Patent Description:
Ceramic tile, a decorative material, has a broad market. As a higher and higher degree of specialization is achieved in the ceramic tile market, the seamless wall decoration is increasingly required by consumers, making large-size ceramic tiles more popular. The popularity of large-area residential buildings also contributes to the increasing demand for large-size ceramic tiles. Higher safety is required due to larger size and higher quality. Since traditional ceramic tile adhesives can hardly meet the requirements, novel ceramic tile adhesives are booming.

A novel ceramic tile adhesive composition includes cement, sand, heavy calcium carbonate, redispersible latex powder, cellulose ether, lignocellulose and the like. Chinese patent <CIT> discloses a modified cellulose ether for improving the anti-sliding property of a ceramic tile adhesive. Generally, more branched chains in a polysaccharide molecule means a more complicated net structure formed by the polysaccharide molecule dispersed in water, a more significant bridging effect for cement particles, a greater yield stress imposing on mortar, and thus a better anti-sagging or anti-sliding effect. However, the polysaccharide molecule of cellulose ether usually has a linear structure. With few branched chains, cellulose ether can only provide prominent water retention and thickening properties for a ceramic tile adhesive, but cannot provide an excellent anti-sliding or anti-sagging property to ensure the construction of large-size ceramic tiles and other decorative materials. However, starch ether, made from natural starch with high amylopectin content, can provide an excellent anti-sliding or anti-sagging property for a ceramic tile adhesive. Chinese patent <CIT> discloses a ceramic tile adhesive and a preparation method thereof. While starch ether is also used in this ceramic tile, the anti-sliding property of this ceramic tile can merely meet the basic requirement for anti-sliding in JC/T547-<NUM>, namely, sliding ≤ <NUM> for <NUM> ceramic tile. For many large-size ceramic tiles with a mass greater than <NUM>, the anti-sliding requirement cannot be met.

Therefore, not all ceramic tile adhesives including starch ether have an excellent anti-sliding property, which also depends on the starch ether product and the use thereof in a ceramic tile adhesive composition.

Starch ether, also called etherified starch, is a general term for a type of modified starch including an ether linkage. Starch ether is a substituted starch ether produced by the reaction of the hydroxyl in a starch molecule with a reactive substance, including hydroxyalkyl starch, carboxymethyl starch, cationic starch, or the like, and is widely used in building, medicine, food, textile, papermaking, daily chemicals, petroleum, and other industries. Starch ether, used as an additive for a cement-based product, a gypsum-based product and a limestone product in the building field, has a prominent compatibility with other building additives, and is especially suitable for dry blends in building, such as mortar, adhesive, plaster, and a material applied by rolling.

Industrially, methods for preparing starch ether mainly include wet-type and dry-type. The wet method, also known as a slurry method, includes dispersing starch in water or other liquid medium to obtain a suspension with a certain concentration (starch milk). At a certain temperature, the starch milk is etherified by chemical reagents to produce modified starch. If the dispersion medium used is not water, but an organic solvent or a mixed solvent including water, this method is also called a solvent method for the sake of distinction. Most modified starches can be produced by the wet method. In the dry method, starch reacts with chemical reagents to produce modified starch, with a small amount of water (usually about <NUM>%) or a small amount of organic solvent. The small amount of water in the dry reaction system brings great challenge to the thorough mixing of starch with chemical reagents. Industrially, in addition to mixing by a special mixing equipment, mixing at a wet state and reacting at a dry state are also adopted to produce the modified starch by two steps. More types of starch ether are produced by the wet method than by the dry method, but the dry method is a promising method due to its simple process, high yield, and non-pollution.

