Sodium of Maleic Acid and Acrylic Acid Copolymer Dispersant MA-AA·Na

Tree Chem manufactures Sodium of Maleic Acid and Acrylic Acid Copolymer Dispersant (MA-AA·Na) for customers seeking to purchase a high-performance mixture-type dispersant without a designated CAS number. The product combines strong dispersing efficiency with stable behavior across various pH and temperature conditions. For additional technical support and supply details, you may reach us at info@cntreechem.com.

MA-AA·Na is available in multiple liquid concentrations and a solid powdered form. Its ability to prevent deposition of inorganic scales and suspended solids makes it suitable for cooling water, industrial water cycles, and formulations requiring reliable inorganic fouling control.

Specification

Basic Information

Technical Specification

Applications

Water Treatment Industry

• Maleic acid–acrylic acid copolymer sodium salt (MA-AA·Na) is first and foremost a core green water-treatment additive for industrial circulating cooling-water, boiler-water, oilfield injection systems and reverse-osmosis units. Compared with the unneutralized copolymer, its sodium salt form has much better water solubility and operates in a mildly alkaline range (pH 8–10), which fits modern alkaline-running systems. The backbone of maleic and acrylic units carries a high density of –COO⁻Na⁺ groups, giving strong complexation with Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Ba²⁺, while at the same time adsorbing on CaCO₃, CaSO₄ and Ca₃(PO₄)₂ microcrystals to deliver a combined chelation–dispersion–crystal-distortion mechanism.
• In industrial circulating cooling-water systems of power plants, chemical complexes, metallurgical and fertilizer facilities, MA-AA·Na is generally used as a 5–10 % aqueous solution at 5–20 mg/L (2–15 mg/L when used alone). Low-molecular-weight grades (around 2000) provide excellent threshold inhibition and dispersing power without causing bridging flocculation, while higher-molecular-weight products are reserved for higher temperature or hardness. In practice, MA-AA·Na withstands temperatures up to about 300 °C, maintains scale inhibition at Ca²⁺ levels up to roughly 1000 ppm and shows especially strong inhibition toward calcium phosphate scale, making it a preferred choice when phosphate-based programs are being phased down.
• In boiler-water treatment, MA-AA·Na is applied in low-, medium- and high-pressure systems as a scale inhibitor and dispersant. In low-pressure boilers, typical dosages of 10–30 mg/L, either alone or with organophosphonates, prevent hard carbonate and sulfate scale from forming on heat-transfer surfaces and keep fouling heat resistance at very low levels, improving energy efficiency and extending chemical-cleaning intervals. In medium- and high-pressure boilers it is usually combined with phosphate treatment at 15–30 mg/L; its high thermal and oxidative stability allows it to maintain chelating and dispersing activity over long service periods, and plant experience shows reduced tube-wall scale thickness and measurable fuel savings after switching to MA-AA·Na–based programs.
• In oilfield injection-water systems, MA-AA·Na is dosed at 10–50 mg/L to control CaCO₃ and BaSO₄ scaling in pipelines, wellbores and near-wellbore formations. The carboxylate groups ionize in water and chelate Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺, increasing their solubility and suppressing the nucleation and growth of hard crystalline deposits that would otherwise plug pores and raise injection pressure. In fracturing fluids it functions as an anti-scale and fluid-loss additive that lowers filtrate volume and helps maintain fracture conductivity, while in water-based drilling fluids 30 % MA-AA·Na solutions are used as viscosity reducers and filtrate-loss agents to improve mud-cake quality and provide resistance to temperature and salinity.
• In reverse-osmosis systems for seawater desalination, brackish-water treatment and high-purity process water, MA-AA·Na acts as a high-efficiency membrane antiscalant. It operates over pH 2–10 and temperatures up to about 80 °C, with 3–10 mg/L typical for general fouling control and 10–30 mg/L for strong suppression of Ca₃(PO₄)₂ and silica-related scale. MA-AA·Na chelates metal ions, disperses colloids and fine suspended solids and adsorbs on crystal growth sites so that only small, soft and loosely structured crystals form and are swept away by cross-flow. Case studies in RO units show more stable flux, longer intervals between chemical cleanings and significant reductions in operating cost when MA-AA·Na is included in the pretreatment program.

