Seeking Organic Pigment Dispersing Agents for Anhydrous, Wax-based Systems

A SpecialChem client is looking for an organic pigment dispersing agent that is functional in an anhydrous formula that may contain waxes, oils/esters, and/or polymers (see detailed solution description below).

The SpecialChem client has been exploring wetting and dispersing agents to help maximize color strength of pigments in anhydrous formulas. (The role of wetting agents is to replace the air with the media in which the pigment is to be placed, whereas dispersing aids are used to keep the pigment particles in their smallest form and prevent agglomeration of the pigments).

He has tried various types of dispersing aids such as polar surfactants, alkyl silicones, and polymers containing with acidic and basic groups, but none of the previously mentioned materials provide good pigment dispersing behavior (measured by intensity of color) for both organic and inorganic pigments.

SpecialChem client has found some solutions for inorganic pigments, but no materials thus far provide good dispersing behavior for organic pigments. Our client desires a material/technology that will preferably work for organic pigments or a material that will work well for both organic and inorganic pigments.

The SpecialChem client preference would be for a pigment dispersing agent for organic pigments (e.g., Ca, Ba, or Al Lakes of D&C dyes) that is functional in an anhydrous system that may contain natural/synthetic waxes, oils/esters (e.g., triglycerides, branched chain hydrocarbons, esters of long chain fatty acids), and/or polymers (e.g., polyethylene, polyesters, etc). Secondary, would be a dispersing aid that works for both organic pigments and inorganic pigments (e.g., iron oxides).

Our client would be interested in either:

• An individual ingredient that can work with its pigments in its pigment preparations and/or formulations

or

• A ready-to-use pigmentary paste.

SpecialChem client is looking to achieve approximately 10-20% pigment in final formulas. For pastes, he desires materials with 30-50% pigment in medium. Individual materials or pigmentary paste technologies should be provided in or be compatible with polar oils (e.g., triglycerides or esters of long chain fatty acids) and/or non-polar oils (e.g., linear or branched chain hydrocarbons).

All materials and solvents must:

• Be non-toxic
• Have low/no odor
• Have no adverse taste
• Have low/no tack
• Be non-derived from animals
• Be able to withstand temperature ranges of -20°C to 120°C

The materials must not be supplied in or contain residual levels of toxic solvents, e.g., benzene or ketone derivatives such as:

• Xylene
• Toluene
• 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
• Dichlorobenzene
• Alkyl benzene
• Methyl Ethyl ketone

Compositional information must be shared for safety evaluation and commercialization in accordance with government regulations.

• Materials/technologies should be commercial or close to commercialization.
• Material/technology must be protected by intellectual property or have clear freedom to operate in cosmetics/personal care
• Solution must not increase total cost of goods appreciably.

Materials/technologies from Inks, Paints, Coatings, Plastics, Specialty Chemicals.

1-4 years.