LINEAR OR BRANCHED ESTER-ETHER BLOCK COPOLYMERS AND THEIR USE AS SURFACTANTS EITHER ALONE OR IN BLENDS WITH CONVENTIONAL SURFACTANTS

摘要

Block copolymers useful as surfactants in oil/water systems are described. The copolymers comprise at least two polymeric components of molecular weight at least 500 which are derived from an oil-soluble complex mono-carboxylic acid and a polymeric component of molecular weight at least 500 which is derived from a water-soluble polyalkylene glycol. The copolymers may be either oil-soluble or water-soluble depending on their composition and may be used as wetting agents, dispersing agents, emulsifiers or emulsion stabilisers. The oil-soluble copolymer, and their blends with low molecular weight conventional surfactants, are of particular interest for the emulsification of water in hydrocarbon fuel oils.