1% in water),

180 g (100 pphm) of acrylic acid and

146.8 g (40.78 pphm) NaOH (50% in water)

Adjust the water phase to pH 5.5 with NaOH (50% in water).

An oil phase is prepared by admixing the following components:

20.62 g (8.59 pphm) sorbitan monooleate (75% in hydroheated heavy naphtha (petroleum) [Isopar G])

93.19 g (12.27 pphm) of polymeric stabilizer: stearylmethacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymer (23.7% in hydroheated heavy naphtha [Isopar G]),

120.24 g (66.8 pphm) of low viscosity mineral oil (Kristol M14) and

236.28 g (131, 27 pphm) of hydro-heated heavy naphtha [Isopar G]

The two phases are mixed in a ratio of 55.6 parts aqueous phase to 44.4 parts oil phase under high shear to produce a water-in-oil emulsion. The resulting water-in-oil emulsion is added to a reactor equipped with nitrogen spray, stirrer and thermometer. The emulsion is purged with nitrogen to remove the oxygen and cooled to 20 ° C.

The polymerization is accomplished by adding a redox couple

13 g (0.014 pphm) of sodium metabisulfite (0.2% in hydroheated heavy naphtha (petroleum) [Isopar G] and

13g (0.014 pphm) of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide (0.2% in hydroheated heavy naphtha (petroleum) [Isopar G]).

The redox couple is gradually added so that a temperature increase of 2 ° C / min takes place. After the isotherm is reached, a free radical initiator (2,2'-azobis (2-methylbutyronitrile), CAS: 13472-08-7) is added in 2 steps (the 2nd step after 45 minutes) and the emulsion is added for 75 minutes kept at 85 ° C.

Vacuum distillation removes water and low boiling components of the oil phase (Isopar G).

Mineral oil of low viscosity (Kristol M14) is added to this product to achieve a solids content of 54%. To this product is added 8% (by total weight of this product) of a fatty alcohol alkoxylate (C12 / 15 alcohol alkoxylate [Synperonic 87K ™]) to make a thickener (Dispersion) with 50% polymer solids content. The ratio of activator to polymer is thus 16.0: 100 [wt .-% / wt .-%].

Example 1 Thickener / polymers starting from anionic monomers with associative monomer and constant polymerization temperature:

Example 1.1 An aqueous phase of water-soluble components is prepared by admixing the following components:

246.13 g (140.65 pphm) of water,

0.86 g (0.49 pphm) of pentasodium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid,

174.13 g (99.5 pphm) of acrylic acid and

154.26 g (44.07 pphm) NaOH (50% in water)

Adjust the water phase to pH 5.5 with NaOH (50% in water).

An oil phase is prepared by admixing the following components:

20.05 g (8.59 pphm) of sorbitan monooleate (75% in hydroheated heavy naphtha (petroleum) [Isopar G])

90.6 g (12.27 pphm) of polymeric stabilizer: stearylmethacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymer (23.7% in hydroheated heavy naphtha [Isopar G]),

1 19.03 g (68.02 pphm) of low viscosity mineral oil (Kristol M14) and

229.72 g (131, 27 pphm) of hydro-heated heavy naphtha [Isopar G]

1, 09 g (0.5 pphm) Associative monomer: 60 wt .-% C16E025Mac: in the commercial product Plex 6954-0 (with 20 wt .-% methacrylic acid / 20 wt .-% water).

The two phases are mixed in a ratio of 55.6 parts aqueous phase to 44.4 parts oil phase under high shear to produce a water-in-oil emulsion. The resulting water-in-oil emulsion is added to a reactor equipped with nitrogen spray, stirrer and thermometer. The emulsion is purged with nitrogen during heating to 50 ° C, whereby the oxygen is removed. The polymerization is accomplished by adding a redox couple

13.6 g (0.016 pphm) of sodium metabisulfite (0.2% in water) and

13.6 g (0.016 pphm) of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide (0.2% in water).

The redox couple is added at 50 ° C within 2 hours. Then it is heated to 85 ° C and then in 2 steps (the 2nd step after 45 min) a free radical initiator (2,2'-azobis (2-methylbutyronitrile), CAS: 13472-08-7) was added and the emulsion held at 85 ° C for 75 minutes.

Mineral oil of low viscosity (Kristol M14) is added to this product to achieve a solids content of 54%. To this product is added 8% (by total weight of this product) of a fatty alcohol alkoxylate (C12 / 15 alcohol alkoxylate [Synperonic 87K ™]) to make a thickener (dispersion) with 50% polymer solids. The ratio of activator to polymer is thus 16.0: 100 [wt .-% / wt .-%].