<CIT> discloses a special starch ether for mortar and preparation method thereof. The special starch ether for the mortar takes starch, sodium hydroxide, alcohol, water, catalyst, deoxidant and etherifying agent as raw materials and is produced through alkalization, etherification and gelatinization. The product quality is excellent, and the preparation method is simple and easy to operate. The product is detected at the temperature of <NUM>, the viscosity of <NUM> % aqueous solution is <NUM>-6000mPa. s, the degree of substitution (DS) is greater than or equal to <NUM>, the pH value is <NUM>-<NUM>, the loss after drying (percent) is less than or equal to <NUM>, the chloride (in terms of C1) % is less than or equal to <NUM>, the heavy metal (in terms of Pb)% is less than or equal to <NUM>, the ferrum % is less than or equal to <NUM>, and the arsenic (As)% is less than or equal to <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses an electric heating ceramic tile with high heat conductivity and long service life, and a manufacturing method thereof. The electric heating ceramic tile comprises a high-heat-conductivity ceramic thin plate, a heating wire and a porous ceramic plate. The high-heat-conductivity ceramic thin plate and the porous ceramic plate are arranged parallelly. The porous ceramic plate is located below the high-heat-conductivity ceramic thin plate. A wire groove used for accommodating the heating wire is formed in the surface of the porous ceramic plate. The wire groove is located in the surface of the side, close to the high-heat-conductivity ceramic thin plate, of the porous ceramic plate. The high-heat-conductivity ceramic thin plate and the porous ceramic plate are bonded through a liquid ceramic tile adhesive layer and a solid ceramic tile adhesive layer. The liquid ceramic tile adhesive layer and the solid ceramic tile adhesive layer are arranged to be parallel to the high-heat-conductivity ceramic thin plate. The electric heating ceramic tile has the characteristics of low mass, excellent flame retardant performance, long service life and good heat conductivity, the VOC emission amount is negligible, and the environmental protection is truly achieved.

<CIT> discloses a preparation method of mortar for floor tile laying. The preparation method comprises the steps: coarse sand, cement, hydroxyethyl carboxymethyl cellulose, fly ash loaded chitosan, porous nanofibers, nanometer titania, modified sepiolite, calcium sulfate whiskers and sodium polyacrylate are sent into a stirring machine to be stirred and mixed evenly; and latex emulsion powder, a defoaming agent, a water reducer, an air entraining agent, a densifier and sodium gluconate are added into the stirring machine to be stirred and mixed evenly, obtaining the mortar for floor tile laying. By adding the components of the fly ash loaded chitosan and the modified sepiolite, cohesiveness and compactness of the mortar are improved; and by adding the porous nanofibers, the mechanical properties of the mortar are greatly improved, especially, the tensile adhesive strength of the mortar is improved, Also, the mortar has good weather resistance and is stable in property and good in durability.

However, the dry methods for preparing a starch ether product mostly include multi-step etherification. These methods are cumbersome and not conducive to industrial production, and generally only involve chemical modification. As the requirements on ceramic tile adhesives increase, it is the trend of research in this industry to produce modified starch ether by a special modification method to achieve the higher anti-sliding or anti-sagging property of a ceramic tile adhesive required by large-size, heavy ceramic tiles without compromising the binding property of the ceramic tile adhesive and increasing the cost.

Any subject-matter falling outside the scope of the claims is provided for information purposes only.

In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides a preparation method of modified starch ether for improving the anti-sliding property of a ceramic tile adhesive. In this preparation method, the cumbersome multi-step etherification in an existing method for preparing modified starch ether is avoided, and only one-step etherification is needed by controlling special operating conditions, and physical modification is added to obtain a product of better properties. Moreover, the conditions for one-step etherification in this method are significantly different from the prior art. Etherification can be initially conducted at a lower temperature without affecting the etherification efficiency of an etherifying agent and the production cost. The problems existing in the prior art are effectively solved.

The present invention is implemented by the following technical solutions.

The present invention provides a preparation method of modified starch ether for improving the anti-sliding property of a ceramic tile adhesive, including chemical modification of subjecting starch to one-step etherification to obtain starch ether, followed by physical modification.

The chemical modification of one-step etherification includes the following steps: starch, alkalizer, alcohol and inhibitor are mixed; etherifying agents are added; and etherification is conducted at a lowered temperature for a certain period of time, and then conducted in stages at different raised temperatures.

