C. Street, G.

Frazee,
C. Fredrickson,
I. Harvey, T.H. Killilea

October
2014 Rheology as a Tool for
Sealant Formulation – Part I

Acknowledgements: K. Kirkwood, R. Simon, K. Porter

 Speaker Introduction
• Carrie Street – Materials Engineer II, Engineered Polymer
Solutions
– BS in Chemical Engineering (University of Oklahoma 2007)
– PhD in Chemical Engineering (University of Delaware 2012)
– Engineered Polymer Solutions (2012 – Present)
• Lead physical sciences research team
• Fundamental understanding of physical and thermal
behavior of polymers and formulated systems

2
 Agenda
• Sealant Formulation Strategy

• Rheology
– Background and Key Terms

• Quantitative Measurements
– Target Parameters

• Conclusions

3
 Water Based Latex Sealants: Start to Finish
Final
Formulation Application
Properties

Iterative
process
based on
experience/
trial and
error

4
 Standard Tests for Wet Sealants
• Dispensing (ASTM C1183)

• Slump (ASTM D2202)

• Tooling – Sliding

• Tooling – Tapping

5 Slump: www.pgtgage.com/adhesionsealant.html
Extrudability: http://www.diytrade.com/china/pd/6047300/Caulking_gun_sealant_gun_Extrusion_machine.html
 Sealants: Start to Finish
Final
Formulation Application
Properties

Rheology

Quantify physical properties

Use target parameters to Accelerate Product Development

6
 Rheology for Physical Properties
Apply Force
(γ, strain)

Sealant

G’ = elastic character G’’ = liquid character

Examples: rubber sealants water

7
Photo: www.tainstruments.com
 Rheology Procedure to Simulate Tooling

Pressing
Finger/Tool Releasing
liquid Finger/Tool
character

Tooling
elastic
character

8
adapted from Mezger, “The Rheology Handbook,” European Coatings Tech Files
 Relating Rheology to Standard
Tests: Pressing Finger/Tool

improve
liquid
character
tooling-
tapping

elastic
character

(increasing Force )
9
 Relating Rheology to Standard
Tests: Tooling

liquid
character

decrease to ease
tooling
elastic
character

10
 Relating Rheology to Standard Tests:
Removing Finger/Tool

improve
liquid tooling-
character
sliding

elastic
character

11
(decreasing Force )
 Design of Experiments Formulation Variables
Two Thickener Levels
(low and high)

high

Surfactant DOE Space

high
low Volatile Oil
low high low
Pigment to Binder understand
multiple
factors
12
 Target Parameters for Product
Development
increase
surfactant
liquid increase
character thickener
increase
volatile oil
decrease P:B
elastic
character
precision
formulation
for optimum
application
13
 Advantage of Rheology: Tooling-Tapping
Standard Rating Rheological Measure
Surfactant Level

Pigment to Binder Level Pigment to Binder Level

 Rheology provides resolution and directionality

14
 Advantage of Rheology: Tooling-Sliding
Standard Rating Rheological Measure
Thickener Level

Volatile Oil Level Volatile Oil Level

 Rheology provides resolution and directionality

15
 Conclusions: Rheology for Sealant
Formulation – Part I

• Quantitative physical properties as target parameters for

product development

• Accelerated product development

16
 Future Work
Final
Formulation Application
Properties

Rheology

Quantify final performance properties

Use target parameters to Accelerate Product Development

17