| 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-; <IMAGE> and -CH2CH2CH2O-; and (b) one 2-hydroxy propylene group, together with hydrophobic units which are alkylphenoxy groups of the formula <IMAGE> I where R and R4 are hydrocarbon groups having from about four to about thirty carbon atoms, preferably from about nine to about eighteen carbon atoms; n1 is 0 or 1; connected linearly in a group of the general formula: <IMAGE> II Also provided is a class of cellulose ethers having similar hydrophilic units and hydrophobic units which are alkyloxyalkyleneoxy groups of the formula R-O-III where R is an alkyl group having from about four to about thirty carbon atoms, preferably from about nine to about eighteen carbon atoms, connected linearly in a group of the general formula <IMAGE> IV as well as water-base paints with excellent properties containing such cellulose ethers. |