Water-Soluble Resins

Unique Resins for

Binding, Lubricity,
Adhesion and Emollient
Performance

Water-Soluble Resins

POLYOX

Table of Contents
3 Introduction
4, 5 A Wide Range of Performance Properties
6-15 Applications
6,7
6,7
8
9
10
12
13
14
15

Aqueous Drag Reduction and Drift Control

Agriculture
Building and Construction
Ceramics
Cleaners, Personal Care and Cosmetics
Electronics and Telecommunications
Mining
Paper
Pharmaceuticals

16-18 Properties of POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins

17 Viscosities
18 Solution Properties, Typical Physical Properties

19 Storage, Compendium Status, EPA Status,

FDA Status
20-22 Working with POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins to
Achieve Proper Dissolution
23 Product Safety

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins

Introduction
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins are nonionic, high
molecular weight water-soluble poly (ethylene oxide)
polymers. Molecular weights range from 100,000 to
about 8,000,000. They exhibit many properties
that are typical of other classes of water-soluble
polymers lubricity, binding, water retention,
thickening, and film formation.
But POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins can do even
more. Theyre thermoplastic materials that are
readily calendared, extruded, injection molded, or
cast. Films of POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins are
flexible, tough, and resistant to most oils and greases.
With their very high molecular weight, POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins are viscoelastic, so their
aqueous solutions can reduce spattering and misting
potential. And POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins can
form association compounds with many other
substances to achieve a wide variety of additional,
useful formulation properties.

An unusually wide range of performance properties that

High Binding Efficiency
POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins have high-binding
efficiency for pigments, fillers,
metal powders and ceramics.
These binders easily burn off
at low temperatures with little
or no tendency to char.

Form Novel Complexes

The strong hydrogen bonding
affinity of POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins accounts for
the association of these
polyethers with various
polar compounds, such as
phenolic resins, mineral acids,
halogens, ureas, lignin
sulfonic acids and poly
(carboxylic acids). These
novel complexes can be
discrete chemical entities
resulting from very strong
intermolecular association
and often exhibit properties
markedly different from
either component.

POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins can be formed into
flexible films both by
thermoplastic processing and
casting techniques. Such films
may be made of POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins alone or
blended with a wide variety
of other polymers, such as
polyethylene, polystyrene,
polycaprolactone, ethylene
vinyl acetate, nylon, etc.

Low Toxicity

POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins can be crosslinked to
form gels that are highly
water-retentive.

POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins show a very low order
of toxicity in animal studies
by all routes of exposure. At
the maximum practical oral
dose to rates of about 2 g/kg
of body weight there were
no deaths nor signs of
toxicity. Because of their high
molecular weights, the resins
are poorly absorbed from
the gastrointestinal tract and
are completely and rapidly
eliminated. These resins are
neither skin irritants nor
sensitizers, nor do they cause
eye irritation as the dry
powder or as aqueous
solutions.

Emollient

Flocculant Activity

When applied to the skin and

hair, POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins produce a soft and
silky feel.

High molecular weight grades

of POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins effectively adsorb onto
many colloidal materials
and perform as efficient
flocculating agents. They
exhibit a high affinity for a
variety of materials, including
silica, clays, oxidized coal fines,
lignins and paper fines.

Crosslinkable

Film Former, Excipient

add value to products and processes.

Lubricity

Wet Tack

Viscoelasticity

POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins impart a high degree
of lubricity when in contact
with water.

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins

exhibit a high degree of wet
tack and, thus, are useful as wet
adhesives. The dried residue is
non-tacky.

The flexibility of ether linkages

combined with the extremely
high molecular weight of
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
produces solutions with elastic
behavior. Such solutions will
climb a rotating shaft! This
property also tends to reduce
both the spattering and misting
potential of aqueous solutions.

Solubility/Thickening
of Many Organic Solvents
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
are readily soluble in and
will thicken a wide variety of
organic solvents at various
temperatures. Typical organic
solvents include most halogenated hydrocarbons, various
ketones, alcohols, aromatic
hydrocarbons and esters.
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
are not generally soluble in
aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents,
glycols, diols and aliphatic
ethers.

