WO2006056707A1

WO2006056707A1 - Composition containing a thermoplastic polymer and a hydrophylising agent

Info

Publication number: WO2006056707A1
Application number: PCT/FR2005/002956
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Joubert; Marc Balastre; Antoine Guiu
Original assignee: Rhodia Chimie
Priority date: 2004-11-29
Filing date: 2005-11-28
Publication date: 2006-06-01
Also published as: WO2006056706A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for preparing thermoplastics making it possible to obtain a hydrophilic behaviour of the surfaces of objects made of said thermoplastics. Said invention also relates to used additives, namely an amphiphilic compound containing a quaternary ammonium with an alkylsulfate counterion for producing said surface hydrophilicity, wherein said additives are mixed and comelted with the thermoplastics (additivation into a melt). The melt blends of the thermoplastics and additives are shaped by conventional means (extrusion, injection, film drawing ) for obtaining desired objects. The applications of said thermoplastic objects to hydrophilic surfaces are also disclosed.

Description

Composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a hydrophilizing agent

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of thermoplastic polymers which makes it possible to obtain a hydrophilic behavior of the surface of objects manufactured with these thermoplastic polymers.

It also relates to the additives used to obtain this surface hydrophilicity, said additives being mixed and co-melted with the thermoplastics (additive in the mass).

The melt blends of the thermoplastic polymers and additives are shaped by any conventional means (extrusion, injection, printing films ...) to obtain the desired objects.

The invention finally relates to the applications of these objects in thermoplastic polymers with hydrophilized surfaces.

Plastics such as polyesters, polyamides, polyolefins, and more particularly polypropylene normally have very hydrophobic surfaces, which is a drawback for many applications of objects made from these thermoplastics.

For example, sails or films, porous or discontinuous, made from polypropylene or polyester yarns or fibers, obtained by the so-called nonwoven technique, which we will call under the generic term "non-woven textile surface" have an essentially hydrophobic surface behavior. This behavior requires that they be superficially coated, in post-treatment, with soluble surfactant compositions, to be used in applications such as hygiene, wiping, diapers ....

This surface treatment has the disadvantage of not being durable and also of allowing the surfactant used in the treatment layer to dissolve in the water in contact with it. This point is particularly to be avoided in hygiene applications like diapers. Also the hydrophilization of the surface of objects is sought in other applications for example those for mass objects such as parts for the automotive industry.

It is desired to be able to paint these parts, and plastics such as polypropylene are not suitable for painting. In this case, the surface treatment with a coating of a hydrophilic or amphiphilic species is not a viable solution because the hydrophilizing treatment is neither durable nor adherent.

In another type of application, hydrophilicity is sought because it would clean the water in question. In particular food containers polyolefin (PE, PP) pose a cleaning problem when you want to wash in an automatic dishwasher. While all the glass or ceramic utensils are clean and dry from the dishwasher, the polyolefin utensils are still wet, with non-spreading drops of water, because of the great hydrophobicity of the utensils and containers concerned.

Finally the hydrophilicity of polypropylene packaging or films is also sought to prevent slugging, dust deposition, fogging, during the storage of products wrapped polypropylene films in the departments of sales. At this level, hydrophilicity contributes to the non-adhesion of dust or greasy soils, but also to the flow of static electricity charges responsible for certain types of ensalissement.

The need existed to find a way to prepare a thermoplastic polymer that has a more hydrophilic surface.

One of the aims of the present invention is therefore to find a means of preparing a thermoplastic polymer which has a more hydrophilic surface.

This object, and others, is achieved by the present invention which therefore relates to a composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer and hydrophilizing agent selected from amphiphilic compounds comprising a quaternary ammonium with a counterion alkylsulfate.

It also relates to a process for preparing the thermoplastic polymer in which the hydrophilizing agent has been incorporated. The invention finally relates to the applications of this thermoplastic polymer with hydrophilized surface.

By thermoplastic polymer is meant polyesters, polyamides, polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene.

Amphiphilic compounds comprising a quaternary ammonium with a counterion alkyl sulphate means compounds of formula (I) below:

(R 1) (R 2) (R 3) (R 4) N ⁺ R-SO 4 ^- (I) wherein

- R1 represents an alkyl, alkenyl, hydroxyalkyl, benzyl, alkylbenzyl, alkenylbenzyl, benzylalkyl, benzyl, linear or branched benzylalkenyl hydrocarbon radical having from 8 to 30 carbon atoms, this radical R1 possibly being alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated; R 2, R 3 and R 4, which may be identical or different, represent a linear or branched alkyl hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably an ethyl or ethyl radical;

- R represents a linear or branched alkyl hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably an ethyl radical;

The compound of formula (I) is preferably used in which:

- R1 represents a linear C ₁₂ H ₂ S radical;

R2 and R3 represent a methyl radical;

- R4 represents an ethyl radical; - R represents an ethyl radical.