The following examples according to Table 1 are prepared as Example 1 .1, taking into account the specified changes in the monomer composition. The associative monomer C16E025MAc is added to the oil phase. The commercial product Plex 6954 O is used which contains 60% by weight of associative monomer and, as solvent, water and MAA in a ratio of about 1: 1. The weights in Table 1 refer to the amount of associative monomer without solvent. The ratio of activator to polymer in all examples according to Table 1 is 16.0: 100 [wt .-% / wt .-%], unless otherwise stated, the respective thickener (dispersion) 50% polymer solids content.

Table 1

Comparative Example 2 Thickener / Polymers starting from anionic monomers with associative monomer and increasing polymerization temperature: The following examples according to Table 2 are prepared in the same way as Comparative Example C1 taking into account the stated changes in the monomer composition. The associative monomer C16E025MAc is added to the oil phase. The commercial product Plex 6954 O is used which contains 60% by weight of associative monomer and, as solvent, water and MAA in a ratio of about 1: 1. The weights in Table 2 refer to the amount of associative monomer without solvent. The ratio of activator to polymer in all examples according to Table 2 is 16.0: 100 [% by weight /% by weight], unless stated otherwise, the respective thickeners (dispersion) have 50% polymer solids content.

Table 2

General measuring methods:

Unless otherwise stated, the following general measurement methods are used in the following examples:

Determination of viscosity

Under consideration of the regulations according to DIN 51550, DIN 53018, DIN 53019, with the Brookfield viscometer model DV II, unless indicated otherwise in the following tables, at the speed of 20 revolutions per minute with the spindle No. 6 the indicated viscosities in mPa ^* s measured.

Determination of shear thinning The rotational rheometer ASC (automatic sample changer) from Fa. Antonpaar is used, with the cylinder geometry CC27, the radius of the measuring body of 13.33 mm and the radius of the measuring cup of 14.46 mm. The measuring temperature is 23 ° C. The samples are measured in stationary shear starting with small shearing towards large (0.01 S ^"1 - 1000 S ^{" 1} ) and back again (1000 S ^"1 - 0.01 S ^{" 1} ).

Example 3 Application of thickeners / polymers in water

The thickeners are slowly added to distilled water at room temperature according to Table 3 and stirred until the formulation is homogenized. The resulting aqueous formulations contain according to Table 3 either 1, 0 wt .-% polymer to 99.0 wt .-% water or 1, 5 wt .-% polymer to 98.5 wt .-% water. The results are summarized in Table 3.

Table 3

Rheology of thickeners / polymers starting from anionic monomers in water, measured 5 minutes after preparation of the formulation

If associative monomer is incorporated into the polymer, then the

Thickening power clearly.

The procedure at a constant polymerization temperature of 50 ° C provides an increased thickening performance in comparison with otherwise the same monomer composition for driving with increasing polymerization temperature. The last four examples of Table 3 relate to acrylamide-containing polymers.

Example 4

Application of thickeners / polymers in standard formulations of fabric softener W3

W3: Preparation of a methyltris (hydroxyethyl) ammonium di-tallow fatty acid ester methosulfate, partially hydrogenated - fabric softener (5.5% active ingredient):

The fabric softener has a pH of 2.7 and contains 5.5% by weight.

Methyltris (hydroxyethyl) ammonium di-tallow fatty acid ester methosulfate (partially hydrogenated) and 94.5% by weight of deionized water.

Addition of the thickener to the softener formulation W3: The thickeners according to Examples 1 and 2 or the comparative examples are at

Room temperature slowly added to the respective fabric softener formulation and stirred until the formulation is homogenized.

Brookfield viscosity is measured one day after preparation. The

Results are summarized in Table 4.

Table 4: Thickener performance in fabric softener W3

Rheology of fabric softeners containing thickener / polymers starting from neutral monomers:

Example FormuGerman Thickener Brookfield

No. lation No. Konzen- spindle 6

tration (%) (20 rpm)

/ mPas

4.1 (Cf.) W3 1 .3 (Comp) 1, 0 400

4.3 (Compare) W3 2.7 (Comp) 1, 0 600

4.4 (Cf.) W3 2.8 (Cf.) 1, 0 1 100

4.2 W3 1.4 1, 0 1900 The procedure at a constant polymerization temperature of 50 ° C provides with

Associative monomer with otherwise the same monomer composition increased thickening performance in the fabric softener formulation W3 compared to driving with increasing polymerization temperature,

Example 5

The stability of the thickeners according to the invention is examined in Table 5 below. It turns out that the thickeners according to the invention are significantly more stable.