There are many types of etherifying agents.

Before the step of adding the etherifying agents, a step of charging the reactor with nitrogen to remove oxygen is also included.

In the above steps, after the etherifying agents are added, etherification is first conducted at a lowered temperature of <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> to <NUM>. It is intended to ensure that the materials react in a uniform manner and are fully dispersed to improve the etherification efficiency of a single etherifying agent and the reaction safety.

The starch is one or more of corn starch, tapioca starch, potato starch, and wheat starch, preferably one or more of corn starch, tapioca starch, and potato starch, more preferably one or two of tapioca starch and potato starch, and further more preferably tapioca starch; the alkalizer is alkali metal hydroxide powder, preferably NaOH and/or KOH, and more preferably NaOH; the alcohol is one or more of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, tert-butanol, acetone, and diethylene glycol, preferably ethanol and/or isopropanol, and more preferably ethanol; the inhibitor is an alkali metal salt, preferably Na<NUM>SO<NUM> and/or NaCl, and more preferably Na<NUM>SO<NUM>; and the etherifying agent is one or more of chloroacetic acid or sodium chloroacetate, methyl chloride, ethyl chloride, propylene oxide, and ethylene oxide, and preferably one or more of chloroacetic acid, propylene oxide, and ethylene oxide.

The one-step etherification is conducted at <NUM> to <NUM>, and preferably at <NUM> to <NUM>, for <NUM> to <NUM>. The starch, the alkalizer and the etherifying agent are used in etherification at a mass ratio of <NUM>:(<NUM>-<NUM>):(<NUM>-<NUM>), and preferably, at a mass ratio of <NUM>:(<NUM>-<NUM>):(<NUM>-<NUM>); the starch and the inhibitor are used in etherification at a mass ratio of <NUM> :(<NUM>-<NUM>); and the starch and the alcohol are used in etherification at a mass ratio of <NUM> :(<NUM>-<NUM>), and preferably, at a mass ratio of <NUM>:(<NUM>-<NUM>).

At the end of the etherification at a reduced temperature, etherification is further conducted in stages, for example, at <NUM> for <NUM> to <NUM> and at <NUM> for <NUM> to <NUM>.

The physical modification is conducted by mixing the starch ether, thickener and rheological agent for <NUM> to <NUM>.

The starch ether, thickener, and rheological agent, in percentage by weight, are <NUM>% to <NUM>%, <NUM>% to <NUM>%, and <NUM>% to <NUM>% respectively, preferably, <NUM>% to <NUM>%, <NUM>% to <NUM>%, and <NUM>% to <NUM>% respectively, and more preferably, <NUM>% to <NUM>%, <NUM>% to <NUM>%, and <NUM>% to <NUM>% respectively.

The thickener is one or more of carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose, and preferably one or two of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose. The rheological agent is one or more of guar gum, carrageenan and xanthan gum.

The starch ether is one or more of monosubstituted starch ether (with one substituent, such as carboxymethyl starch, hydroxypropyl starch, and hydroxyethyl starch), disubstituted starch ether (with two substituents, such as carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl starch, hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch, and carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl starch), and trisubstituted starch ether (with three substituents, such as carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch, hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl ethyl starch, and hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl methyl starch), and preferably one or two of disubstituted starch ether and trisubstituted starch ether.

The modified starch ether weighs <NUM>% to <NUM>%, and preferably <NUM>% to <NUM>%, of the ceramic tile adhesive.

The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:
The modified starch ether prepared by the preparation method provided in the present invention is used in a ceramic tile adhesive, resulting in a significant improvement in the anti-sliding property of the ceramic tile adhesive compared to the prior art. In the preparation method of the present invention, raw starch is subjected to one-step etherification with various etherifying agents to produce starch ether with various branched structures, and then a specific amount of thickener and rheological agent is added for physical modification to obtain modified starch ether with more complicated branched structures. The modified starch ether dispersed in water will form a complicated net structure without compromising the binding property of a ceramic tile adhesive, thereby leading to a significant bridging effect for cement particles, a greater yield stress imposing on mortar, and thus a better anti-sagging or anti-sliding effect.