Coatings Industry

• In coatings, MA-AA·Na is an important water-borne dispersant and rheology modifier, especially in high-solids architectural and industrial coatings. As a polyelectrolyte with a large ionic backbone and small counter-ions, it ionizes strongly in water and adsorbs on pigment and filler surfaces; the resulting electrostatic repulsion, combined with steric effects from the polymer chain, keeps TiO₂, calcium carbonate, talc and other pigments well dispersed. This allows architectural coatings with 65–70 % solids to maintain low viscosity, good flow and high gloss, while reducing flooding, floating and pigment settling during storage.
• In building coatings, MA-AA·Na is typically used at 0.5–1.0 % of pigment solids in formulations based on TiO₂, lithopone, heavy calcium carbonate and kaolin, together with water, latex binders, thickeners and standard additives. During manufacturing it is pre-dissolved as a 5–10 % solution and added in the grinding stage, where it promotes rapid wetting and deagglomeration of pigments. Finished coatings show improved color development, higher gloss, fewer surface defects and better storage stability compared with systems using inorganic dispersants alone.
• For industrial coatings such as water-borne anti-corrosion paints, automotive finishes and water-borne wood coatings, MA-AA·Na improves dispersion of anti-corrosion pigments (zinc dust, zinc phosphate), effect pigments (aluminum, pearlescent) and organic colorants. Dosages in the 0.4–1.2 % of pigment range ensure uniform pigment distribution, smooth films and better mechanical properties. In special-purpose coatings, such as conductive, fluorescent, intumescent fire-resistant, high-temperature and marine anti-fouling systems, MA-AA·Na assists in dispersing carbon black, metallic powders, flame-retardant packages and biocidal pigments, helping to maintain long-term performance and appearance in demanding environments.

Ceramic Industry

• In the ceramic industry, MA-AA·Na plays multiple roles as a glaze dispersant, body water-reducer and general process additive. In ceramic glazes it acts as both dispersant and suspending agent; the carboxylate groups ionize to give glaze particles strong negative charge, while polymer chains form an adsorbed layer that introduces steric hindrance. During ball-milling of feldspar, quartz, kaolin, limestone, zinc oxide and boron sources, small additions of MA-AA·Na (typically 0.2–0.5 % of dry solids) yield finely ground, stable slurries with controlled density, viscosity and rheology. Finished glazes applied from such slurries produce smooth, defect-free surfaces with fewer pinholes and bubbles, reduced glaze consumption and higher firing yields.
• In ceramic bodies, MA-AA·Na is used as a water-reducing plasticizer. At only 0.1–0.3 % of dry body solids it lowers slurry or body water content by 15–25 % while maintaining or improving flow and molding performance. For slip-casting bodies, improved fluidity shortens casting times and results in more uniform wall thickness; for pressed and isostatically pressed bodies, reduced water content lowers drying shrinkage, decreases crack formation and increases green strength and final mechanical strength. These effects translate into better dimensional control, fewer rejects and lower energy consumption in drying and firing.
• In ceramic colors and stains, MA-AA·Na serves as a high-concentration dispersant that maintains uniform dispersion of metal-oxide pigments and crystalline effect pigments at 60–70 % solids. It prevents pigment agglomeration, stabilizes slurry viscosity and ensures bright, uniform colors after high-temperature firing. Beyond glazes, bodies and colors, MA-AA·Na is also used as a deflocculant, water-retention agent, grinding aid and binder in various ceramic additives, where its combined dispersing and water-management functions improve process efficiency and product consistency.

Pulp and Paper Industry

• In pulping, MA-AA·Na is used as a chelating and dispersing agent that improves pulp quality and process efficiency. At 0.05–0.1 % on oven-dry pulp it complexes Fe, Cu, Mn and other metal ions that catalyze peroxide decomposition, thus increasing the effectiveness of oxidative chemicals and helping to raise brightness and whiteness stability. Its dispersing action helps to distribute resins and waxy impurities more evenly and reduces deposition on equipment surfaces, which lowers downtime and cleaning frequency.
• During bleaching, MA-AA·Na is incorporated into composite bleaching-aid systems alongside polyepoxysuccinate, acrylic acid, allyloxy hydroxypropyl sulfonate and stabilizers. Within these formulations it works as an auxiliary chelating component that suppresses non-productive decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, thereby permitting lower oxidant dosage while reaching equal or higher brightness. Mills using such systems report lower peroxide consumption, higher brightness, improved brightness stability and less fiber damage and yellowing.
• In the papermaking stage, MA-AA·Na at 0.01–0.1 % on pulp serves as a retention and dispersion aid. It improves filler and fine-fiber retention, stabilizes white-water loops and enhances sheet formation, leading to smoother paper surfaces, better printability and fewer breaks. In coating colors for coated and art papers, MA-AA·Na functions as a high-efficiency dispersant for kaolin and calcium carbonate at pigment solids of 65–70 %. At 0.1–0.5 % of pigment solids and molecular weight in the 2000–4000 range, it helps achieve low viscosity, good flow and aging stability, improving gloss, smoothness and optical properties of coated grades while enabling higher line speeds.

