Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound characterized by the following formula: where R1, R2, Y, m, and p are described herein. The compound of the present invention is useful as a precursor to hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide urethane polymers, which are useful as rheology modifiers for coatings formulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide polyurethanes by polymerizing, in the presence of a catalyst, a solvent-free melt of a polyisocyanate branching agent; a water-soluble polyalkylene glycol having an Mw of from 2000 to 11,000 Daltons; and a diisocyanate; wherein the solvent-free melt further includes a hydrophobic capping agent, or a hydrophobic capping agent is added to the melt after the addition of catalyst. Hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide polyurethanes prepared by the process of the present invention show excellent ICI/KU properties and are useful as thickeners for coatings formulations.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for preparing an aqueous solution of a hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide poly(urethane-urea-allophanate) thickener by contacting isocyanate reactive groups with a stoichiometric excess of a diisocyanate, followed by reaction with water. The thickener surprisingly shows a maintenance or improvement in hiding in paint formulations while maintaining other critical rheological properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising a vinyl acetate copolymer and a HASE thickener comprising structural units of ethyl acrylate, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, and a hydrophobic macromonomer. The composition of the present invention shows an improvement in heat aged stability over a vinyl acetate copolymer based paint thickened with a HASE that does not include structural units of acrylic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound characterized by the following formula: wherein each R1 is independently methyl or ethyl; and n 1 to 10. The compound is useful in preparing hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide urethane polymers, which are useful as rheology modifiers for coatings formulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising a hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide urethane polymer with pendant or end-capping tertiary amine groups, the conjugate acids of which have a pKa in the range of about 4.5 to about 6.5. The composition of the present invention is useful as a rheology modifier for paint formulations formulated over a wide pH range and is more stable to heat aging than higher pKa amine-modified HEURs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound characterized by the following formula: where R1, R2, Y, m, and p are described herein. The compound of the present invention is useful as a precursor to hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide urethane polymers, which are useful as rheology modifiers for coatings formulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound characterized by the following formula: wherein each R1 is independently methyl or ethyl; and n 1 to 10. The compound is useful in preparing hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide urethane polymers, which are useful as rheology modifiers for coatings formulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising a hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide urethane polymer with pendant or end-capping tertiary amine groups, the conjugate acids of which have a pKa in the range of about 4.5 to about 6.5. The composition of the present invention is useful as a rheology modifier for paint formulations formulated over a wide pH range and is more stable to heat aging than higher pKa amine-modified HEURs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising a hydrophobically modified alkylene oxide polyurethane characterized by having a M, of from 50,000 to about 150,000 Daltons and a polydispersity of 2.5 to about 5.0. The present invention further relates to a multi-step process for the preparation of the hydrophobically modified polymer.