Fedchem, LLC

Gregory Edward Kowalczyk

Charles E Pratt

Aluminum organic thickeners have been developed for use as thickening agents for thermoset sheet molding compounds and bulk molding compounds. The role of the thickening agent is to control the viscosity of the molding compounds throughout the production processes. The thickeners include an aluminum chelate complex, 10% to 50% by weight of a polyester or polyester acrylate carrier resin, and 10% to 50% by weight of a diluent such as a petroleum distillate. A molding compound includes an aluminum chelate complex thickening agent, a thermosetting resin, reinforcing fibers or microspheres, a crosslinking initiator, and an inhibitor. A method of making a molding compound, such as SMC or BMC with the improved thickener is also provided.

Aluminum organic thickeners for thermoset resins

Disclosed is an aluminum tri-alkoxide compound represented by Formula I:Al(X)(Y)&#x2003;&#x2003;(I)wherein 'X' is an alkoxide moiety of one or more normal or iso-monohydroxy alcohols having from about 6 to 14 carbon atoms, and 'Y' is an alkoxide moiety of one or more glycols having from about 6 to 8 carbon atoms. For those aluminum tri-alkoxides that comprise alkoxide moieties of alcohols having 6 or 7 carbon atoms, &#x201c;a&#x201d; is 0.1 to 0.75 moles and &#x201c;b&#x201d; is 1.45 to 1.125 moles. For those aluminum tri-alkoxides comprising alkoxide moieties of alcohols having 8 to 14 carbon atoms, &#x201c;a&#x201d; is 0.25 to 0.85 and &#x201c;b&#x201d; is 1.45 to 1.075. Further disclosed is a solution having the aluminum tri-alkoxide and a solvent. Still further disclosed is a process for making a printing ink vehicle.

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Nazareth, PA, United States of America

Gregory Edward Kowalczyk