Technical Data Sheet
ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier
For water based coatings
Regional Product EMEA
Availability
Description ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier is a hydrophobically modified anionic thickener,
designed to give medium shear rate viscosity in interior/exterior latex paints.
ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier offers paints with enhanced resistance to roller
spattering and very good film build and levelling.
Delivered as a low viscosity liquid, ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier is very easy to
handle and incorporate into the paint. It is resistant to microbiological degradation, thereby
avoiding viscosity loss in the paint, a common problem encountered by paint manufacturers.
Characteristics • High efficiency mid shear builder
of the Product • Better spatter resistance than cellulosics – improved application
• Resistant to microbial and enzyme attack
• Easy to incorporate into formulations
• Excellent film build – enabling better hiding
• Better levelling potential than most cellulosics
Typical Physical These are typical properties, not to be construed as specifications.
Properties Appearance Off white, milky liquid
Solids content % ~30
Brookfield Viscosity (spindle 1 at 60 rpm) ~25cP
Specific gravity (wet polymer) 1.06
Solvent Water
Chemistry HASE*
pH ~3
* Hydrophobically modified Alkali Swellable Emulsion
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Formulation Incorporation
Guidelines ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier offers the latex paint manufacturer easy handling
and flexibility in both the order of addition and the method of incorporation compared to
cellulosics and hydrophobically modified cellulosic thickeners. It can be added to the mill-base,
to the letdown, or as a post addition without affecting performance properties, as long as the
medium is sufficiently alkaline during the incorporation and sufficient mixing is available.
Supplied as a low viscosity emulsion, ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier is easy to
pump or pour and therefore very suitable for bulk handling and/or automatic metering
equipment.
Order of Addition
As stated above, ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier can be incorporated at different
stages of formulation, provided that enough base is available to neutralize the thickener and
additional base is used to adjust pH. These stages are (1) as the final letdown ingredient,
(2) after dispersion but prior to letdown or (3) prior to pigment dispersion. In all cases it is
recommended to add ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier diluted 1:1 with water.
Adding ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier as one of the final ingredients in the letdown
is convenient in the laboratory to determine the approximate amount of thickener that will be
needed to achieve the desired viscosity, or in the plant to make final viscosity adjustments.
Addition of ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier in this manner assumes reasonably
good agitation in the vessel. Less than ideal mixing can be compensated for, in many cases,
by adding the thickener emulsion more slowly. In any case, the addition of the appropriate
amount of base prior to the ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier is essential in
order to avoid reduction in pH and subsequent pigment flocculation.
ACRYSOL ™TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier can also be added during the let down stage in a
pre-neutralized form:
Solution Preparation
Weight (%)
Water 88.9
Ammonia 28% 1.1
ACRYSOL TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier 10.0
Total 100.0
This solution should be adjusted to a pH between 8.0 and 8.5.
Levels of Addition
Being partially an Associative Thickener, ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier does not
show its full thickening power until a critical associating concentration, somewhat like the critical
micelle concentration of surfactants, is present, as shown in Figure 1. Even though
ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier (on a dry basis) is more efficient than medium and
high viscosity hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), at the levels actually used in paint, it does not begin
to thicken appreciably until a critical amount to begin associating has been added.
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Table 1 contains the results of the comparative evaluations of two formulations, a vinyl acrylic
copolymer based formulation and a high quality interior pure acrylic sheen formulation, utilizing
ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier, ACRYSOL™ TT-615 and a medium-
high viscosity grade of HEC like CELLOSIZETM QP-15000H. Note that the levels of
ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier required will vary, depending on the grade of latex
used in the formulation.
