PDF《Shell Process Oils》

Unlocking competitive advantage How additive company M?NZING leveraged Shell's gas to liquids (GTL) technology to develop innovative defoamers Shell Process Oils By applying technical white oils based on GTL technology, M?NZING has created a new range of high-performance defoamers that offer valuable performance benefits.

Defoamer producer M?NZING Chemie GmbH has established a strong reputation as an innovative company. Through its long-term business relationship with Shell, it decided to test the potential of Shell Risella X, a range of top-tier process oils based on GTL technology, in its products. Shell Risella X oils offer excellent performance in selected applications because, unlike conventional process oils derived from crude oil, they are made from pure synthesis gas, so, they are mineral- oil free. This leads to final products with a distinct molecular structure, which can provide many valuable features and benefits (see boxed text, Shell Risella X: Next-generation process oils). "As soon as it became available, we were interested in this GTL product," says Dr. Nils Kottner, Head of Technology, M?NZING. "In particular, we were keen to explore whether its low viscosity would be able to unlock performance advantages." Manufacturers of water-based coatings, adhesives and printing inks include surfactants such as emulsifying, wetting and dispersing agents in their formulations to stabilise any hydrophobic substances, such as binder particles, pigments and fillers, that their formulations contain. However, because of the air present, these surfactants tend to create foam in aqueous systems. This can lead to problems either during the production of the coatings, adhesives and printing inks, or when they are being applied. Defoamers are used, therefore, to help to prevent the foam from forming or to knock it down. Defoamers typically consist of n the carrier liquid (75C95% of the formulation) n hydrophobic substances, such as silica, waxes, metal soaps or silicones (1C10% of the formulation) n emulsifiers, thickeners and biocides (1C15% of the formulation). Usually, the carrier liquid is a mineral oil, a vegetable oil, polyoxyalkylene, or polysiloxane. The carrier has two functions. First, it must spread on the surface of the aqueous system to neutralise the surfactant molecules. Second, the carrier has to transport the hydrophobic ingredients of the defoamer into the foam lamella in order to destabilise them. The faster the defoamer spreads, the more effectively it controls foaming. "We have now developed a series of three new defoamers C called AGITAN? 228, AGITAN

242 and AGITAN

275 C that are based on Shell Risella X," says Dr. Kottner. "Because of the oil's low viscosity, these defoamers have excellent spreading properties. That means that our customers can achieve the same performance levels using significantly less defoamer." "There is another advantage," he adds. "The Shell Risella X oils that we are using in these new defoamers have a lower vapour pressure than standard mineral oils of the same viscosity." Formulating defoamers with next-generation process oils CHANGING THE GAME "In particular, we were keen to explore whether its low viscosity would be able to unlock performance advantages." Dr. Nils Kottner, Head of Technology, M?NZING When compared1 with a standard mineral oil based defoamer at different dosage levels, the Shell Risella X-based defoamers were "These tests measure the air content after the defoamer has been added to the paint and intensively agitated. The results show that AGITAN