Thermoplasticity
As thermoplastics, POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins are
readily calendered, extruded,
injection molded, or cast.
Sheets and films of this material
are heat-sealable and can be
oriented to develop high
strength. Films are inherently
flexible, tough and resistant to
most oils and greases. These
resins are compatible with
many natural and synthetic
polymers. The combination of
thermoplasticity and aqueous
solubility and compatibility
with hydrophobic polymers
(e.g., polyethylene,
polycaprolactone, ethylene
vinyl acetate, nylon, etc.) make
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
a valuable asset for degradable
plastics applications.

Thickening Power
(Aqueous)
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
are nonionic and completely
water-soluble at all temperatures up to the boiling point of
water. Unlike most other high
molecular weight, water-soluble
resins, they do not exhibit an
inverse solubility-temperature
relationship, except near the
boiling point.

Available in Many Grades

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
are supplied in a wide variety of
molecular weight grades and
formulated compounds in
standard and NF (National
Formulary) grades.

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins

are extremely effective thickening agents in both fresh
and salt water. Aqueous
solutions are pseudoplastic
(i.e., shear thinning).

Drag Reduction/
Drift Control
Very low concentrations of the
higher molecular weight
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
can reduce the turbulent
frictional drag of the water in
which they are dissolved by as
much as 80 percent.

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins Applications

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins

have an unusual array of
properties that make them
useful in a wide variety of
applications. Heres an overview of the many ways they
can be used and the values
they bring to so many different
industries. For more information, see corresponding tables.

Agriculture

Aqueous Drag Reduction

and Drift Control

Seed Tape The thermoplastic

Seed Coatings As filmformers, POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins can be used

in undiluted form as seed
coatings. POLYOX WSR N-10
and WSR N-750 products
are typically used for this
application.

nature and film-forming

characteristics of POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins make
them ideal for tape coating and
adhering seed. Because theyre
water-soluble, POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins release
seeds after planting and dont
interfere with germination and
growth.

Very low concentrations of the

higher molecular weight
POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins can reduce the turbulent
frictional drag of the water in
which they are dissolved by
as much as 80 percent. Applications include agricultural
sprays, boat hulls, fire-fighting
additives, fluid jet cutting,
pipeline slurry transport,
storm sewers and wellfracturing fluids.

Drift Control POLYOX

Water-Soluble Resins are used
for drift control of agricultural
sprays, reducing carryover to
other areas and permitting
more efficient spray directly
on foliage.

Water-Soluble Packaging
POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins can be used as watersoluble protective coatings for
premeasured doses of pesticides
and other solid agricultural
formulations.

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins in Aqueous Drag Reduction and Drift Control

Application

Recommended grades

Use Levels, PPM

Benefits

Fire-fighting
additives

WSR-30
WSR-303
WSR Coagulant

5-100

Reduces turbulent frictional

drag by as much as 80%.

Storm sewers

WSR-301
WSR-303

About 200

Reduces turbulent frictional

drag by as much as 80%.

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins in Agriculture

Application

Recommended Use Levels Benefits

grades
wt%

Seed
Coatings

WSR N-10
WSR N-750

100

Excellent
film-forming
characteristics.

Seed Tape

WSR N-10
WSR N-80
WSR N-750

100

Excellent
film-forming
characteristics and
thermoplasticity.
Doesnt interfere
with germination
and growth of
seeds after planting.

Watersoluble
packaging

WSR N-10
WSR-205

2.0

Totally water
soluble; packaging
dissolves readily.

Agricultural
drift control

WSR-301

0.05-0.2

Reduced carry over

to other areas.
Permits more
efficient sprays
directly on foliage.

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins Applications

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins in Building and Construction

Application Recommended Use Levels Benefits
grades
wt%

Building and Construction

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
are used as thickeners, binders,
and association compounds
in paints, coatings, paint
removers, cements, and
concrete.

Paints, Coatings, and Paint

Removers POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins may be used as
aqueous phase thickeners for
latex paints. And theyre also
excellent thickeners for many
organic solvents. POLYOX
WSR N-750 resin is typically
used at 3.0 % by weight in
paint and varnish removers.

Cements and Concrete In

cement mortars, POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins provide
aqueous thickening to provide
proper body and application
properties. Because they form
pseudoplastic (shear thinning)
solutions, they enhance
workability of cements and
mortars.

Paints &
Coatings

WSR N-750

3.0

Provides proper
body and application
properties. Reduces
splattering and
dripping.

