# US 9,040,612 B2 · Color changing caulk

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- Number: US 9,040,612 B2
- Document ID: US9040612B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/278,508
- Filed: 2014-05-15
- Published: 2014-09-04
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2010-11-24
- Assignees: Red Devil, Inc.
- Applicants: Red Devil, Incorporated
- Inventors: Larry G. Brandon; Michael Gabel; Curtis True; Lori S. Gonzales
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040612B2

## 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, wherein said caulk composition remains flexible after it is fully cured such that it is suitable for use as a sealant, and wherein said composition comprises a pH indicator which changes color in response to sufficient curing of said composition, said change in color appearing complete when said skin has a thickness of about 1mm to about 2mm thus indicating the degree of cure permits application of a surface treatment to said composition.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The caulk composition of claim 1, further comprising:
a polymer emulsion having a glass transition temperature of about −50° C.; and
at least one filler or pigment selected from a group including calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, kaolin clays, talc, mica, and silica; and wherein said composition is plasticizer-free and once fully cured will elongate under stress and return to approximately its original dimensions once stress is released.

### Claim 3 (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 stress is released.

### 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

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 wherein said caulk composition remains flexible after it is fully cured such that it is suitable for use as a sealant.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The caulk composition of claim 5, 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 7 (depends on 5)

The caulk composition of claim 5, wherein the volatile organic compound content of said composition is less than 4% by weight of the post-cure composition.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The caulk composition of claim 5, wherein the post-cure composition does not contain ethylene glycol.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The caulk composition of claim 5, 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 10 (depends on 5)

The caulk composition of claim 5, wherein said composition has a shelflife of at least nine months.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The caulk composition of claim 5, wherein said composition comprises 0-1wt % 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 12 (depends on 11)

The caulk composition of claim 11, wherein the composition comprises from about 30 wt % to 50 wt % acrylic polymer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The caulk composition of claim 12, wherein said the acrylic polymer is the same or substantially the same as that to which Chemical Abstracts registry number 253351-13-2is assigned composition and wherein the 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 14

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;
adding a pH modifier to said base emulsion to result in a final composition having a first color, 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 such that it is suitable for use as a sealant.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein said base polymer is an acrylic polymer emulsion having a glass-transition temperature (Tg) of about −50° C.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, 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 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the final composition produced following execution of said steps comprises from about 30 wt % to 50 wt % acrylic polymer.

### 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.