National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation

Sonya M Steele

Christopher Gerald Gore

A controlled release bleach thickening composition comprising bleach, water, and 0.1 to 50 weight percent, based on the total weight of the controlled release bleach thickening composition, of at least one crosslinked carboxylated polymer which is prepared from 30 to 80 weight percent of at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrophilic monomer, from 20 to 70 weight percent of at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrophobic monomer, and from about 0.5 to about 10 weight percent of a degradable crosslinking monomer selected from the group consisting of a crosslinking monomer having at least two ethylenically unsaturated moieties, a crosslinking monomer having at least one ethylenically unsaturated moiety and at least one functional group capable of reacting with another functional group on a monomer to form a degradable crosslink, and combinations thereof. In the controlled release bleach thickening compositions, the solubility of the polymer is suppressed by crosslinking. Most of the polymer is isolated from degradation by the bleach, thus preventing degradation of the polymer backbone which destroys the thickening effect. Slow, but selective degradation of the polymer crosslinks acts to solubilize a small amount of polymer which functions as an efficient thickener. A continuous supply of the soluble polymer is established by this time release mechanism to replenish the soluble polymer as it is degraded by the bleach, thus maintaining the thickening effect after aging at elevated temperature.

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Chattanooga, TN, United States of America

Sonya M Steele