Associative polymers for mist-control
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsMing-Hsin Wei, Julia A. Kornfield, Ralph Leonard Ameri David
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Abstract
Polymeric mist control materials, methods of forming polymeric mist control materials, and methods of using such materials for mist control are provided. The polymeric mist control additives are formed of molecules comprised predominantly of monomers that confer high solubility in fuel and include associative groups that attract each other in donor-acceptor manner, and are incorporated such that multiple associative groups are in close proximity (“clusters”), such that the clusters are separated by very long non-associative sequences.
Claims20
An associative mist control material comprising:
- a mixture of polymers each having:
- at least one non-associative chain, said non-associative chain being selected to confer solubility to the polymer in a particular medium such that the medium and the mist control material remain as a homogeneous single phase during storage and transport;
- a plurality of associative groups disposed on at least one end of each of said non-associative chains, wherein the associative groups are selected such that the polymer does not self-associate, and wherein a plurality of associative groups separate each of said non-associative chains;
- and
- wherein the associative groups of said polymers reversibly associate with an association strength less than that of a covalent bond to form supramolecules designed to prevent misting of the medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.