SBIR Phase I: Bio-Based Latex by Emulsion Polymerization of Alkyl Itaconates

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将研究从烷基酸酯中开发高性能生物基乳胶，用于木器涂料。2004年，美国能源部将衣康酸及其衍生物列为12种最重要的可再生化学物质。衣康酸及其衍生物在各种聚合物产品中具有潜在的用途，从洗涤剂的助洗剂到油漆和涂料的粘合剂。Itaconix公司利用其正在申请专利的绿色乳液聚合工艺成功生产了稳定的烷基丙酮酸生物基乳液。目前这些乳液的性能还不足以克服市场倾向于成熟的石油基乳液的惯性。这项研究将结合一种新的基于模型的方法和Itaconix？利用现有的聚合物专业知识(a)确定增强内聚和附着力所需的关键合成参数，(b)最大限度地减少加氢化效应。控制这些参数的关键是优化结构乳胶颗粒的形态。目标是创建核-壳型几何形状，其中硬核充当疏水增强域，软壳提供成膜特性。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是市场接受和使用优化的烷基丙烯酸酯乳液，这些乳液在某些木器涂料中提供比现有乳液更优越的价格/性能。有了这一商业突破，我们将打开发展有利的生物精炼经济和利用高效乳胶生产技术的潜力，这将使生物乳胶得到更广泛的应用。虽然生物基化学品迅速抓住了客户的兴趣，并产生了应用测试，但它们很少比石油基化学品的价格高出一点点。为了在商业上取得成功并减少我们对石油的依赖，生物基乳胶需要提供令人信服的价格/性能优势。目前，油漆和涂料制造商面临着来自石油基单体和乳胶的巨大价格差异，通常需要昂贵的产品重新配方和调整。生物基材料的长期优势是更稳定的来源和配方。我们的研究预计将产生初步的市场接受和使用优化的烷基丙烯酸酯乳液，在某些木器涂料中提供比现有乳液更优越的价格/性能。有了这一商业突破，我们将打开发展有利的生物精炼经济和利用高效乳胶生产技术的潜力，这将使生物乳胶得到更广泛的应用。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will investigate the development of performance bio-based latex from alkyl itaconates for application in wood coatings. Identified by DOE in 2004 as a top 12 renewable chemical, itaconic acid and its derivatives have potential use in polymers for a variety of products from builders in detergents to binders in paints and coatings. Itaconix has successfully produced stable alkylitaconate bio-based latexes using its patent-pending green emulsion polymerization process. The current performance of these latexes is not sufficient to overcome marketplace inertia favoring the well-established petroleum-based latexes.This research will combine a new model-based approach and Itaconix?s existing polymer expertise to (a) identify the key synthesis parameters necessary to enhance cohesion and adhesion and (b) minimize hydroplastization effects. The key to controlling these parameters is to optimize the morphology of the structured latex particles. The goal is to create core-shell type geometries where a hard core acts like a hydrophobic reinforcement domain and the soft shell provides film-forming properties. The Broader Impact/commercial potential of this project will be market acceptance and use for optimized alkylitaconate latexes that offer superior price/performance over current latexes in certain wood coatings. With this commercial breakthrough, we will open the potential for developing favorable bio-refining economics and leveraging efficient latex production technologies that will enable broader use of bio-latexes. While bio-based chemicals rapidly capture the interest of customers and generate application testing, they rarely command more than a slight price premium over petroleum-based chemicals. To succeed commercially and reduce our dependence on petroleum, bio-based latexes need to offer compelling price/performance advantages.Current paint and coatings manufacturers face wide price variations from petroleum-based monomers and latexes, often requiring costly product reformulations and adjustments. A long-term expected advantage from bio-based materials is more stable sourcing and formulations. Our research is expected to generate initial market acceptance and use for optimized alkylitaconate latexes that offer superior price/performance over current latexes in certain wood coatings. With this commercial breakthrough, we will open the potential for developing favorable bio-refining economics and leveraging efficient latex production technologies that will enable broader use of bio-latexes.