Cements &
Concrete

WSR-301

0.005
to 0.01

Provides aqueous
thickening for proper
body and application
properties. Also
forms pseudoplastic
solutions that enhance
workability of cements
and mortars. Film
forming properties
provide excellent
encapsulation of
mineral powders and
aggregates.

Asbestos
cement
extrusion
aid

WSR-301
0.4 based
Lubricity reduces
WSR Coagulant on dry
energy requirements
ingredients for extrusion.

Paint and
varnish
removers

WSR N-750

3.0

Good solubility in
many organic
solvents.

Concrete
pumping

WSR-301

0.0050.01

Lubricity assists
pumping.

POLYOX WSR-301 resin adds

excellent lubricity to concrete
mixes at 0.005 to 0.01% of
formulation weight to assist
pumpability.

Ceramics
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
are used as binders and forming
aids in ceramic parts, ceramic
bricks, ceramic fibers, and
ceramic extrusion.
In ceramic applications,
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
serve primarily as binders and
forming aids. They effectively
bind components of ceramic
mixes for the formation of

bricks and ceramic parts. They

also serve as excellent binders
for ceramic fibers. For binding,
POLYOX WSR-301 and
WSR-303 are typically used at
0.001 - 0.7% by weight of the
ceramic mix.
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
also provide excellent lubricity,
aiding the extrusion of products
like bricks and asbestos cement.

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins in Ceramics

Application
Ceramic
forming aid

Recommended grades

Use Levels, wt%

Benefits

WSR-301

0.001-0.7

Lubricity aids mixing and

extrusion. High binding
efficiency. Burns off at low
temperatures with little
or no tendency to char.

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins Applications

Cleaners, Personal Care,

and Cosmetic Products
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
add many important functional
and sensory properties to
cleaners and personal care
products. Perhaps the most
valuable is their contribution of
emollient properties to personal
care products hair care
products, creams, and lotions
get the smooth, soft feel that
consumers expect. POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins also
serve as thickeners, binders,
lubricants, and water-retention
agents in many other cleaning
and personal care products.

Hair Care Products In

shampoos and conditioners,
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
serve as emollients and aqueous
thickeners. They also add
aqueous thickening to hair set
lotions.

Skin Care Products POLYOX

Water-Soluble Resins are
outstanding emollients for
creams and lotions, providing
a soft feel and smooth application. These resins are also
crosslinkable to form waterretentive matrices for cosmetic
gels.

Cleaners POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins can be used to

thicken both aqueous cleaners
and those containing many
organic solvents. They also act
as emollients in liquid detergents like dishwashing liquids.
With their film-forming activity,
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
can be used for water-soluble
packaging of solid detergent
products. POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins add lubricity to
polishes and waxes for easier
application.

10

Shaving Products POLYOX

Water-Soluble Resins provide
the primary lubricant action in
lubricant strips for razors
injection molded, or cast to the
desired shape. In shaving gels,
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
work as emollients and
lubricants.
Oral Care Products POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins provide
excellent thickening with low
toxicity in toothpaste, mouthwashes, and denture creams.
They also provide wet tack for
dental cements and dental
adhesives.

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins in Cleaners, Personal Care and Cosmetic Products

Application

Recommended grades

Use Levels, wt%

Benefits

Creams
and lotions

WSR-205
WSR N-60K

0.25-0.75

Provides a soft feel and

smooth application. The
resins are also crosslinkable
to form water-retentive
matrices for cosmetic gels.

Cold Cream

WSR-205

0.5

Provides a soft feel and

smooth application. The
resins are also crosslinkable
to form water-retentive
matrices for cosmetic gels.

Denture
adhesives

WSR-301

0.5

Provides excellent thickening

with low toxicity, plus
wet tack.

Denture
creams

WSR-301 NF

12-15

Provides excellent thickening

with low toxicity.

Detergent
liquids

WSR N-3000

0.05-0.1

Thickens aqueous cleaners,

acts as an emollient. Filmforming activity useful for
water-soluble packaging of
solid detergent products.

Hair
conditioner

WSR-205

0.25

Provides a soft feel and

smooth application, also
adds aqueous thickening.

Hand soaps
(bar and liquid)

WSR N-750
WSR N-3000
WSR-205
WSR N-12K
WSR N-60

0.1-1.5
0.1-2.0
0.2
0.3

Provides a soft feel and

smooth application. Excellent
binding properties.