The preparation process of the present invention from raw starch to modified starch ether does not require water. The water in the raw starch is used as a solvent for alkalizer, and a minimum amount of alcohol is used as a dispersant for alkalizer, thereby avoiding the use of a large amount of alcohol and water in the preparation of modified starch ether by a traditional method. The alcohol and etherifying agent are recovered for reuse during the drying process after reaction. Since the product does not need to be washed and neutralized, the process of preparing modified starch ether is greatly simplified compared to a traditional method. With simple process and equipment, easy operation and no three wastes, this method is environmentally friendly. The obtained modified starch ether has a stable quality and a function of improving the anti-sliding property of a ceramic tile adhesive, and can be applied to the large-size, heavy ceramic tiles. Safety in the usage of ceramic tiles is improved to meet demands from consumers.

The preparation method of the present invention is significantly different from the existing modification methods in terms of operating conditions. Especially, the etherification is usually conducted at a temperature above <NUM> in the chemical modification of an existing method, because a temperature below <NUM> will cause problems, such as lower etherification efficiency, higher cost, and longer reaction time. In the method of the present invention, etherification is initially conducted at a lowered temperature for a certain period of time, and then conducted in stages at different raised temperatures. The etherification at a lowered temperature can ensure the sufficient dispersion of materials, and also increase the etherification efficiency of a single etherifying agent and the reaction safety. This modification process ensures a smooth and efficient preparation process, with simplified operations, fewer resources, and less energy.

In order to clearly explain the technical features of the solution, the present invention will be described in detail below through specific implementations with reference to accompanying drawings.

The content of amylose, amylopectin and total starch in the raw starch used in each example is determined by the dual-wavelength colorimetry.

Iodine reagent: <NUM> (± <NUM>) g of potassium iodide is weighed and dissolved in an appropriate amount of distilled water to obtain a saturated solution, and then <NUM> (± <NUM>) g of iodine is added. After iodine is completely dissolved, the solution is transferred to a <NUM> volumetric flask and precisely diluted to <NUM> with distilled water. This reagent is prepared just before use and stored in the dark.

Amylose standard solution: <NUM> of amylose standards is weighed and added to a <NUM> beaker, and a few drops of anhydrous ethanol are added to wet amylose. Then <NUM> of <NUM> mol/L KOH solution is added. After amylose is completely dissolved at <NUM> (± <NUM>)°C under a water bath, the resulting solution is precisely diluted to <NUM> with distilled water. A <NUM>/mL amylose standard solution is obtained. <NUM> of <NUM>/mL amylose standard solution is added to a <NUM> volumetric flask, and <NUM> of distilled water is added. The pH of the solution is adjusted to <NUM> with a <NUM> mol/L HCL solution, and then <NUM> of iodine reagent is added. The resulting solution is precisely diluted to <NUM> with distilled water, and then stands for <NUM>. With distilled water including <NUM> mol/L HCL and iodine reagent as blank, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy is performed on the amylose standard solution at a wavelength range of <NUM> to <NUM> to obtain an absorption curve for amylose. <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> of <NUM>/mL amylose standard solution are respectively added to <NUM> volumetric flasks, and <NUM> to <NUM> of distilled water is added to each flask. The pH of each solution is adjusted to <NUM> with <NUM> mol/L HCL, and then <NUM> of iodine reagent is added. The resulting solutions are precisely diluted to <NUM> and thoroughly mixed to obtain a series of standard solutions at concentrations of <NUM>µg/mL, <NUM>µg/mL, <NUM>µg/mL, <NUM>µg/mL, <NUM>µg/mL, <NUM>µg/mL and <NUM>µg/mL.