This compound is marketed by Rhodia under the name Catafor F, in liquid form, in solution at 80% active in ethylene glycol.

The amount of hydrophilizing agent introduced into the polymer is such that the weight ratio between the hydrophilizing agent and the thermoplastic polymer is between 1/99 and 10/90.

The hydrophilizing agent is mixed and co-melted with the thermoplastic polymer.

The thermoplastic polymer is generally in the form of solid granules. The hydrophilizing agent can be mixed at room temperature with the polymer granules and then introduced into a mixing tool heated. The hydrophilizing agent may also be introduced into the mixing tool in which the polymer in the molten state is already present.

The temperature mixing tool may be a vessel provided with rotors and heated by a fluid circulation. This is called an internal mixer. It is a "batch" process. For example, a Brabender mixer may be mentioned. After cooling, a blank of solid material is recovered which can be shaped in a mold by compression.

The temperature mixing tool may also be an extruder in which the material is transported, heated and kneaded by rotating screw members. It is a "continuous" process. For example, a Werner ZSK30 extruder may be mentioned. A rush of molten material is recovered which is cooled and then cut to obtain granules.

These granules can then be injected in the form of test pieces or finished materials.

When the hydrophilizing agent is in solid form, that is to say in the form of a powder, flake or granules, the incorporation is then easily as indicated above.

When the hydrophilizing agent is in liquid form, 100% hydrophilizing agent, or the hydrophilizing agent in solution in a solvent, there are several possibilities of incorporation.

It is possible to carry out a direct incorporation of liquid, with or without evaporation of the following solvent if the boiling temperature of the liquid (hydrophilizing agent or solvent) is below or above the transformation temperature (around 18O ⁰ C) .

It is also possible to impregnate this liquid on a porous support, such as for example a precipitated silica to obtain a powder. This powder can then be shaped to facilitate its use. For example, reference may be made to FR 2,843,122, which discloses means for incorporating liquids into thermoplastic polymers. The present invention therefore also relates to a process for preparing a composition comprising the thermoplastic polymer and the hydrophilizing agent, characterized in that mixing the hydrophilizing agent and the thermoplastic polymer in molten form.

The present invention therefore also relates to a process for preparing a composition comprising the thermoplastic polymer and the hydrophilizing agent, characterized in that the hydrophilizing agent is mixed with the thermoplastic polymer optionally with other ingredients, for example fillers or stabilizers, by mixing with the thermoplastic polymer before melting, by direct introduction into the molten thermoplastic polymer, and / or by masterbatch.

The melt blends of thermoplastic polymer and hydrophilizing agent can be shaped by any conventional means (extrusion, injection, pulling films ...) to obtain the desired objects.

The melt blends of thermoplastic polymer and hydrophilizing agent can thus be formed into molding powder, in the form of an extruded and / or blown and / or injected object, in the form of a film, or in the form of fibers. yarns or filaments, optionally assembled in woven or nonwoven textile surface.

The invention also relates to the applications of these objects in thermoplastic polymers with hydrophilized surfaces.

As examples of objects made of thermoplastic polymer with a hydrophilized surface, mention may in particular be made of a nonwoven textile surface comprising fibers based on a composition according to the invention.

In particular, a nonwoven textile surface comprising fibers based on a composition according to the invention in which the thermoplastic polymer is based on polypropylene may be mentioned.

This textile surface can be used in the manufacture of baby diaper, feminine hygiene product or adult incontinence care product. Examples of objects made of thermoplastic polymer with a hydrophilized surface include mass objects such as parts for the automotive industry. Examples of objects made of thermoplastic polymer with a hydrophilized surface include food containers made of polyolefin (polyethylene or polypropylene).

Examples of objects made of thermoplastic polymer with a hydrophilized surface include packaging or polypropylene films.

The invention finally relates to a use of amphiphilic compounds comprising a quaternary ammonium with a counterion alkyl sulphate as defined previously as hydrophilizing agent of a composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer.

Surface hydrophilicity is evaluated by measuring the contact angle between a drop of purified, distilled water and said surface. A drop of distilled water of calibrated size is deposited under standardized and repetitive conditions on the surface to be studied. It spreads or retracts more or less depending on the hydrophilicity of the surface, and with suitable equipment, it is possible to measure the angle formed by the deposited drop and the surface.

The apparatus used may be, for example, a goniometer for measuring the wetting angle, for example of the Tantec mark. It is also possible to use an automatic measuring device, such as the IT Concept company's droplet monitor with optical bench. This is the case of the measurements that have been made in the examples presented below. The manipulation consists in depositing on the clean and smooth surface of the sample a drop of water of calibrated volume equal to two microliters using a syringe. The drop is illuminated by a uniform light source, type integrating sphere, the image of his profile is projected by a telecentric telephoto lens on a CCD camera. It is digitized and then processed by software to determine several times per second the right and left contact angles defined as the angles between the plane formed by the support and tangent planes on either side of the base of the drop.