Rubbing
alcohol

WSR-301

0.1

Provides a soft feel and

reduces astringent sensation.

Shampoos

WSR N-750
WSR-205
WSR N-60K

0.25-0.5

Provides a soft feel and

smooth application, also
adds aqueous thickening.

Shaving gels

WSR-205

0.1

Provides a soft feel and

smooth application; lubricant
action reduces razor drag.

Shaving/Razors

WSR N-80
WSR N-750
WSR-301
WSR Coagulant

50-75

Provides the primary

lubricant action in lubricant
strips for razors.

Toothpaste

WSR-205 NF

0.3-1.0

Provides excellent thickening

with low toxicity.

11

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins Applications

Electronics and
Telecommunication
Batteries POLYOX Water-

Fluorescent Lamps and

Cathode Ray Tubes POLYOX

Soluble Resins are used as

binders for battery electrodes
and separators for batteries.
They can dissolve a large
amount of the inorganic salts
and therefore can be used as
ionically conductive polymer
electrolytes in rechargeable
batteries. The polymer electrolytes can be made into strong
and flexible thin films to
improve the battery safety and
performance. This approach
also opens the door to new
battery designs.

Water-Soluble Resins are widely

used as binders for fluorescent
lamp phosphors. POLYOX
WSR N-750 and N-3000 are
typically used at concentrations
of 1-5%. These polymers also
see utility as phosphor binders
in cathode ray tubes.

Wire, Cable, and Optical

Fibers To assist in assembly
and installation operations,
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
may be used as lubricants for
wire, cable, and optical fibers.

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins in

Electronics and Telecommunications
Application Recommended Use Levels Benefits
grades
wt%
Batteries

20 ~ 80

Efficient binding for

battery electrodes.
Form ionically
conducting polymer
electrolytes with
many inorganic salts.

Wire, Cable WSR-301

and Optical
Fibers

0.1

Lubricity aids in
assembly and
installation operations.

Fluorescent WSR N-750

lamp
WSR N-3000
phosphor
binder

0.1-2.0
4.0-6.0

Burn off at low

temperatures
with little or no
tendency to char.

12

WSR N-750
WSR N-80

Mining
POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins are used extensively as
flocculating agents in mining
operations. High molecular
weight grades of POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins, sold
under the UCARFLOC
name, effectively adsorb onto
many colloidal materials and
perform as efficient flocculating
agents. They exhibit a high
affinity for a variety of materials,
including silica, clays, and
oxidized coal fines. See the
table at right.
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
are used as lubricants and drag
reduction agents for pipeline
slurry transport. They also have
utility as dust suppressants.

UCARFLOC Flocculating Agents In Mining Applications

Application

Recommended grades

Use Levels

Clay suspensions

UCARFLOC 302
UCARFLOC 304
UCARFLOC 309

5 ppm - 0.2%
of total clay
suspension

Heavy metal
ore flocculation

UCARFLOC 300
UCARFLOC 302
UCARFLOC 309

0.01 - 0.1%
of solids

Oxidized
coal slurries

UCARFLOC 302
UCARFLOC 304
UCARFLOC 309

0.01 to 0.1%
of slurry solids

Phosphate
slimes

UCARFLOC 300
UCARFLOC 304

0.01 - 0.1%
of clay solids

Rock drilling
enhancer

UCARFLOC 300

10 - 20 ppm

Silica
suspensions

UCARFLOC 302
UCARFLOC 304
UCARFLOC 309

5 - 10 ppm

Reducing
spontaneous
combustion
of coal

WSR N-750

2.0

13

Benefits

High affinity for many materials;

effective adsorption onto
surfaces and efficient
flocculating action.

Excellent film formation.

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins Applications

Paper
Flocculation High molecular

In papermaking, POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins serve as
processing aids and components of finished products.
Their primary roles are as
adhesives and flocculants.

weight grades of POLYOX

Water-Soluble Resins, sold
under the UCARFLOC name,
are used in paper making due
to their high affinity for pulps,
fillers, and pitch. POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins are used
in fines retention, drainage
enhancement and in paper
waste systems. They exhibit a
high affinity for a variety of
materials, including silica, clays,
lignins, and paper fines.

Adhesives Solutions of
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
exhibit a high degree of wet
tack and thus are useful as
wet adhesives for tail-tie
applications, and in tissue and
toweling. The dry residue is
non-tacky.