Amylopectin standard solution: <NUM> of amylopectin standards is weighed, and then a <NUM>/mL amylopectin standard solution is prepared according to the preparation method of amylose standard solution. <NUM> of <NUM>/mL amylopectin standard solution is added to a <NUM> volumetric flask, and the subsequent operations are the same as that for amylose. An absorption curve within the visible spectrum is obtained in the same coordinate system for amylopectin. <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> mLof <NUM>/mL amylopectin standard solution are used to prepare a series of amylopectin standard solutions at concentrations of <NUM>µg/mL, <NUM>µg/mL, <NUM>µg/mL, <NUM>µg/mL, <NUM>µg/mL, <NUM>µg/mL, <NUM>µg/mL and <NUM>µg/mL.

The measuring wavelength λ1 and reference wavelength λ2 of amylose and the measuring wavelength λ3 and reference wavelength λ4 of amylopectin are determined according to an isosbestic plot (see <FIG>). With distilled water as blank, Aλ1 and Aλ2 are measured at λ1 and λ2 respectively, and △Aamylose is calculated as: △Aamylose = Aλ1 - Aλ2; and with △Aamylose as y-coordinate and amylose concentration (µg/mL) as x-coordinate, a dual wavelength amylose standard curve is plotted, and a regression equation is obtained for amylose. With distilled water as blank, Aλ3 and Aλ4 are measured at λ3 and λ4 respectively, and △Aamylopectin is calculated as: △Aamylopectin = Aλ3 - Aλ4; and with △Aamylopectin as y-coordinate and amylose concentration (µg/mL) as x-coordinate, a dual wavelength amylopectin standard curve is plotted, and a regression equation is obtained for amylopectin.

An air-dried starch sample is ground and screened by a <NUM> sieve. The treated sample is dried in a blast drying oven at <NUM> (± <NUM>)°C, and then moisture content of the test raw sample is determined as W1 (%). The dried sample is put into the Soxhlet extractor. Diethyl ether is first added, and the resulting mixture is heated to reflux for <NUM> of defatting. Then <NUM>% ethanol is added, and the resulting mixture is heated to reflux for <NUM> of desugarization. The product is dried in a blast drying oven at <NUM> (± <NUM>)°C, cooled, and weighed to obtain a constant weight. The fat and sugar content W2 (%) is determined.

<NUM> ± <NUM> of defatted and desugared sample is weighed and added to a <NUM> beaker, and a few drops of anhydrous ethanol are added to wet the sample. <NUM> of <NUM> mol/L KOH solution is added, and the sample is dispersed and dissolved for <NUM> at <NUM> (± <NUM>)°C under a water bath. The resulting solution is precisely diluted to <NUM> with distilled water and thoroughly mixed. Two sample solutions each of <NUM> (i.e., sample solution and sample blank solution) are added to respective volumetric flasks. <NUM> to <NUM> of distilled water is added to each flask, and the pH is adjusted to <NUM> with <NUM> mol/L HCL. <NUM> of iodine reagent is added to the sample solution, but no iodine reagent is added to the sample blank solution. The two solutions are precisely diluted to <NUM>, thoroughly mixed, stand for <NUM>. The sample blank solution is adopted as a colorimetric reference.

With distilled water as blank, the absorbance values are determined with <NUM> cuvettes, and then the amylose concentration Camylose (µg/mL) and amylopectin concentration Camylopectin (µg/mL) in the sample solution are calculated according to the regression equation. The amylose content, amylopectin content and total starch content are calculated according to formula (<NUM>), formula (<NUM>) and formula (<NUM>) respectively: <MAT> <MAT> <MAT>.

In the formula, <NUM> and <NUM> represent the final volumes of sample solution and test solution (mL) respectively, <NUM> is the volume of sample solution (mL) pipetted for the preparation of a test solution, m is the mass of the defatted and desugared sample (g) weighed for the preparation of a sample solution, W1 is the moisture content of the raw sample (%), and W2 is the fat and sugar content (%).

Degree of substitution (DS) by carboxymethyl in the starch ether prepared in each of examples and comparative examples is determined by the following method.