Textile Printing and Dyeing Industry

• In textile printing and dyeing, MA-AA·Na is a versatile chelating dispersant, leveling aid and bath stabilizer used across pretreatment, dyeing, printing and finishing operations. In desizing, scouring and bleaching, 0.5–2 g/L of MA-AA·Na at pH 7–11 and 30–95 °C complexes hardness ions and transition metals that would otherwise catalyze auxiliary breakdown or fiber damage. This improves removal of size, waxes and pectins, enhances fabric wettability and whiteness and reduces pinholes and strength loss.
• In dyeing processes using reactive, disperse or other dye classes, MA-AA·Na is typically dosed at 1–3 g/L over pH 4–10 and temperatures up to 130 °C. It binds hardness ions, prevents formation of insoluble dye–metal complexes and stabilizes colloidal dye dispersions, reducing flocculation and precipitates. At the same time it moderates dye uptake kinetics, which improves levelness, reduces re-dyeing and enhances shade reproducibility. In printing pastes, MA-AA·Na at 0.2–1.0 % of paste mass acts as a chelating, anti-flocculation component, maintaining paste viscosity and ensuring that dyes and pigments remain finely dispersed so that printed patterns are sharp and colors bright.
• During finishing and after-treatment, MA-AA·Na is used at 0.1–0.5 g/L as a metal-ion blocker and softener synergist; removing residual ions from fabrics and bath water reduces spotting and improves distribution of softeners and functional finishing agents. It is also present in alkaline cleaning formulations for dyeing machines, printing ranges and pipelines at 3–5 g/L, pH 5–9 and 50–80 °C, where its chelating and dispersing effects efficiently remove scale and dye deposits from equipment surfaces.

Daily Chemical Products

• In daily chemical products, MA-AA·Na is valued as a phosphorus-free chelating agent, builder and stabilizer in laundry detergents, dishwashing liquids and hard-surface cleaners. In liquid and powder laundry detergents at 0.1–0.5 % it softens hard water by binding Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, prevents inorganic deposits on fabrics and helps maintain the activity of enzymes, fragrances and optical brighteners by suppressing metal-catalyzed degradation. Formulations with MA-AA·Na in place of STPP or other phosphate builders achieve good detergency while reducing eutrophication risk.
• In dishwashing liquids and kitchen cleaners based on alkyl polyglucosides and other surfactants, 0.5–1.5 % MA-AA·Na improves removal of limescale and metallic soils from glass, ceramics and stainless steel, reduces spotting and hazing and improves clarity and storage stability of the product. In personal-care products such as skin-care items, shampoos, body washes and hair-dye systems, MA-AA·Na primarily acts as a chelating and stabilizing agent: it binds trace metals that can cause discoloration or oxidant decomposition, improves product stability in hard water and helps keep appearance and performance consistent over shelf life.

Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Applications

• In pharmaceuticals, MA-AA·Na-based polymers are used as functional excipients and in advanced drug-delivery systems. Thanks to their pH-responsive swelling and good biocompatibility, partially neutralized acrylic/maleic copolymers can form hydrogels and micelles whose swelling and release behaviors vary with pH. By adjusting neutralization degree and crosslinking, systems can be designed to protect actives in the acidic stomach and release them in the more neutral intestine, thereby improving oral bioavailability.
• MA-AA·Na also provides bioadhesive properties that are useful for mucosal dosage forms, prolonging residence time and enhancing absorption of peptides and proteins. Ion complexes formed between MA-AA·Na and chitosan or other polycations serve as controlled-release matrices for macromolecular drugs, while block copolymers derived from similar chemistry are used as nanocarriers for poorly soluble APIs. These applications exploit the ionizable carboxyl groups, tunable swelling and good safety profile of MA-AA·Na-based materials.

Agriculture and Soil Improvement

• In agriculture, MA-AA·Na chemistry supports water-retention, fertilizer-efficiency and soil-conditioning functions through polyacrylate-type super-absorbent materials and related systems. Cross-linked polyacrylate resins prepared from acrylic–maleic technology can absorb up to hundreds of times their own weight in water and retain more than 90 % of that capacity across soil pH 2–10. Mixed into soil at 0.1–0.5 % of soil mass, they significantly increase water content, prolong crop drought-tolerance and create a more stable moisture environment around roots.
• As fertilizer-efficiency enhancers, MA-AA·Na-based materials reduce nitrogen leaching and help hold ammonium, nitrate, phosphate and potassium in the root zone. By binding nutrients and moderating their release they increase water–fertilizer utilization efficiency and raise biomass yield while lowering nutrient losses through runoff and percolation. At the same time, improvements in soil aggregate stability, porosity and infiltration contribute to better root development and crop performance in arid and semi-arid regions with limited water resources.

