STAR-POL® 136 Starch Polymer

Applications
STAR-POL® 136 was designed for use in wall treatment compounds, adhesives, tile mortar, tile grout and oil drilling mud. Its combination of properties also make it suitable for a variety of other uses including pigmented paper coat textile finishing, protective colloids, ceramic binders, etc.

Solution Preparation
Unlike many water soluble polymers, STAR-POL® 136 exhibits little tendency to agglomerate upon addition to water. Therefore, it is not necessary to employ special methods or equipment to keep individual polymer particles separated until hydration occurs. Any agglomerates which do form initially will typically break down with normal agitation. Preparation of a 5% solids aqueous solution of STAR-POL® 136 requires mixing with good agitation for a period of about 30 minutes (at temperatures of 70-90 °F). The character and duration of the agitation required for complete solution is a function of the solids concentration and water temperature. A cold water make-up of a high solids solution will require increased agitation time. Due to the surface active nature of STAR-POL® 136, make-up at high-solids concentrations or the use of excessive shear may necessitate the addition of an anti-foaming agent to the make-up water. Commercial products, such as those whose active ingredients are based on fatty acid-glycol materials (and mixtures thereof), have exhibited good foam control when evaluated in laboratory tests. Anti-foaming agents based on other chemistries have also proven satisfactory in specific end-use applications. Your Primient representative can make recommendations as to the available anti-foam agents which may be used in your application.

Solution Preservation

Under normal conditions, aqueous solutions of STAR-POL® 136 have good viscosity stability. Extended solution storage, however, may result in viscosity reduction due to microbial or enzymatic attack. As such, stored solutions should be protected by the addition of a preservative. For best results, the preservative should be added as soon as possible after the solution is prepared. Many commercial preservatives have proven effective in protecting STAR-POL® 136 solutions in the lab. Your Primient representative can provide you with a list of these products. Because preser-vation requirements vary widely depending upon the end-use application, we suggest that you consult preservative manufacturers for specific product and dosage recommendations.

Storage conditions to achieve maximum shelf life - Conditions of high humidity and elevated temperatures should be avoided to prevent caking. Store in a tightly sealed container. In dry form, STAR-POL® 136 exhibits good storage stability under normal conditions. Moisture content may change depending upon the relative humidity of the surrounding environment, particularly after bags have been opened. Direct contact with water during storage should be avoided as caking will occur.