The fully-washed starch ether sample without Cl- is dried, slowly heated to <NUM> in a muffle furnace, and burned for <NUM> to completely ash the sample and quantitatively convert it to NazO. The ash is dissolved in a sulfuric acid standard solution for quantification, and then excess sulfuric acid is titrated with a NaOH standard solution. Degree of substitution by carboxymethyl of starch ether is calculated according to formula (<NUM>): <MAT>.

In formula (<NUM>), B is the millimolar quantity of <NUM>/<NUM><NUM>SO<NUM> consumed per gram of sample, and it is calculated according to formula (<NUM>): <MAT>.

The content of methoxy and hydroxyalkoxy in starch ether and cellulose ether prepared in examples and comparative examples is determined according to methods for determining the content of groups in cellulose ether in Appendix D of JC/T2190-<NUM> "Cellulose Ether for the Dry-Mixed Mortar". Alkoxy and hydroxyalkoxy are quantitatively cleaved by hydroiodic acid under the catalyzation of adipic acid, and then the content of alkoxy and hydroxyalkoxy in starch ether and cellulose ether is determined by gas chromatography.

The viscosity of starch ether prepared in each example is measured in a <NUM>% aqueous solution at <NUM> with an NDJ-<NUM> viscometer, and the viscosity of cellulose ether is measured in a <NUM>% aqueous solution at <NUM> with a B-type RVT viscometer.

A preparation method of modified starch ether for improving the anti-sliding property of a ceramic tile adhesive includes the following steps:.

Tapioca starch, NaOH, ethanol and Na<NUM>SO<NUM> were added to a jacketed reactor with a stirrer in sequence. The reactor was evacuated and purged with nitrogen to remove oxygen, and then evacuated once again. Chloroacetic acid, propylene oxide and ethylene oxide were added, and then etherification was conducted at <NUM> for <NUM>, then at <NUM> for <NUM>, and then at <NUM> for <NUM>. At the end of reaction, ethanol was recovered, and the product was dried and ground.

The tapioca starch, sodium hydroxide, chloroacetic acid, propylene oxide and ethylene oxide were used at a mass ratio of <NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>.

The tapioca starch and Na<NUM>SO<NUM> were used at a mass ratio of <NUM>:<NUM>.

The tapioca starch and ethanol were used at a mass ratio of <NUM>:<NUM>.

The tapioca starch includes <NUM>% of amylose, <NUM>% of amylopectin, and <NUM>% of total starch. The prepared carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch has a structure shown in <FIG>, a degree of substitution by carboxymethyl of <NUM>, and a viscosity of <NUM>,<NUM> cp in a <NUM>% aqueous solution, and includes <NUM>% of hydroxypropoxy, <NUM>% of hydroxyethoxy, and <NUM>% of ash.

(<NUM>) Physical modification: the starch ether obtained in step (<NUM>), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (methoxy content: <NUM>% to <NUM>%, hydroxypropoxy content: <NUM>% to <NUM>%, viscosity measured in a <NUM>% aqueous solution with a B-type RVT viscometer: <NUM>,<NUM> cp, purchased from Shandong Yiteng New Materials Co. ) and guar gum were mixed.

The carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch obtained in step (<NUM>), thickener and rheological agent were added to a blender for <NUM> to <NUM> of mixing to obtain modified carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch.

The carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch, thickener and rheological agent were used at a mass percentage content of <NUM>%, <NUM>% and <NUM>% respectively.

The modified carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch prepared by the preparation method of Example <NUM> was used for the preparation of a ceramic tile adhesive. Components shown in Table <NUM> were added to a blender and thoroughly mixed, and then <NUM>% of water, based on the total weight of all components, was added. The resulting mixture was mixed with the mixing equipment and mixing method required in JC/T547-<NUM> "Ceramic Tile Adhesive", and various performance tests were conducted according to the standard. The results are shown in Table <NUM>.

YT-A03 hydroxypropyl starch in step (<NUM>), thickener and rheological agent were added to a blender for <NUM> to <NUM> of mixing to obtain <NUM># modified hydroxypropyl starch.

