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GANTREZ M polyvinyl methyl ether now commercially available
Gantrez M (polyvinyl methyl ether—PVM) is n o w available in commercial quantities f r o m the new GAF Calvert City, Ky. complex. This highly unusual linear polymer offers dis tinct advantages as an adhesion promoter, plasticizer, tackifier, and latex heat sensitizer.
strongly favors organic materials. It actually resists leaching by water from organic soluble polymer systems. In some cases, the water resistance has actually been improved. A n d the hygroscopicity of Gantrez M is low—at 93% h u m i d i t y the percent of moisture picked up at equilibrium is only 5%.
The physical properties of Gantrez M are unique among commercially available polymers. For example, it is soluble in water and most organic solvents, including chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbon types. Aliphatic hydrocarbons can be used as diluents. Gantrez M is compatible w i t h a w i d e range of water soluble and solvent soluble polymers, including acrylics, styrene-acrylate copolymers, epoxies, epoxy-phenolics, polyvinyl butyral, chlorinated rubber, polyesters, alkyds, cellulosic polymers, vinyls, polyurethanes, and aminoplasts.
Typical substrates to w h i c h Gantrez M w i l l adhere include various metals, polyesters, cellulosics, nylons, vinyls, poly styrene, acrylics and polyolefins. Major uses include acrylic copolymer pressure sensitive adhesives (improves tack and adhesion), epoxy-based adhesives and coatings (improves metal adhesion), and chlorinated rubber coatings (plasticizes and improves adhesion). Another interesting property of Gantrez M is its negative Solubility Coefficient. Water solutions have an inverse c l o u d point of about 90° F. This should prove Gantrez M useful as a thermogelling agent or heat sensitizer for latex compounds. This thermogelation property can be used to advantage in coatings to minimize penetration into absorb ent surfaces, in the saturation of fibrous materials and in non-woven binder systems to minimize migration d u r i n g drying.
Unlike other water soluble polymers, Gantrez M is a soft, tacky, amorphous material that imparts flexibility to f o r m u lations to w h i c h it is added. Gantrez M functions as a per manent and non-migratory plasticizer and tackifier for adhesives and coatings. However, the major use is as an adhesion promoter.
Gantrez M is currently available in the f o l l o w i n g grades:
Since Gantrez M is soluble in water and compatible w i t h organic solvent soluble polymers, it is able to help these polymers wet out the layer of adsorbed moisture w h i c h is believed to exist on all surfaces—including plastics and metals. A n d surprisingly, its use in adhesives, paints, print ing inks and coatings w i l l not usually detract from the water resistance properties of the system. A l t h o u g h Gantrez M is soluble in water, its Distribution or Partition Coefficient
M-154
M-155
M-574
M-555
Mol.VVt.
low
med.
low
med.
solvent
water
water
toluene
toluene
% solids
50
50
70
50
All are stable, uniform and light in color.
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