UCARFLOC Flocculating Agents In Paper Applications

Application

Recommended grades

Use Levels wt%

Benefits

Tail-tie paper
adhesives

POLYOX WSR N-750

POLYOX WSR-205
POLYOX WSR-301

3-7

High degree of wet-tack

with dry residue thats
non-tacky.

Tissue and
toweling
adhesives

POLYOX WSR N-750

POLYOX WSR-205
POLYOX WSR N-3000

4-7

High degree of wet-tack

with dry residue thats
non-tacky.

Flocculation and
paper fines
retention

UCARFLOC 300
UCARFLOC 302
UCARFLOC 304
UCARFLOC 309

0.005 - 0.25
of dry fiber

High affinity for a variety

of materials; efficient
flocculation.

14

Pharmaceuticals
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
NF are nonionic poly(ethylene
oxide) polymers. They meet
the requirements of the Food
Chemicals Codex, the International Codex Alimentarius and
US Pharmacopoeia (USP) or
National Formulary (NF).
These products have also been
approved in drug products sold
in Britain and major European
countries. They are white, freeflowing hydrophilic powders
supplied in a wide variety of
molecular weight grades,
ranging from one hundred
thousand to eight million.
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
NF have a long history of
successful applications in
pharmaceutical products, in
uses such as controlled release
solid dose matrix systems,
tablet binding, transdermal
drug delivery systems, and
mucosal bioadhesives.

Controlled Release Matrix

Systems POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins NF are very
versatile polymers for controlled release applications.
Upon exposure to water or
gastric juices, they hydrate and
swell rapidly to form hydrogels
with properties ideally suited
for controlled drug-delivery
vehicles. Because POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins NF are
nonionic, no interaction
between drug and polymers is
to be expected.

form a strong interpenetrating

network with mucus. Data
indicate that molecular weights
of 4,000,000 and higher have
the highest level of adhesion.

Direct Compression Tablet

Binding POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins NF perform well
as binders in direct compression
systems. They often provide
better flow and compaction
properties than other binders.
And their lubricity also assists
tableting operations.

Melt Extrusion POLYOX

Water-Soluble Resins NF
provide good flow characteristics and can be used in conventional equipment.

Mucosal Bioadhesives
POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins NF offer a number of
important properties for
mucoadhesion water solubility, hydrophilicity, high
molecular weight, hydrogen
bonding functionality, and
good biocompatibility. These
resins have a long linear chain
structure which allows them to

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins NF for Pharmaceutical Applications

POLYOX
Water-Soluble
Resin NF Product

Approximate
Molecular
Weight

Viscosity Range at 25C, cP

5% Solution
WSR N-10
WSR N-80
WSR N-750
WSR-205
WSR-1105

100,000
200,000
300,000
600,000
900,000

WSR N-12K
WSR N-60K

1,000,000
2,000,000

WSR-301
WSR Coagulant
WSR-303

4,000,000
5,000,000
7,000,000

15

2% Solution

1% Solution

30-50
55-90
600-1,200
4,500-8,800
8,800-17,600
400-800
2,000-4,000
1,650-5,500
5,500-7,500
7,500-10,000

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins Properties

Table 1
Grades of POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
POLYOX Grade

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins

are supplied in a wide variety
of molecular weight grades
and formulated compounds in
standard and NF (National
Formulary) grades. Table 1
shows the current product
range and their corresponding
molecular weights and properties. Figure 1 summarizes the
solution properties of each
type. Both thickening efficiency
and pituity (i.e., viscoelastic
behavior) increase with
increasing molecular weight.

Approximate Molecular Weight (1)

WSR N-10
WSR N-80
WSR N-750

100,000
200,000
300,000

WSR N-3000
WSR-205

400,000
600,000

WSR-1105
WSR N-12K
WSR N-60K

900,000
1,000,000
2,000,000

WSR-301
WSR Coagulant
WSR-303
WSR-308
UCARFLOC Polymer 300
UCARFLOC Polymer 302
UCARFLOC Polymer 304
UCARFLOC Polymer 309

4,000,000
5,000,000
7,000,000
8,000,000
4,000,000
5,000,000
7,000,000
8,000,000

POLYOX NF Grades

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins

are produced and supplied as
white, granular powders, freely
soluble in water and possessing
a slightly ammoniacal odor.
Typical properties are given in
Table 2.

