MCTRON alkali-swellable thickeners are polyacrylate based polymers that contain carboxylic acid groups. Alkali-swellable thickeners are co-polymers of methacrylic acid and ethyl acrylate ester, imitate the rheology properties of cellulosics, but provides an easier-to-use and more cost-effective product.
MaxxThix® alkali-swellable products thicken via water absorption and swelling. Different rheological characteristics are achieved by engineering the molecular weight, as well as the types and amounts of acid and ester monomers. MaxxThix® alkali-swellable thickeners rely on a change from low to high pH to prompt thickening. The viscosity initiation is built into the co-polymer by creating an approximately 50:50 ratio of methacrylic acid, which is soluble in water, and an acrylate ester, which is not soluble in water. When in the acid form, the co-polymer is insoluble in water and does not thicken. When the acid is in the alkaline state, the co-polymer becomes soluble and thickens. A variety of products are available depending on the rheological properties required of the application and process.
MaxxThix® MT-1 is an excellent all-purpose acid type thickener with “short rheology,” and is a workhorse acrylic coating thickener that can also be used to thicken defoamer products. MaxxThix® MT-2 is a superior all-purpose acid type thickener with “stringy” rheology that can be used in conjunction with MaxxThix® MT-1 to achieve the desired level of rheology. MaxxThix® MT-4 is a more efficient alkali-swellable thickener that is very efficient when used in high viscosity applications like mastics. MaxxThix® MT-10 is the Kosher version of MaxxThix® MT-4.
MCTRON Technologies offers a wide range of acrylic emulsion polymers, styrene acrylics and styrene butadiene for a number of industrial applications.
