Technical Data Sheet
RHOPLEX™ CS-4000
100% Acrylic Polymer Emulsion
Introduction
RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 polymer emulsion is an all-acrylic, thermoplastic, water-resistant binder with
excellent resistance to water blushing (water whitening). It exhibits a great balance of early block
resistance and low coalescent demand. It was specially developed for use in coatings for cementitious and other non-resilient surfaces.
RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 emulsion can be formulated in clear as well as pigmented coatings. As with
all aqueous binders, RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 can be formulated to meet a variety of requirements
for many different substances and application conditions.
Typical
Applications
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•
•
•
•
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Primers
Interior/exterior clear sealers
Pigmented sealers
Deck coatings
Pigmented masonry coatings
Curing membranes
Advantages
Coatings formulated with RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 offer the following performance features:
• Excellent resistance to water blushing
• Low water pickup
• Early block resistance
• Low coalescent demand
• Good exterior weatherability
• Reduced water vapor permeability
Typical Physical Properties
These properties are typical but should not be considered specifications.
Appearance Milky white liquid
Solids content, % by weight
48 ± .5
pH 8.2-8.7
Brookfield viscosity, cPs 200-500
Density, lbs/gal
8.8
Minimum film formation
+27
temperature (MFFT), °C
Glass transition temperature (Tg), °C +32
Tukon hardness, KHN
3-5
Freeze-thaw stability 3 cycles
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®™Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow
RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 / Dow Construction Chemicals
July 2010
Typical
Performance
The following characteristics of coatings based on RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 acrylic emulsion were
determined in Dow laboratories and limited exterior exposure studies.
Resistance to Water Blushing
Clear films of RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 emulsion display excellent resistance toward water blushing
in comparison to the leading commercial acrylic and styrene/acrylic emulsions. Not only do clear
films based on RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 show a minimal amount of film blushing under both ambient
(25°C) and elevated (45°C) water soak temperatures, they also completely recover to visually
clear films when the water is removed.
Low Water Pickup
RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 has excellent water resistance properties, showing low clear film water
pickup (low water swelling).
Block Resistance/Low Coalescent Demand
Formulated coatings based on RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 emulsion show an exceptionally high degree
of early block resistance, even when compared to harder polymers. Because formulators need
high coalescent levels when working with hard (high Tg) polymers in order to achieve adequate film
formation, RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 provides formulators with the ability to achieve a higher level of
block resistance while lowering the VOC content of the formulation.
Exterior Weatherability
Based on Dow’s current exposure data, RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 has excellent exterior weatherability
resistance.
Reduced Water Vapor Permeability
Coatings based on RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 help protect substrates from moisture because of the
low water vapor permeability of RHOPLEX™ CS-4000. This is an important factor to consider in
the design of coatings for concrete substrates, where the existence of water and water vapor play
a role in the efflorescence resistance of the finished product.
Coalescent
Since RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 is not a film former at room temperature, coalescing solvents are
required to achieve optimal film properties. Improperly coalesced films may have fundamental
flaws such as cracks, and will result in less than optimal performance. The final choice and amount
of coalescent will also have a strong influence on such properties as film formation and dry time.
These, in turn, significantly affect coatings properties such as block, print, water and efflorescence
resistance.
The following coalescents provide adequate performance when used with RHOPLEX™ CS-4000:
Ethylene glycol butyl ether
Dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether
Diethylene glycol hexyl ether
Propylene glycol phenyl ether
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Gives good development of water blushing resistance after 24 hours.
Good coalescent to use over concrete but water blushing resistance will take longer to develop (slower evaporation rate of coalescent).
Similar to dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether but can cause excessive foaming with certain application techniques.
For rapid film formation (critical to curing membrane applications).
®™Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow
RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 / Dow Construction Chemicals
July 2010
Pigmentation
With RHOPLEX™ CS-4000, as with other coatings systems, pigment loading and choice of
pigments have a strong influence on final durability. For applications such as vertical masonry surfaces, Dow recommends the maximum pigment volume concentrations (PVC) should not exceed
30%. In formulations above 30% PVC, the improved water resistance properties of RHOPLEX™
CS-4000 will be reduced.
Additives
For many clear sealer applications, wetting agents may significantly improve the overall performance
of the coatings, especially over non-porous substrates.
TAMOL™ 731 is the preferred dispersant for formulating pigmented coatings based on RHOPLEX™
CS-4000 emulsions. This dispersant provides an excellent combination of dispersing properties
with low levels of water sensitivity. The use of TRITON™ CF-10 can also be employed to enhance
the wetting of difficult to disperse pigments.
Adequate antifoaming properties can be accomplished with a variety of commercially available
defoamers.
Formulation
Guidelines
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Contact your local Dow representative for suggested starting point formulations and related information.
®™Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow
RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 / Dow Construction Chemicals
July 2010
Product
Stewardship
Dow has a fundamental concern for all who make, distribute and use its products, and for the
environment in which we live. This concern is the basis for our product stewardship philosophy
by which we assess the safety, health and environmental information on our products and
then take appropriate steps to protect employee and public health and our environment. The
success of our product stewardship program rests with each and every individual involved with
Dow products – from the initial concept and research to manufacture, use, sale, disposal and
recycle of each product.
Customer Notice
Dow strongly encourages its customers to review both their manufacturing processes and
their applications of Dow products from the standpoint of human health and environmental
quality to ensure that Dow products are not used in ways for which they are not intended or
tested. Dow personnel are available to answer your questions and to provide reasonable
technical support. Dow product literature, including safety data sheets, should be consulted
prior to use of Dow products. Current safety data sheets are available from Dow.
Disclaimer
NOTICE: No freedom from infringement of any patent owned by Dow or others is to be
inferred. Because use conditions and applicable laws may differ from one location to another
and may change with time, the Customer is responsible for determining whether products and
the information in this document are appropriate for the Customer’s use and for ensuring that
the Customer’s workplace and disposal practices are in compliance with applicable laws and
other governmental enactments. The product shown in this literature may not be available for
sale and/or available in all geographies where Dow is represented. The claims made may not
have been approved for use in all countries. Dow assumes no obligation or liability for the
information in this document. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean the Dow legal
entity selling the products to Customer unless otherwise expressly noted.
NO WARRANTIES ARE GIVEN; ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED.
The Dow Chemical Company
www.dowconstructionchemicals.com
215-592-3000
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®™Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow
RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 / Dow Construction Chemicals
Form No. 832-00047-0710P&M
July 2010