The physical property data listed are considered to be typical properties,

not specifications.
(1) Based on rheological measurements. Molecular weights obtained by other
methods, including light scattering and gel permeation chromatography, may
not be directly comparable.
(2) Model RVT.
(3) POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins NF comply with The National Formulary
standard for Polyethylene Oxide (page 2285-6) in USP 23-NF 18
issued in 1995.

16

Viscosity Range, mPa sec (cP), Aqueous Solution at 25C, Weight Percent

Brookfield Viscometer, Model RVF,

Spindle No./Speed, rpm

5%

2%

1%

12-50
65-115
600-1000
1000-1200

1/50 (2)
1/50 (2)
1/10
2/10

2250-4500
4500-8800

1/2
2/2

8800-17,600

400-800
2000-4000

2/2
1/10
3/10

1650-5500
5500-7500
7500-10,000
10,000-15,000
1650-5500
5500-7500
7500-10,000
10,000-15,000

2/2
2/2
2/2
2/2
2/2
2/2
2/2
2/2

Contact your Dow representative regarding resins that meet the NF standard (3).

17

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins Properties

Figure 1
Solution Properties of POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins

Viscosity

Molecular
Weight
4,000,000

Shear Thinning
(Pseudoplasticity)

Mechanical Shear
Durability
Viscosity Retained

Viscoelasticity
(Pituity)1

Shear Exposure

Viscosity

Molecular
Weight
< 4,000,000

Viscosity Retained

Shear Rate

Shear Rate
1

Increases with molecular weight

Table 2
Typical Physical Properties of POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
Appearance
Crystalline Melting Point (1) (X-ray and DSC), C
Odor

Off-white powder
62-67
Slightly ammoniacal

Melt Flow Temperature, C

Volatiles Content, as packaged, % by wt (at 105 C)

> 98
> 1.0

Alkaline Earth Metals, % by wt as CaO, max

Powder Bulk Density, lb/ft3 (kg/m3)

1.0
19-37 (304-593)

Polymer Density, g/cc

Moisture Content, as Packaged, %

1.15-1.26
<1

Heat of Fusion, cal/gm

Solution pH

33
8-10

Particle Size, % by wt
Average through 10-mesh (U.S. Standard)
20-mesh

100
96

The physical property data listed are considered to be typical

properties, not specifications.
(1)

At temperatures far above the crystalline melting point, high

polymers of POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins still retain a very
high degree of crystalline character.

18

Shear Exposure

Storage Stability

FDA Status

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins

will degrade to lower molecular
weights with time and elevated
temperature. Higher molecular
weight grades are more
sensitive than lower molecular
weight grades. Samples past
their expiration date should be
evaluated to confirm that they
are within specification limits.
Samples that are out of
specification should be
discarded.

Considerable interest has been

shown in POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins for diverse
applications in food, drug and
cosmetic products. Such uses
fall within the scope of the
Federal Food, Drug and

Cosmetic Act. The FDA has

recognized and approved the
use of Poly(ethylene oxide)
polymers (POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins) for specific food
packaging uses, and as a direct
additive to beer.

Table 3
FDA Status of POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
FDA Regulation
(21 CFR)
Permitted Uses

Compendium Status

172.770

NF (National Formulary)
grades of POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins are available.
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
NF are identified in the
Compendium as Polyethylene
Oxide.

Foam stabilizer in fermented malt

beverages (not to exceed 300 ppm by
weight of the beverage) (WSR-301 and
higher molecular weight grades).

175.300 (xxxiii)
175.300 (b) (3) (xxxiii)

Component of resinous and polymeric

coatings applied as a continuous film or
enamel over a metal substrate or
applied as a continuous film or enamel
to any suitable substrate provided that
the coating serves as a functional barrier
between the food and the substrate and
is intended for repeated food-contact use
(all grades).

175.380

Adjuvant in the production of or added

to impart desired physical and technical
properties to xylene-formaldehyde
resins condensed with 4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol-epichlorohydrin epoxy resins
for use in coatings in contact with
aqueous and dry foods, and beverages
(all grades).

175.390

Preparation of zinc-silicon dioxide matrix

coatings used as food-contact surfaces
for bulk reusable containers intended for
storing, handling and transporting food
(all grades).