Table 5:

Storage stability of thickener / polymers starting from anionic monomers:

Significant improvement, so reducing the sediment, through

thickener according to the invention.

Claims

claims

Thickener preparable by a process, characterized in that a polymer by an inverse emulsion polymerization of a) at least one water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least one anionic monomer and / or at least one nonionic monomer,

b) at least one ethylenically unsaturated associative monomer, c) optionally at least one crosslinker,

d) optionally at least one chain transfer agent is obtained, wherein the temperature during the inverse emulsion polymerization is kept constant and at least 40 ° C, preferably 50 to 90 ° C, and after completion of the inverse emulsion polymerization, the Aktivatorzugabe to obtain the thickener.

Thickener according to claim 1, characterized in that after the inverse emulsion polymerization and before the Aktivatorzugabe, at least a portion of water and at least a portion of the low-boiling components of the oil phase are distilled off.

Thickener according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the method based on the LDP technology (liquid dispersion polymer technology).

Thickener according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the inverse emulsion polymerization component b) is added to the oil phase.

Thickener according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the activator is selected from fatty alcohol alkoxylates, alkyl glycosides, alkyl carboxylates, alkyl benzene sulfonates, secondary alkane sulfonates and fatty alcohol sulfates, preferably selected from fatty alcohol alkoxylates.

Thickener according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a mixture of at least 2 activators is used, wherein at least one activator has an HLB value (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value) of> 12 to 20 and at least one activator an HLB Value from 1 to 12. Thickener according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the polymer is dispersed in the oil phase, preferably as an inverse dispersion, water-in-oil dispersion or as dispersed anhydrous polymer in oil.

8. A thickener according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in the polymer component a) comprises at least one anionic monomer, wherein the anionic monomer is selected from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid or a salt thereof, in particular, the anionic Monomer Na acrylate.

Thickener according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the water-soluble fractions of the polymer more than 25 wt .-% (based on the total weight of the polymer).

Thickener according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in the polymer component a) comprises at least one nonionic monomer, wherein the nonionic monomer is selected from N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinylimidazole or a compound according to the formula ( I)

in which

R ₇ is H or d - C ₄ alkyl,

R ₈ is H or methyl, and

R ₉ and R-io independently of one another are H or C 1 -C ₃₀ -alkyl.

Thickener according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that in the polymer, the ethylenically unsaturated associative monomer (component b) is selected from a compound according to formula (II)

R-O- (CH ₂ -CHR'-O) _n -CO-CR "= CH ₂ (II) where

R is C ₆ -C ₅ -alkyl, preferably C ₈ -C 22 -alkyl, in particular C ₁ -C ₃₀ -alkyl,

is ~ or C ₁ -C ₄ -alkyl, preferably H, R "is H or methyl,

n is an integer from 0 to 100, preferably from 3 to 50, in particular 25.

12. Thickener according to one of claims 1 to 1 1, characterized in that in the polymer of the crosslinker (component c) is selected from

divinylbenzene; Tetraallyl ammonium chloride; allyl acrylates; Allylmethacrylaten; Diacrylates and dimethacrylates of glycols or polyglycols; butadiene; 1, 7-octadiene, allyl-acrylamides or allyl-methacrylamides; Bisacrylamidoacetic acid; Ν, Ν'-methylene-bisacrylamide or Polyolpolyallylethern as

Polyallyl sucrose or pentaerythritol triallyl ether.

13. Thickener according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that in the polymer, the chain transfer agent (component d) is selected from mercaptans, lactic acid, formic acid, isopropanol or hypophosphites.

14. Thickener according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the ratio of activator to polymer> 10 to 100 [wt .-% / wt .-%]. 15. A surfactant-containing acidic formulation comprising at least one thickener according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the pH of the formulation is 1 to <7.

16. Use of a surfactant-containing acidic formulation according to claim 15 in hair cosmetics, hair styling, as a shampoo, as a fabric softener, as

Care products, as a conditioner, as a skin cream, as a shower gel, as a softener for laundry, or as an acidic cleaner, preferably for the toilet or the bathroom.

17. A surfactant-containing alkaline formulation containing at least one thickener according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the pH of the formulation 7 to

13 amounts to.

18. Use of a surfactant-containing alkaline formulation according to claim 17 as a care agent, as a liquid detergent or as a dishwashing detergent for machine or hand washing.

19. Use of a thickener according to one of claims 1 to 14 as a viscosity modifier, for optimizing the shear thinning, as a thickener, for stabilizing suspended ingredients with a size in the range of nanometers to millimeters and / or in surfactant-containing acid or

Formulations.