Typically, pure polypropylene has a contact angle with pure water of 105 °. The hydrophilizing agents when they are mixed with the thermoplastic polypropylene polymer make it possible to lower this value very substantially, at levels between 70 and 85 °. Other aspects and advantages of the products which are the subject of the invention will emerge in the light of the examples which are presented below by way of illustration and in no way limitative. Unless otherwise indicated, all percentages given in this application are percentages by weight.

Example 1 -Implementation of these products

The constituents (94.9% isotactic polypropylene homopolymer polypropylene polymer sold by the company ATOFINA under the name PPH4060, 5% hydrophilizing additive and 0.1% Irganox B225 thermal stabilizer) are introduced into the tank of an internal mixer of brand " Brabender "brought to a temperature of 150 ^° C. The tank is provided with two counter-rotating rotors of thermoplastic type W50, rotating at a rotational speed of 125 RPM. Given the internal shear, the final temperature of the mixture is between 180 ⁰ C and 190 ⁰ C. After a mixing time of 5 minutes, a charged polymer blank is extracted from the tank, and is pressed into a 800 micron mold. of thickness, between two compression plates heated to 200 ⁰ C under 200 bars of pressure for 2 minutes. The mold is then cooled between two trays cooled at 18 ° C. under a pressure of 200 bars for 4 minutes.

After cooling and consolidation, these specimens are subjected to various physico-chemical tests to check the hydrophilicity of their surface and the resulting properties.

Implementation Considerations and Effect of Additives on Melt Blends: There are different physical effects during mixing in the Brabender kneader, which can provide significant benefits in this preparatory phase. For the Catafor F, there is an external lubricant effect, between metal and melt, in the mixer. Catafor F appears to be located on the outer surface of the mass.

Example 2 - Hydrophilizing Effects

They are given, (by means of the measurement of the contact angle with distilled water), in the following table I, and according to the aging of the specimens in the open air. The measurements were made in the examples presented below using a drop tensiometer with optical bench called the SDT 200 from the company IT Concept. The manipulation consists in depositing on the clean and smooth surface of the sample a drop of water of calibrated volume equal to two microliters using a syringe. The drop is illuminated by a uniform light source, type integrating sphere, the image of his profile is projected by a telecentric telephoto lens on a CCD camera. It is digitized and then processed by software to determine several times per second the right and left contact angles defined as the angles between the plane formed by the support and tangent planes on either side of the base of the drop. The result shown in Table I corresponds to the average of 10 to 15 measurements.

Table I

PP means polypropylene

It is found that the hydrophilicity of the surface is well obtained and increases over time, probably by a migration phenomenon at the air / polypropylene interface.

Claims

claims

A composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a hydrophilizing agent selected from amphiphilic compounds comprising a quaternary ammonium with a counterion alkylsulfate.

2. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the amphiphilic compounds comprising a quaternary ammonium with a counterion alkyl sulphate satisfy the following formula (I):

(R 1) (R 2) (R 3) (R 4) N ⁺ R-SOT (I) wherein,

- R1 represents an alkyl, alkenyl, hydroxyalkyl, benzyl, alkylbenzyl, alkenylbenzyl, benzylalkyl, benzyl, linear or branched benzylalkenyl hydrocarbon radical having from 8 to 30 carbon atoms, this radical R1 possibly being alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated;

- R2, R3, R4, identical or different, represent a linear or branched alkyl hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably a methyl or ethyl radical; - R represents a linear or branched alkyl hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably an ethyl radical;

3. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hydrophilizing agent is the compound of formula (I) in which: - R1 represents a linear C ₁₂ H ₂₅ radical;

R2 and R3 represent a methyl radical;

- R4 represents an ethyl radical;

- R represents an ethyl radical.

4. Composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thermoplastic polymer is selected from polyesters, polyamides, or polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene.

5. Composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thermoplastic polymer is based on polypropylene.

6. Composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is under powder of molding powder, in the form of an extruded object and / or blown and / or injected, in the form of a film, or under fiber form son or filaments, optionally assembled in woven or nonwoven fabric surface.

7. Composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weight ratio between the hydrophilizing agent and the thermoplastic polymer is between 1/99 and 10/90.

8. Process for preparing a composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hydrophilizing agent is mixed with the thermoplastic polymer in molten form.

9. Process according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the hydrophilizing agent is mixed with the thermoplastic polymer optionally with other ingredients, for example fillers or stabilizers, by mixing with the thermoplastic polymer before melting, by direct introduction into the thermoplastic polymer. the thermoplastic polymer melted, and / or by masterbatch.

10. A nonwoven textile surface comprising fibers based on the composition according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is based on polypropylene.

11. Textile surface according to the preceding claim, included in a baby diaper, a feminine hygiene product or a product for the care of incontinence in adults.

12. Use of amphiphilic compounds comprising a quaternary ammonium with a counterion alkyl sulphate according to any one of claims 1 to 3 as hydrophilizing agent of a composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer.