Thickener composition and method for thickening aqueous systems

摘要

This invention describes a composition and method where the same group that is attached to, or within, the backbone of an associative thickener, is reversibly switched between being hydrophilic and hydrophobic in nature using pH of the medium. When the attached group is rendered hydrophilic, the aqueous thickener is pourable and readily incorporated into aqueous polymer compositions. When this group is rendered hydrophobic, the thickener performs its thickening function efficiendy.