MA/AA.Na (Maleic Acid/Acrylic Acid Sodium Salt Copolymer) is a versatile water-soluble polymer widely used in industrial water treatment and other applications due to its excellent scale inhibition, dispersancy, and thermal stability. Below are its key application areas and usage guidelines:
1. Industrial Water Treatment
(1) Cooling Water Systems
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Function: Inhibits CaCO₃, Ca₃(PO₄)₂, and CaSO₄ scaling.
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Dosage: 5–20 mg/L (adjust based on hardness and cycles of concentration).
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Advantage: More stable than homopolymers (e.g., PAA) at high pH (up to pH 10).
(2) Boiler Water Treatment
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Use: Prevents scale in low- to medium-pressure boilers (<60 bar).
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Dosage: 2–10 mg/L (higher doses for high-silica waters).
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Thermal Stability: Effective up to 150°C (short-term), outperforming PAA.
(3) Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems
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Role: Controls CaSO₄ and silica scaling on membranes.
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Dosage: 1–5 mg/L (use low-MW variants to avoid fouling).
2. Oil & Gas Industry
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Oilfield Water Injection:
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Dose: 10–30 mg/L to prevent BaSO₄/SrSO₄ scaling in high-TDS brines.
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Synergy: Often blended with phosphonates (HEDP) for enhanced performance.
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Acidizing Fluids:
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Function: Stabilizes iron (Fe³⁺) in HCl treatments at 0.1–0.5% concentration.
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3. Detergents & Cleaning Agents
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Industrial/Laundry Detergents:
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Role: Binds Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ to improve surfactant efficiency in phosphate-free formulations.
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Dosage: 0.5–3% of detergent weight.
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4. Textile & Paper Industries
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Textile Processing:
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Use: Prevents metal ion interference in dyeing/finishing (2–10 mg/L).
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Pulp & Paper:
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Function: Reduces scale in white water circuits (5–15 mg/L).
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5. Other Applications
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Mining/Mineral Processing:
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Disperses clay/slurries in tailings management (10–50 mg/L).
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Ceramics/Construction:
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Retards cement setting in concrete admixtures (0.1–0.5% by weight).
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Key Advantages of MA/AA.Na
| Property | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Thermal Stability | Stable up to 150°C+, better than PAA/PAAS. |
| pH Tolerance | Works in pH 4–12 (ideal for alkaline cooling towers). |
| Calcium Tolerance | Resists precipitation in high-Ca²⁺ waters (>500 mg/L). |
| Eco-Friendliness | Lower phosphorus content vs. phosphonates; complies with EU/EPA regulations. |
Recommended Formulations
| Application | Blend | Ratio | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooling Water | MA/AA.Na + HEDP | 2:1 | Enhanced Ca₃(PO₄)₂ inhibition. |
| Oilfield Scale | MA/AA.Na + PPCA | 1:1 | BaSO₄/SrSO₄ control. |
| Detergents | MA/AA.Na + Zeolite | 1:2 | Hardness ion sequestration. |
Limitations & Solutions
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| High Fe³⁺ Waters | Pre-treat with reducing agents (e.g., NaHSO₃). |
| >150°C Systems | Switch to AA-AMPS or sulfonated copolymers. |
| Strict P Regulations | Use P-free alternatives (e.g., PESA) if phosphorus limits apply. |
Conclusion
MA/AA.Na is a highly effective, multifunctional polymer for:
✔ Scale inhibition in cooling/boiler/RO systems.
✔ Dispersion in oilfield, textile, and mining applications.
✔ Detergent builders for water softening.
Optimal Use:
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Low-hardness systems: 5–10 mg/L.
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High-TDS/high-temperature: 10–30 mg/L + blends.
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Always conduct jar tests (e.g., NACE TM0374) for site-specific tuning.
For extreme conditions (e.g., >150°C, high Fe/SiO₂), consider specialty copolymers like AA-AMPS-SSS.