Technical Information Sokalan CP 9

TI/ES 1056 e
November 2000

Supersedes edition dated November 1989

® = Registered trademark of Dispersing agent for organic solids and inorganic pigment and of
BASF Aktiengesellschaft
fillers in aqueous media and mixtures of water and organic solvents
Sokalan CP 9

Chemical nature Sokalan CP 9 is a copolymer of maleic acid and an olefin. It is anionic, and
is supplied in the form of sodium salt.

Properties
Physical form yellowish liquid
Concentration approx. 25 %
Water content (ISO 3733) approx. 75 %
Average molar mass approx. 12 000 g/mol
K value approx. 40
pH approx. 10.5
Viscosity (Brookfield, 23 °C, 60 rpm) approx. 50 mPa · s
Setting point approx. – 5 °C
Density (DIN 51757, 23 °C) approx. 1.11 g/cm 3
Calcium carbonate dispersing capacity
(pH 11)
– 23 °C 230 mg CaCO 3/g
active substance
– 60 °C 230 mg CaCO 3/g
active substance
Surface tension
(DIN 53914, 0.4 % in water at 23 °C) approx. 50 mN/m

The above information is correct at the time of going to press. It does not
necessarily form part of the product specification.

A detailed product specification is available from your local BASF

representative.

Solubility Sokalan CP 9 is soluble in hot water, cold water, and in neutral and alka-
line electrolyte solutions. Acids can cause it to precipitate. It is also soluble
in mixtures of water and organic solvents, especially if these contain
glycols.

Storage Sokalan CP 9 must not be allowed to come in contact with metals or

alloys that are liable to corrode. The product must always be stored in
tightly closed containers. In storage tanks, the air must always be saturated
with water vapour.

When stored at 10 – 30 degrees Celsius, Sokalan CP 9 has a shelf life of

approximately 12 months.

Applications
Sokalan CP 9 is a very versatile dispersing agent. It is an anionic polyelec-
trolyte with an excellent dispersing, stabilizing and protective colloid action
on finely divided organic and inorganic solids in aqueous media and in
mixtures of water and organic solvents.

These effects derive from the adsorption of Sokalan CP 9 on the surfaces

of finely divided solids, which leads to an increase in the charge of the par-
ticles and in their tendency to repel one another. This action effectively
prevents particles dispersed in aqueous media from reagglomerating of
forming lumps, and thus ensures retention of the finely divided state that is
frequently only obtained at the cost of a high energy input.

Sokalan CP 9 itself cannot be considered as being surface-active, but the

wetting power of solutions of Sokalan CP 9 is perfectly adequate for most
types of solids. Some organic pigments and other substances that carry a
weak polar charge can be difficult to wet, and very low-foaming surfac-
tants such as Plurafac ® LF 120, LF 221 or especially LF 300 or LF 400
have to be employed here. Sokalan CP 9 itself is very low-foaming.

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Latex technology Sokalan CP 9 can be used to prepare free-flowing dispersions of pigments
and fillers that are subsequently added to natural rubber latex, synthetic
rubber latex, polymer dispersions and other disperse systems.

It performs very well in water and in mixtures of water and organic solvents
such as propylene glycol.

Sokalan CP 9 can also be used to disperse abrasives, e. g. in buffing and

polishing pastes for metal, glass, ceramics and plastics, etc.

Sokalan CP 9 is a very effective protective colloid, as can be seen in pre-

cipitation and coagulation processes in which aqueous dispersions are
prepared from organic solutions of natural rubber, synthetic rubber or simi-
lar substances with a high molar mass. Solvents can be flashed off at ele-
vated temperatures without impairing Sokalan CP 9’s dispersing capacity.
Very stable, finely divided dispersions can be prepared which can be filtered
and dried to form free-flowing powder or granules.

Water treatment Sokalan CP 9 can be used to disperse soil and inorganic solids in cooling
water and process water circuits. Rust, clay, soot and crushed ore can be
prevented from forming scale in pipelines and fittings, and algae, fungi and
bacteria can be prevented from settling and multiplying. Sokalan CP 9 can
be used in conjunction with Sokalan CP 10, phosphates or other dispers-
ing agents to keep sparingly soluble salts in suspension and prevent them
from incrusting surfaces.

Pigment and fillers Sokalan CP 9 is an excellent dispersing agent for titanium dioxide and
other inorganic pigments and fillers. In contrast to most organic and inor-
ganic dispersing agents, it is extremely efficient not only in aqueous but
also in aqueous/organic media, e. g. those consisting predominantly of gly-
cols or glycol ethers. The product is, therefore, particularly suitable for use
in emulsion paints in which the dispersing medium generally consists of
1,2-propanediol. This results in coatings that dry to a very good gloss and
almost without haze. It facilitates and accelerates distribution of the solid
particles, prevents coagulation, and ensures the viscosity of the finished
paint remains stable when stored for long periods.

Paints The recommended method of producing emulsion paints is to add the

Sokalan CP 9 to the propanediol in which the titanium dioxide is dis-
persed. The pigment phase may include other inorganic pigments or fillers
that have a matting effect. The proportion is between 0.5 and 1%, expressed
as solids in terms of the pigments and fillers.

Careful tests must be carried out to determine the optimum amount of

dispersing agent necessary for wetting, gloss, and shelf life of emulsion
paints, because many factors affect the properties of these paints (e. g.
the specific surface of the various types of pigments and fillers, interac-
tions between the dispersion and other additives, etc.) all of which we
have not been able to cover in our own trials.

Level of addition The amount of Sokalan CP 9 required depends on the nature of the solids
to be dispersed. Levels of addition are normally in the range 0.5 – 2 %
active substance, expressed as a proportion of the pigments and fillers to
be dispersed, but smaller amounts can often suffice.

Safety
We know of no ill effects that could have resulted from using Sokalan CP 9
for the purpose for which it is intended and from processing it in accordance
with current practice.

According to the experience that we have gained over many years and
other information at our disposal, Sokalan CP 9 does not exert any harmful
effects on health, provided that it is used properly, due attention is given to
the precautions necessary for handling chemicals, and the information and
advice given in our Safety Data Sheet are observed.

Handling Contact with the eyes and prolonged contact with the skin should be
avoided. Safety glasses should be worn when handling this product in its
undiluted form.

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Note
The information submitted in this publication is based on our current
knowledge and experience. In view of the many factors that may affect
processing and application, these data do not relieve processors of the
responsibility of carrying out their own tests and experiments; neither do
they imply any legally binding assurance of certain properties or of suit-
ability for a specific purpose. It is the responsibility of those to whom we
supply our products to ensure that any proprietary rights and existing laws
and legislation are observed.

Printed in Germany

BASF Aktiengesellschaft
Marketing Spezialchemikalien I
67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany