Alkyl poly(oxyalkylene) esters of acrylate oligomers and copolymers thereof for thickening purposes
 There are disclosed polymerizable alkyl poly(oxyalkylene) esters of an acrylate oligomer and copolymers thereof, especially stable, aqueous dispersions of water-insoluble emulsion copolymers of (1) about 10-70% by weight of methacrylic or acrylic acid, (2) about 0.5-25% by weight of an alkyl poly(oxyalkylene) ester of an acrylate oligomer, and (3) at least 25% by weight, to a total of 100%, of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl (meth)acrylate, and optionally, included in the total monomer mixture, a small amount of (4) about 0.5-1% by weight, of a polyethylenically unsaturated monomer. The copolymers, when neutralized and solubilized by addition of an alkali, are high efficiency thickeners for aqueous systems and have improved tolerance to ionic or electrolyte content. Typical systems that can be thickened are paint latices, cosmetic preparations, food preparations, ionic detergents, dye pastes for textiles, pharmaceuticals, and oil well drilling muds. Surfactants enhance the thickening properties afforded by the copolymers. 
Rohm and Haas Company
C C D A A A C C C A A
C08L C09D D06P A61Q A61K A61Q C09K C09D C08F A61K A61K
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Ching-Jen Travis E.
Chang Stevens