Polymers comprising reversible hydrophobic functionalities
US5844039A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 12, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 1, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 12, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61K9/5031
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Polymers comprising reversible hydrophobic functionalities are disclosed. The preferred embodiment polymers comprise Lewis acid segments and Lewis base segments. The polymer segments are, by themselves, hydrophilic and will either swell or dissolve in water. When the segments are incorporated into a polymer according to the present invention, the segments form water-insoluble or hydrophobic complexes. Upon changes in pH, temperature or solvent type, these complexes may dissociate, giving large transitions in polymer viscosity, emulsification ability, mechanical strength or transport properties. These polymers are useful as reversible emulsifiers which form stable emulsions at acidic pH and unstable emulsions at basic pH, as water-borne thickeners having low viscosity at low pH and high viscosity at high pH, as superabsorbing resins, or as coatings for pharmaceutical or agricultural agents.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.