Surface-active agent

Abstract

The invention concerns a surface-active agent comprising a polycarbonate block polyether of the formula I wherein PC represents a carbonate block with P repeat units of formula wherein Re1, Re2, Re3, and Re4 are independently selected from H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or an ether, ester or carbonate group, with the proviso that when one of Re1, Re2, Re3, and Re4 is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or an ether, ester or carbonate group, the remaining Re1, Re2, Re3, and Re4 are H; PE represents a polyether block with Q repeat units of formula wherein Re1′, Re2′, Re3′, and Re4′ are independently selected from H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or an ether, ester or carbonate groups, with the proviso that when one of Re1′, Re2′, Re3′, and Re4′ is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or an ether, ester or carbonate group, the remaining Re1′, Re2′, Re3′, and Re4′ are H; Z1 is R, R—O, R—C(O)—O— or R—O—C(O)—O; R is an optionally substituted straight or branched chain C1-C11 alkyl group; Z2 is H, R, R—(O) C or R—O—(O) C; and wherein the value of P is greater than the value of Q.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.