Phase and aggregational studies of some inversely soluble aqueous formulations

The effect of component molecular structure, pH, temperature acid concentra tion on phase and aggregational behaviour of aqueous formulations containin g more than one polydisperse polyglycol ether based compound was studied. T he effect of adding various inversely soluble polymer compounds to base For mulations on surface tension, turbidity, conductivity and pH over a wide ra nge of temperatures and concentrations in water was investigated. A new ins trument, enabling automatic temperature and concentration scans, was used f or the generation of pH. turbidity and conductivity data. It was observed t hat phase behaviour of polyalkylene glycol ethers is dramatically changed b y the presence of surface active components. Results also show that the amo unt and type of polymer has a small effect on the critical micelle concentr ation (CMC) but is critical for the phase behaviour of the investigated for mulations. Molecular weight, hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) as well as cloud point values are important parameters which may be varied widely and a proper choice of polyalkylene glycol can be used to affect phase separati on behaviour with respect to desired performance in industrial applications , e.g. as lubricants in metal working fluids. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.