YT-A03 hydroxypropyl starch, thickener and rheological agent were used at the same mass percentage content as that in Example <NUM>. The thickener and rheological agent were the same as in Example <NUM>.

The modified starch ether prepared in Comparative Example <NUM> was used for the preparation of a ceramic tile adhesive. Components shown in Table <NUM> were added to a blender and thoroughly mixed, and then <NUM>% of water, based on the total weight of all components, was added. The resulting mixture was mixed with the mixing equipment and mixing method required in JC/T547-<NUM> "Ceramic Tile Adhesive", and various performance tests were conducted according to the standard. The results are shown in Table <NUM>.

It can be seen from Table <NUM> that the modified carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch prepared in the present invention can improve the anti-sagging property of a ceramic tile adhesive, making the anti-sliding property meet the requirement of sliding ≤ <NUM>. Moreover, other requirements for the binding property of a ceramic tile adhesive are met. The ceramic tile adhesive of the present invention is even superior to the ceramic tile adhesive including <NUM># modified hydroxypropyl starch in terms of properties, such as the original tensile adhesive strength, the tensile adhesive strength after soaking in water, the tensile adhesive strength after thermal aging and the tensile adhesive strength after a cycle of freezing and thawing in Table <NUM>.

The carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl starch obtained in step (<NUM>), thickener and rheological agent were added to a blender for <NUM> to <NUM> of mixing to obtain modified carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl starch.

The carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl starch obtained in step (<NUM>) of Example <NUM>, thickener and rheological agent were used at a mass percentage content of <NUM>%, <NUM>% and <NUM>% respectively.

The thickener was hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (methoxy content: <NUM>% to <NUM>%, hydroxypropoxy content: <NUM>% to <NUM>%, viscosity measured in a <NUM>% aqueous solution with a B-type RVT viscometer: <NUM>,<NUM> cp, purchased from Shandong Yiteng New Materials Co. ); and the rheological agent was xanthan gum.

The modified carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl starch prepared in Example <NUM> was used for the preparation of a ceramic tile adhesive. Components shown in Table <NUM> were added to a blender and thoroughly mixed, and then <NUM>% of water, based on the total weight of all components, was added. The resulting mixture was mixed with the mixing equipment and mixing method required in JC/T547-<NUM> "Ceramic Tile Adhesive", and various performance tests were conducted according to the standard. The results are shown in Table <NUM>.

YT-B03 hydroxypropyl starch, thickener and rheological agent were added to a blender for <NUM> to <NUM> of mixing to obtain <NUM># modified hydroxypropyl starch.

YT-B03 hydroxypropyl starch, thickener and rheological agent were used at the same mass percentage content as that in Example <NUM>.

The thickener and rheological agent were the same as in Example <NUM>.

The <NUM># modified hydroxypropyl starch prepared in Comparative Example <NUM> was used for the preparation of a ceramic tile adhesive. Components shown in Table <NUM> were added to a blender and thoroughly mixed, and then <NUM>% of water, based on the total weight of all components, was added. The resulting mixture was mixed with the mixing equipment and mixing method required in JC/T547-<NUM> "Ceramic Tile Adhesive", and various performance tests were conducted according to the standard. The results are shown in Table <NUM>.

It can be seen from Table <NUM> that the modified carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl starch prepared in the present invention can improve the anti-sagging property of a ceramic tile adhesive, making the anti-sliding property meet the requirement of sliding ≤ <NUM>. Moreover, other requirements for the binding property of a ceramic tile adhesive are met. The ceramic tile adhesive of the present invention is even superior to the ceramic tile adhesive including <NUM># modified hydroxypropyl starch in terms of properties, such as the original tensile adhesive strength, the tensile adhesive strength after soaking in water, the tensile adhesive strength after thermal aging and the tensile adhesive strength after a cycle of freezing and thawing in Table <NUM>.

The raw starch includes <NUM>% of amylose, <NUM>% of amylopectin, and <NUM>% of total starch. The prepared hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch is named as <NUM># hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch. <NUM># hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch has a structure shown in <FIG> and a viscosity of <NUM>,<NUM> cp in a <NUM>% aqueous solution, and includes <NUM>% of hydroxypropoxy, <NUM>% of hydroxyethoxy, and <NUM>% of ash.

