Process for preparing non-aqueous dispersions and their use

Abstract

Process for preparing non-aqueous dispersions, wherein a liquid prepolymer is emulsified in a non-aqueous liquid, the droplet size of the emulsion is adjusted to 0.1 to 30 μm and the droplet size distribution U 90 is adjusted to less than 2 by means of a jet disperser, and the droplets are cured by a chemical reaction.

1 . Process for preparing non-aqueous dispersions, wherein at least one liquid prepolymer, optionally in the presence of one or more conductive components, is emulsified in at least one non-aqueous liquid, optionally in the presence of one or more dispersants, the droplet size of the emulsion is adjusted to 0.1 to 30 μm inclusive and the droplet size distribution U 90  is adjusted to less than 2 by means of a jet disperser and the droplets are cured by a chemical reaction.  
     
     
         2 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one compound which contains hydroxy, amino, (meth)acrylate, methacrylamide and/or vinyl groups is used as a liquid prepolymer.  
     
     
         3 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein a silicone oil is used as a non-aqueous liquid.  
     
     
         4 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein the average particle diameter of the dispersed prepolymer is adjusted to 1 to 20 μm.  
     
     
         5 . Process according to claims  1 ,  2 ,  3 , or  4 , wherein a multi-stage jet disperser is used as a jet disperser.  
     
     
         6 . Process according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein the cured emulsified particles have a conductivity of 10 −9  to 10 −6  S/cm.  
     
     
         7 . Process according to claims  1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein an organic semi-conductor, an or inorganic semiconductor, an ionic conductor or a combination thereof is included in the emulsion as a conductive component.  
     
     
         8 . Process according to claims  1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4  wherein a reactive dispersant is used as a dispersant.  
     
     
         9 . Process according to claims  1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4  wherein the reaction products from OH-terminated polydimethylsiloxanes and amino-propyltriethoxysilane, the reaction product of octamethylcyclo-tetrasiloxane and N-(β-aminoethyl-γ-aminopropyl)-methyldiethoxysilane or both are used as dispersant.  
     
     
         10 . Process according to claims  1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one hardener is used to cure the emulsified particles.  
     
     
         11 . Process according to claims  1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein up to 10% of the total amount of hardener being used is added before dispersion with the jet disperser.  
     
     
         12 . Process according to claims  1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein the 
 polypropylene oxide/polyethylene oxide copolymers, trifunctional polyethylene glycols, polytetrahydrofuran or a combination thereof, is used as the prepolymer,  
 polydimethylsiloxane is used as the non-aqueous liquid,  
 toluylene diisocyanate is used as a hardener to cure the emulsifier droplets and  
 LiCl, ZnCl 2 , carbon black or a combination thereof are used as conductive components.  
 
     
     
         13 . Process according to claims  1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein a liquid prepolymer, dispersant and hardener and optionally conductive components are used in a total amount of 40 to 60 wt.-% of total dispersion.  
     
     
         14 . Process according to claims  1 ,  2 ,  3 , or  4 , wherein the non-aqueous liquid is emulsified in the liquid prepolymer and a phase inversion takes place due to the further addition of non-aqueous liquid and passage through the jet disperser.  
     
     
         15 . An electro-rheologic fluid comprising a non-aqueous dispersion prepared in accordance with  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 .