176.170
176.180

Component of the coated or uncoated

food-contact surface of paper and
paperboard in contact with fatty,
aqueous, and dry food (all grades).

177.1210

Manufacture of closures with sealing

gaskets for food containers (all grades).

177.1350

Adjuvant in the manufacture of

ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers used
in food-contact applications (all grades).

EPA Status
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
are identified by the Federal
Environmental Protection
Agency in 40 CFR 180.1001
(d) for unrestricted use as inert
ingredients in pesticide formulations applied to crops up to
the time of harvest.

19

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins Achieving Proper Dissolution

The key to dissolution is good

initial dispersion.
The most important step in the
entire dissolving operation of
POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins takes place in the first
few seconds-separating the
individual resin particles from
each other.
High-shear agitators are not
necessary and should be
avoided.
In water, POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins are instantly
wettable. If the POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resin powder is
not properly dispersed, the
partially dissolved, wetted
particles will agglomerate and
form gels that may never
dissolve. High-speed agitation
of dissolved POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins must be avoided
to prevent shear degradation of
the resin. Organic solvents,
because of their lower polarity,
do not solvate (wet)
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
as rapidly as water. As a result,
particle agglomeration and gel
formation are generally not
problems when dissolving
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
in organic solvents.

Although POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins are totally

water-soluble, care must be
taken to make sure that they
are dissolved completely.
Detailed procedures and
equipment recommendations
for laboratory and commercial
scale methods for dissolving
POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins are described in this
book.

Three major techniques

provide good dispersion of
resin particles.
For laboratory or plant
requirements, these techniques
fall into three major categories:
Simple direct addition to
water.
Predispersion in watermiscible non-solvents.
Use of mechanical devices
that achieve dispersion with
minimal shear.

20

Which technique you use will

depend on the final viscosity
and volume required.
For laboratory and less than
drum quantities, direct addition
of the POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins to water, or non-solvent
predispersion of POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins is
recommended. For large
volumes or continuous
operation, special mechanical
devices are available. Each
of these techniques is
described here.

Direct Addition to Water

The relative ease of dissolving
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
directly in water depends on
three factors: (a) rate of
viscosity buildup (which is a
function of solution concentration and molecular weight), (b)
particle size, and (c) type of
agitation employed. The
underlying factor, once again, is
to obtain good resin dispersion
before the solution viscosity
builds to a point where it is no
longer possible to disperse
additional resin without high
shear. This is best accomplished
by adding the POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins at just the
right rate of addition. If you
add it too slowly, the viscosity
will build too rapidly, and you
will not be able to add the rest
of the resin. On the other hand,
if you add the resin too rapidly,
it will clump up and not
dissolve.

Figure 2
Standard Turbine Stirrer

3
4

5
16

Diameter

Using the Proper Type Stirrer

Hot Water Method

A one-percent by weight
solution of the high molecular
weight POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins and a fivepercent by weight solution of
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
can be prepared by direct
addition of the dry resin to
water if the proper type stirrer
is used. We have found that
either the standard turbine
stirrer (see Figure 2) or the
standard multi-propeller-type
stirrer (see Figure 3) works well
to dissolve POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins on a lab scale.
These stirrers create a large
vortex with only moderate
shear. Stir rapidly to create a
vortex initially (about 600
rpm), sprinkle in POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins at just the
right rate, and then decrease
the rpm to about 60. Continue
stirring for 30 minutes to one
hour until the solution appears
homogeneous. In this way, as
the viscosity increases, the shear
degradation will be minimal.
Other concentrations of both
POLYOX WSR and WSRN
series may also be prepared by
this technique. Depending on
the concentration selected and
the molecular weight, longer
stirring timesup to three
hoursmay be required.

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins

are completely soluble in water
at all temperatures, except near
the boiling point. At this
temperature, POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins precipitate.
This phenomenon of inverse
solubility provides an alternative technique for dispersing
and dissolving POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins. If you
choose this method, be careful
not to let the steam from the
boiling water wet the POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resin powder!
This may be done, for example,
on a lab scale by using a small
polypropylene or wooden
scoop with curved sides. The
curved sides will minimize the
contact between the steam and
the POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins.
Typically, all the water necessary is heated to near boiling
(about 97C). Condensation
will generally appear on the
container above the level of the
water. If allowed to remain
present, undesirable buildup of
the POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins may occur. To avoid
this, the near-boiling water
should be stirred vigorously to
create a vortex (500-600 rpm).
This stirring will (1) raise the
water level close to the top of
the container and reduce or
eliminate condensation on the
walls and (2) aid in dispersing
the POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resin particles.