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Table 1: Relative Properties Of Interior Wall Paints
ACRYSOL™ TT-935 Med-High ACRYSOL™ TT-615
ER Rheology Modifier MW HEC Rheology Modifier
Vinyl / Acrylic Formulation Rheology Modifier
Efficiency
Dry grams / ltr (to attain 90 KU) 3.9 6.0 3.0
ICI, P, Initial 0.7 0.6 0.4
KU / dry grams of thickener 23.1 15.0 30.0
ICI / dry grams of thickener 0.18 0.10 0.13
Application and Appearance
Film build, NSR*, g/m2 122.7 110.9 107.6
Flow (brushed)** 6 6 5
Roller spatter resistance 9 3 7
Colour acceptance (phthalo blue) Equivalent Equivalent Equivalent
Resistance Properties
Scrub resist. (mg loss/100 cycles) 14.3 12.2 14.7
Stain Removal Equivalent Equivalent Equivalent
High Quality Pure Acrylic Interior
Efficiency
Dry grams / ltr. (to attain 85 KU) 4.68 6.48 —
ICI, P, Initial 1.3 1.0 —
KU / dry gram of thickener 18.2 13.1 —
ICI / dry gram of thickener 0.28 0.15 —
Application and Appearance
Film build, NSR*, g/m2 137.8 120.6 —
Flow (brushed)** 7+ 6 —
Roller spatter resistance 9 3 —
Colour acceptance (phthalo blue) Equivalent Equivalent —
* NSR = Natural Spreading Rate
**Rating: 1–10 with 10 being best.
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Rheology Profile
ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier develops a pseudoplastic rheology profile, but one
that is less shear thinning than HEC or ACRYSOL™ TT-615 Rheology Modifier. When flat wall
paints were thickened with ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier or
a medium high viscosity grade of HEC to the same Stormer consistency, the
ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier thickened paint provided the highest viscosity at
high shear rates giving greater film build when applied by brush or roller.
ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier also maintained the lowest viscosity at low shear
rates, resulting in superior levelling. The magnitude of the film build, flow and levelling
improvements demonstrated with ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier will vary
depending on formulation variables; some improvements in film build, however, will be shown
consistently.
Dispersing Agents
Polyacid dispersing agents such as OROTAN™ 850 ER LO Pigment Dispersant and
OROTAN™ N-4045 Pigment Dispersant have proven to work well with
ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier and OROTAN™ 1124 Pigment Dispersant can be
suggested as well. All formulations should be heat aged in order to check stability. Care has to
be taken that sufficient amount of dispersing agents is used, otherwise there is a risk of the
thickener playing the role of the dispersing agent, resulting in high gel structure (livering effect).
Surfactants, Wetting Agents and Co-solvents
Surfactants, wetting agents and co-solvents will interact with the level of association of the
thickener with the latex polymer and therefore could affect the viscosity development in the
paint, depending on formulation.
Paint pH Control
A downward pH drift in PVA or vinyl acrylic paints thickened with
ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier may cause stability problems if the pH goes below
7.5. ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier will thicken water at pH as low as 7.0; at lower
pH it loses its thickening power. Data on paints, however, suggest that gelation, not viscosity
loss, will result if pH drifts too low. Gelation in paints at low pH is probably a result of competition
for available base between ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier and the other
components.
The presence of ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier in a partially swollen but not
completely solubilized state may also be a factor. A pH less than 7.0 should be avoided. A pH
between 7.0 and 7.5 may or may not be safe, depending upon other formulation variables.
Alkaline extenders such as calcium carbonate are commonly used in the industry to buffer PVA-
based paints and should be considered when using ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology Modifier.
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Figure 2: Viscosity Developments of ACRYSOL™ TT-935 ER Rheology
Modifier Solutions
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Handling Precautions Before using this product, consult the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)/Safety Data
Sheet (SDS) for details on product hazards, recommended handling precautions and
product storage.
Storage Store products in tightly closed original containers at temperatures recommended on the
product label.
Disposal Dispose in accordance with all, local or national regulations. Empty containers may
Considerations contain hazardous residues. This material and its container must be disposed in a safe
and legal manner.
It is the user's responsibility to verify that treatment and disposal procedures comply with
local or national regulations. Contact your Dow Coating Materials Technical
Representative for more information.
Chemical Registration Many countries within EMEAI require the registration of chemicals, either imported or
produced locally, prior to their commercial use. Violation of these regulations may lead to
substantial penalties imposed upon the user, the importer or manufacturer, and/or
cessation of supply. It is in your interests to ensure that all chemicals used by you are
registered. Dow does not supply unregistered products unless permitted under limited
sampling procedures as a precursor to registration.
Note on EMEAI Product availability and grades vary throughout the countries in the EMEAI area. Please
Product Line contact your local Dow Coating Materials representative for further information and
samples.
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