Polymers useful as pH responsive thickeners and monomers therefor

Abstract

Novel aqueous thickener or thixotropic polymers are prepared by the copolymerization of (A) about 15-60 weight percent of a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, preferably acrylic or methacrylic acid or a mixture thereof with itaconic or fumaric acid, (B) about 15-80 weight percent of a nonionic copolymerizable C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated monomer, preferably a monovinyl ester such as ethyl acrylate or a mixture thereof with styrene, acrylonitrile, vinyl chloride or vinyl acetate, and (C) about 1-30 weight percent of a new and novel nonionic ethylenically unsaturated nonionic biphillic monomer such as tristyrylpoly(ethyleneoxy).sub.x methyl acrylate, to provide a stable aqueous colloidal dispersion at an acid pH lower than about 5.0 but becoming an effective thickener for aqueous systems upon adjustment to a pH of about 5.5-10.5 or higher. These polymers adjusted to a pH of about 5.5 or higher are effective thickeners for a wide variety of aqueous systems including cosmetic products, drilling muds, aqueous coating compositions such as latex paint, and high solids compositions such as spackle, grouts, cements, and the like.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.