(<NUM>) Physical modification: the <NUM># hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch in step (<NUM>), thickener and rheological agent were mixed.

The <NUM># hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch, thickener and rheological agent were added to a blender for <NUM> to <NUM> of mixing to obtain <NUM># modified hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch.

The starch ether, thickener and rheological agent were used at a mass percentage content of <NUM>%, <NUM>% and <NUM>% respectively.

The thickener was hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (methoxy content: <NUM>% to <NUM>%, hydroxypropoxy content: <NUM>% to <NUM>%, viscosity measured in a <NUM>% aqueous solution with a B-type RVT viscometer: <NUM>,<NUM> cp, purchased from Shandong Yiteng New Materials Co. ); and the rheological agent was carrageenan.

The <NUM># modified hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch prepared in Example <NUM> was used for the preparation of a ceramic tile adhesive. Components shown in Table <NUM> were added to a blender and thoroughly mixed, and then <NUM>% of water, based on the total weight of all components, was added. The resulting mixture was mixed with the mixing equipment and mixing method required in JC/T547-<NUM> "Ceramic Tile Adhesive", and various performance tests were conducted according to the standard. The results are shown in Table <NUM>.

YT-A03 hydroxypropyl starch, thickener and rheological agent were added to a blender for <NUM> to <NUM> of mixing to obtain <NUM># modified hydroxypropyl starch.

YT-A03 hydroxypropyl starch, thickener and rheological agent were used at the same mass percentage content as that in Example <NUM>.

It can be seen from Table <NUM> that the <NUM># modified hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch prepared in the present invention can improve the anti-sagging property of a ceramic tile adhesive, making the anti-sliding property meet the requirement of sliding ≤ <NUM>. Moreover, other requirements for the binding property of a ceramic tile adhesive are met. The ceramic tile adhesive of the present invention is even superior to the ceramic tile adhesive including <NUM># modified hydroxypropyl starch in terms of properties, such as the original tensile adhesive strength, the tensile adhesive strength after soaking in water, the tensile adhesive strength after thermal aging and the tensile adhesive strength after a cycle of freezing and thawing in Table <NUM>.

The <NUM># hydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl starch, thickener and rheological agent were used at a mass percentage content of <NUM>%, <NUM>% and <NUM>% respectively.

The thickener was hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (methoxy content: <NUM>% to <NUM>%, hydroxypropoxy content: <NUM>% to <NUM>%, viscosity measured in a <NUM>% aqueous solution with a B-type RVT viscometer: <NUM>,<NUM> cp, purchased from Shandong Yiteng New Materials Co. ); and the rheological agent was guar gum.

The starch ether was the hydroxypropyl starch described in step (<NUM>) of Comparative Example <NUM>. The thickener and rheological agent were the same as in Example <NUM>.

The above implementations should not be considered as a limitation on the protection scope of the present invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any alternative improvement or change made to the implementations of the present invention falls within the protection scope of the present invention as defined in the claims.

Claim 1:
A preparation method of a modified starch ether for improving the anti-sliding property of a ceramic tile adhesive, comprising a chemical modification of subjecting a starch to one-step etherification to obtain a starch ether, followed by a physical modification, wherein
the chemical modification of one-step etherification comprises the following steps: the starch, an alkalizer, an alcohol and an inhibitor are mixed; an etherifying agent is added thereto; and etherification is conducted at a lowered temperature of <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> to <NUM>, and then conducted at <NUM> for <NUM> to <NUM> and at <NUM> for <NUM> to <NUM>;
the etherifying agent is a combination of chloroacetic acid, propylene oxide, and ethylene oxide; a combination of chloroacetic acid and propylene oxide; or a combination of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide; and
the physical modification is conducted by mixing the starch ether, a thickener, and a rheological agent for <NUM> to <NUM>.