# US 8,772,389 B1 · Color changing caulk

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- Number: US 8,772,389 B1
- Document ID: US8772389B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 13/303,365
- Filed: 2011-11-23
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2010-11-24
- Assignees: Red Devil, Inc.
- Applicants: Larry G. Brandon; Michael Gabel; Curtis True; Lori S. Gonzales
- Inventors: Larry G. Brandon; Michael Gabel; Curtis True; Lori S. Gonzales
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8772389B1

## CPC

- C09K 3/1006: {characterised by the chemical nature of one of its constituents}
- C04B 26/06: Acrylates
- C04B 40/0039: {Premixtures of ingredients}
- C07C 37/14: by addition reactions, i.e. reactions involving at least one carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bond
- C08G 73/10: Polyimides; Polyester-imides; Polyamide-imides; Polyamide acids or similar polyimide precursors
- C09D 5/34: Filling pastes (materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12)
- C04B 2111/50: Flexible or elastic materials
- C08K 5/0008: {Organic ingredients according to more than one of the "one dot" groups of C08K5/01 - C08K5/59}
- C08L 33/08: Homopolymers or copolymers of acrylic acid esters
- C09K 2003/1034: {Materials or components characterised by specific properties}
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
- C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
- C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D)
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)

## Abstract

A caulk composition having a first color upon application and a second color upon formation of a skin, wherein said skin is suitable for application of a surface treatment.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A caulk composition having a first color upon application and a second color upon formation of a skin, wherein said skin is suitable for application of a surface treatment and wherein said caulk composition remains flexible after it is fully cured wherein said composition comprises a pH indicator which changes color in response to sufficient curing of said composition whereby the degree of cure permits application of a surface treatment to said composition and wherein the pH of said composition having said first color is from about 8 to about 10.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The caulk composition of claim 1, wherein said composition is plasticizer-free and once fully cured will elongate under stress and return to approximately its original dimensions once the stress is released.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The caulk composition of claim 1, wherein the primary solvent is water.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The caulk composition of claim 1, wherein said composition includes a polymer emulsion having a glass transition temperature of about −50° C.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The caulk composition of claim 1, wherein said second color is white.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The caulk composition of claim 1, wherein the pH of said composition having said second color is below about 8.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The caulk composition of claim 1, wherein said skin being suitable for application of a surface treatment has a minimum thickness of about 1 mm-2 mm.

### Claim 8

A caulk composition comprising an aqueous-based polymer emulsion and a pH indicator wherein prior to use said composition is packaged under an inert environment and has a first color and a pH of from about 8 to about 10 and wherein during use said caulk composition undergoes curing such that it has a second color and a pH of below about 8 and wherein said caulk composition remains flexible after it is fully cured.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The caulk composition of claim 8, wherein said composition is plasticizer-free and once fully cured will elongate under stress and return to approximately its original dimensions once the stress is released.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The caulk composition of claim 8, wherein the volatile organic compound content of said composition is less than 4% by weight of the post-cure composition.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The caulk composition of claim 8, wherein the post-cure composition does not contain ethylene glycol.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The caulk composition of claim 8, further comprising at least one filler or pigment selected from a group including calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, kaolin clays, talc, mica, and silica.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The caulk composition of claim 8, wherein the acrylic polymer of said emulsion is the same or substantially the same as that to which Chemical Abstracts registry number 253351-13-2 is assigned.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The caulk composition of claim 8, wherein said composition has a shelflife of at least nine months.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The caulk composition of claim 8, wherein said composition comprises 0-1 wt % defoamer, 10-50 wt % acrylic polymer, 1-10 wt % solvent, 1-5 wt % dispersant, 1-10 wt % antifreeze, 0.1-5 wt % surfactant, 0.01-5 wt % in-can preservative, 0-5 wt % fungicide, 0-5 wt % additional dispersant, 0-10 wt % thickener, 0-5 wt % adhesion promoter, 0.001-5 wt % pH indicator, 15-80 wt % filler, 0.1-10 wt % pigment and 0-10% pH modifier.

### Claim 16 (depends on 8)

The caulk composition of claim 8, further comprising a pH modifier.

### Claim 17

A method of making a caulk composition, comprising the steps of:
blending together a base polymer, a preservative, a thickener and a surfactant to form a base emulsion;
adding a pH indicator to said base emulsion;
adding at least one filler or pigment selected from a group including calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, kaolin clays, talc, mica, and silica to said base emulsion; and
adding a pH modifier to said base emulsion, such that the resulting final composition has a first color and a pH of about 8 to 10; and
packaging said final composition under an inert blanket environment such that upon use said final composition retains said first color until it is at least partially cured to form a skin and wherein the final composition results in a caulk, which remains flexible after it is fully cured.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein said base polymer is an acrylic polymer emulsion having a glass-transition temperature (Tg) of about −50° C.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the final composition produced following execution of said steps comprises 0-1 wt % defoamer, 10-50 wt % acrylic polymer, 1-10 wt % solvent, 1-5 wt % dispersant, 1-10 wt % antifreeze, 0.1-5 wt % surfactant, 0.01-5 wt % in-can preservative, 0-5 wt % fungicide, 0-5 wt % additional dispersant, 0-10 wt % thickener, 0-5 wt % adhesion promoter, 0.001-5 wt % pH indicator, 15-80 wt % filler, 0.1-10 wt % pigment and 0-10% pH modifier.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the final composition produced following execution of said steps comprises from about 30 wt % to 50 wt % acrylic polymer.

### Claim 21 (depends on 15)

The caulk composition of claim 15, wherein the composition comprises from about 30 wt % to 50 wt % acrylic polymer.