| abstract |
Water soluble nonionic cellulose ethers are provided, containing mixed alkylphenoxyalkyleneoxy-2-hydroxy propylene groups, having hydrophilic units composed of (a) alkyleneoxy groups of two or three carbon atoms, in a number from zero to about six, selected from -CH₂CH₂O-;n and -CH₂CH₂CH₂O-; and (b) one 2-hydroxy propylene group, together with hydrophobic units which are alkylphenoxy groups of the formulan where R and R₄ are hydrocarbon groups having from about two to about thirty carbon atoms, preferably from about four to about eighteen carbon atoms; and so chosen that the total number of carbon atoms in the alkylphenoxy group is from 8 to 36, preferably from 10-24 carbon atoms; n₁ is 0 or 1; connected linearly in a group of the general formula:n n is zero to six nA-O is alkyleneoxy as above n Also provided is a class of cellulose ethers having similar hydrophilic units and hydrophobic units which are alkyloxy groups of the formula nR-O- III n where R is an alkyl group having from about eight to about thirty-six carbon atoms, preferably from about ten to about twenty-four carbon atoms, connected linearly in a group of the general formula nR-O-[A-O] n -CH₂ CH₂ IV n nn is zero to six nA-O is alkyleneoxy as above nas well as water-base paints with excellent properties containing such cellulose ethers. |