IP Library Granted Patent US 12673893
Granted Patent B2
US 12673893 · App. 18/559,528 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Color changing wall compounds and methods of use

Inventors: Lan H. Liu (Rosemount, MN); Richard J. Pokorny (Maplewood, MN); Thomas P. Klun (Lakeland, MN); Yong K. Wu (Woodbury, MN); Bathsheba E. F. Chong Conklin (St. Paul, MN)
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
C04B14/42C04B14/28C04B26/06C04B2103/0011C04B2103/0094C04B2111/00672
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12673893
App. No.
18/559,528
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wall compound for use in all applications and particularly well-suited indicating dryness with a durable, visible change in color.

Claims (31)

1 . A wall compound comprising:

a latex resin or resin binder;

a filler material comprising soda-lime-borosilicate glass bubbles;

a drying indicator, wherein the drying indicator includes a phthalein-containing pH color change indicator; and

an inhibitor comprising at least one of a barium cation and calcium cation;

and wherein the compound is alkaline, shelf stable, and demonstrates a human-observable change in color upon drying.

2 . The wall compound of claim 1 , wherein the drying indicator is a thymolphthalein-based pH color change indicator.

3 . The wall compound of claim 2 , wherein the drying indicator is selected from the group consisting of thymolphthalein, dibromothymolphthalein, thymoltetrachlorophthalein, and dibromothymoltetrachlorophthalein, and combinations thereof.

4 . The wall compound of claim 1 , where the filler further comprises calcium carbonate.

5 . The wall compound of claim 1 , wherein the composition includes a thickener package.

6 . The wall compound of claim 5 , wherein the thickener package includes at least one of a cellulosic thickener and a HASE thickener.

7 . The wall compound of claim 6 , wherein the thickener package includes a cellulosic thickener comprising HEC.

8 . The wall compound of claim 1 , wherein the latex resin or resin binder is 100% acrylate.

9 . The wall compound of claim 1 , wherein the wall compound further comprises at least one of a pH control agent and a smoothing agent.

10 . The wall compound of claim 9 , wherein the smoothing agent is an organic ether smoothing agent.

11 . The wall compound of claim 9 , wherein the pH control agent comprises at least one of NaOH, KOH, K 2 CO 3 .

12 . The wall compound of claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor includes barium hydroxide, calcium chloride, or combinations thereof.

13 . The wall compound of claim 1 , further comprising titanium dioxide.

14 . A kit, comprising:

the wall compound of claim 1 ; and

a tool for applying, smoothing, or removing the repair compound.

15 . The kit of claim 14 , further including instructions for using at least one of the repair compound and the tool.

16 . A wall compound comprising:

an acrylic binder;

a filler material comprising soda-lime-borosilicate glass bubbles;

a drying indicator, wherein the drying indicator includes a phthalein-containing pH color change indicator; and

an inhibitor comprising a barium cation;

and wherein the compound is alkaline and demonstrates a human-observable change in color upon drying.

17 . The wall compound of claim 16 , wherein the drying indicator is a thymolphthalein-based pH color change indicator.

18 . The wall compound of claim 17 , wherein the drying indicator is selected from the group consisting of thymolphthalein, dibromothymolphthalein, thymoltetrachlorophthalein, and dibromothymoltetrachlorophthalein, and combinations thereof.

19 . The wall compound of claim 16 , where the filler further comprises calcium carbonate.