21

After about one minute, the

stirring rate should be reduced
to about 50-60 rpm. The
source of heat is then removed
and a stirring rate of 50-60 rpm
is continued until solution is
complete. This technique is
adaptable to small-and
medium-size dissolving
operations, where minimal
agitation equipment is
available.

Figure 3
Multi-propeller-type Stirrer

1
4

POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins Achieving Proper Dissolution

Predispersion in
Water-Miscible
Non-Solvents

Aqueous Salt and

Alkali Solutions
For example, to make a
one-percent solution by the
predispersion technique,
disperse 10 g of POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resin in 40 g
of anhydrous 2-propanol.
Add this slurry to a beaker.
Then add 950 g of distilled
or tap water all at once. Stir
at about 60 rpm and continue
stirring for 30 minutes to
1-3 hours until the solution
is homogeneous.

Dispersion of POLYOX WaterSoluble Resins in water-miscible

non-solvents separates the
individual resin particles from
each other. When water is then
added, each individual particle
has a chance to swell, hydrate,
and thereafter dissolve. This
technique avoids the typical
clumping that occurs if water
alone is used. The use of
alcohols or glycols also has the
added benefit of reducing loss
of solution viscosity on aging
since these solvents behave as
solution viscosity stabilizers.

Most non-solvent techniques

are suitable for large batch
preparation of POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins solutions
in plant-scale equipment. For
convenience, in plant operation,
the non-solvent is added to a
stirred vessel. The POLYOX
Water-Soluble Resins are then
dispersed in the non-solvent
followed by addition of the
requisite amount of water.
Stirring is continued within the
guidelines discussed above.

The addition of salts to water

will decrease the solubility of
the POLYOX Water-Soluble
Resins. With such salt or alkali
solutions, a similar separation
of particles is produced as
previously described with
organic non-solvents. Dissolution occurs upon dilution with
water.
For example, a 1.5-percent
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resins
Coagulant solution can easily
be prepared by first dispersing
it in 20-percent sodium
hydroxide solution. Specifically,
7.5 g of sodium hydroxide are
dissolved in 30 g of distilled or
tap water. Then, 15 g of
POLYOX Water-Soluble Resin
Coagulant are dispersed in the
concentrated sodium hydroxide
solution. Distilled or tap water
(955 g) is added to the mixer.
With the agitator turning about
600 rpm, the resin slurry is
poured in. Agitation is reduced
to about 300 rpm after all the
slurry has been added. When
the viscosity has become
sufficiently high to prevent
undissolved resin from settling
out, agitation is reduced to
about 60 rpm. This rpm is
maintained until solution is
complete.
Both methods predispersion
in water-miscible non-solvents
and dispersion in aqueous salt
and alkali solutions are
useful for either large or small
operations where agitation
facilities are limited, and where
the dispersing medium is not
objectionable.

22

Product Safety

Product Safety
When considering the use of
any Dow products in a particular application, you should
review our latest Material Safety
Data Sheets and ensure that the
use you intend can be accomplished safely. For Material
Safety Data Sheets and other
product safety information,
contact Dow at the numbers on
the back cover. Before handling
any other products mentioned
in the text, you should obtain
available product safety
information and take necessary
steps to ensure safety of use.

23

For more information, complete literature, and product samples,

you can reach a Dow representative at the following numbers:
From the United States and Canada
call 1-800-447-4369
fax 1-989-832-1465
In Europe
toll-free +800 3 694 6367
call +32 3 450 2240
fax +32 3 450 2815
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call 1-989-832-1560
fax 1-989-832-1465
www.polyox.com

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Notice: No freedom from any patent owned by Seller or others is to be inferred. Because use conditions and applicable laws may differ from one location to
another and may change with time, Customer is responsible for determining whether products and the information in this document are appropriate
for Customers use and for ensuring that Customers workplace and disposal practices are in compliance with applicable laws and other governmental
enactments. Seller assumes no obligation or liability for the information in this document. NO WARRANTIES ARE GIVEN; ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED.
Published March 2002

Printed in U.S.A.

Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company

Form No. 326-00001-0302 AMS