Efficient process for making tackifiers and adhesives
View Patent ↗An improved process for preparing tackifiers and adhesives is an improved energy efficient process for preparing tackifiers, adhesives and dispersions of low-molecular weight polymers and other materials in water. Fine grinding of a low molecular weight polymer is performed to provide the low molecular weight polymer reduced to a selected average particle size in a range between approximately 2.5 μm and approximately 7.5 μm with a maximum particle size of less than 10 μm.
1. A method for preparing tackifiers and adhesives comprising the steps of:
providing a low-molecular weight polymer;
cooling said low molecular weight polymer;
grinding said low molecular weight polymer to provide a reduced average particle size, said reduced average particle size provided in a range between approximately 2.5 μm and approximately 7.5 μm with a maximum particle size of less than 10 μm; and
directly forming a dispersion by mixing said low molecular weight polymer of reduced average particle size with water.
2. A method for preparing tackifiers and adhesives as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of providing said low-molecular weight polymer includes providing low molecular weight polymer chips.
3. A method for preparing tackifiers and adhesives comprising the steps of:
providing chips of low-molecular weight polymer;
cooling said chips of said low-molecular weight polymer using liquid N 2 for enhanced reduction in said average particle size;
grinding said low molecular weight polymer chips to provide a reduced average particle size, said reduced average particle size provided in a range between approximately 2.5 μm and approximately 7.5 μm with a maximum particle size of less than 10 μm.
4. A method for preparing tackifiers and adhesives as recited in claim 3 wherein the step of grinding said low molecular weight polymer includes using jet mills for grinding said low molecular weight polymer.
5. A method for preparing tackifiers and adhesives as recited in claim 3 wherein the step of grinding said low molecular weight polymer includes using centrifugal mills for grinding said low molecular weight polymer.
6. A method for preparing tackifiers and adhesives as recited in claim 3 wherein said reduced average particle size of said low-molecular weight polymer has a volumetric diameter of less than 10 μm.