Other and Emerging Applications

• Beyond traditional sectors, MA-AA·Na is being used and explored in areas such as high-tech water systems, electronic manufacturing, marine engineering, new-energy systems and nano-materials. In ultra-pure water preparation for electronics, its strong chelation helps meet tight metal specifications; in solar and other renewable-energy cooling systems its scale-control performance supports long-term efficiency; in marine and offshore installations its tolerance to high salinity makes it suitable for seawater-based systems. In nano-materials, MA-AA·Na is employed as a dispersant for nano-calcium carbonate and similar fillers, preventing agglomeration and helping to fully realize the performance of nano-scale additives.

Storage & Handling

• Store in tightly sealed containers away from direct heat and sunlight.
• Keep the solid grade dry; avoid moisture exposure.
• Avoid contact with strong oxidizers or reactive alkaline substances.
• Ensure equipment is clean and dry during handling and dilution.
• Use grounding to prevent static discharge during transfer.

Usage Notice

• Personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles, protective clothing) is recommended.
• When diluting, add polymer into water rather than the reverse.
• Check product compatibility before blending with cationic agents.
• Dispose of residues according to local environmental regulations.
• Handle spills using absorbent materials.
• Circulating cooling-water base program: MA-AA·Na used alone at 2–15 mg/L in industrial recirculating cooling-water acts as a scale inhibitor and dispersant, providing calcium-scale inhibition typically above 95 % and keeping heat-exchange surfaces clean.
• Phosphorus-free cooling-water formulation: a low-phosphorus environmental program using 15 mg/L MA-AA·Na, 14 mg/L sodium gluconate, 13 mg/L benzotriazole, 18 mg/L sodium molybdate and 14 mg/L hexamethylenetetramine (total 74 mg/L) achieves scale-inhibition of about 92.63 % and corrosion-inhibition of about 92.78 % in recirculating systems.
• Cooling-water blend with phosphates: a composite inhibitor containing 7–9 ppm sodium hexametaphosphate, 4–5 ppm MA-AA·Na, 5–6 ppm HEDP, 0.8–1 ppm mercaptobenzothiazole and 0.5–1 ppm chlorine (total 22–25 ppm) is used in large chemical-plant and power-plant cooling-water and boiler-feed circuits to control scale and corrosion.
• Low-pressure boiler treatment: MA-AA·Na dosed at 10–30 mg/L in low-pressure boiler water, alone or blended with organophosphonates, prevents carbonate and sulfate scaling on tube surfaces, maintains low fouling heat resistance and extends cleaning intervals.
• Medium- and high-pressure boiler program: a treatment scheme in which 15–30 mg/L MA-AA·Na is combined with appropriate phosphate dosage maintains low scale formation on high-pressure boiler surfaces and keeps water-wall deposits well below typical 1.0 mm limits.
• Oilfield injection-water inhibitor: MA-AA·Na added at 10–50 mg/L in oilfield return-water injection systems complexes Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ba²⁺, prevents CaCO₃ and BaSO₄ precipitation, stabilizes injection pressure and maintains injectivity.
• Fracturing-fluid anti-scale package: fracturing fluids incorporating MA-AA·Na as a scale inhibitor and fluid-loss additive reduce filtrate by around 40 % and increase effective fracture length compared with conventional fluids under the same conditions.
• Drilling-fluid viscosity reducer: a 30 % MA-AA·Na water solution used in water-based drilling fluids acts as a viscosity reducer and filtrate-loss additive, lowering filtrate rate, improving mud-cake quality and providing practical resistance to temperature and salinity.
• Reverse-osmosis antiscalant: MA-AA·Na dosed at 3–10 mg/L in RO feed prevents general membrane fouling, and at 10–30 mg/L it strongly suppresses Ca₃(PO₄)₂ and silica-containing scale over pH 2–10 and temperatures up to 80 °C, helping maintain flux and extend membrane life.
• Cooling-water “green” program: an environmentally oriented circulating-water formulation combining MA-AA·Na with sodium polyacrylate, PASP, tannin, sodium gluconate, IA/AMPS copolymer, zinc sulfate and sodium silicate at optimized ratios achieves high scale- and corrosion-inhibition while reducing phosphate discharge.
• Architectural coating base formula: a water-borne architectural coating composed of 40–50 % deionized water, 15–20 % titanium dioxide, 8–12 % lithopone, 10–15 % heavy calcium carbonate, 5–8 % kaolin, 0.5–1.0 % MA-AA·Na (as 40 % solution), 0.3–0.5 % hydroxyethyl cellulose, 2–3 % coalescent and standard preservatives and defoamers uses MA-AA·Na to disperse pigments at 65–70 % solids and maintain low viscosity and high gloss.
• Water-borne industrial anti-corrosion coating: a formulation based on epoxy or acrylic resin with zinc dust or zinc phosphate anti-corrosion pigments and 0.8–1.2 % MA-AA·Na (on pigment) uses the copolymer salt to disperse pigments, yielding smooth films with strong adhesion and long-term corrosion protection.
• Intumescent fire-resistant coating: an expandable fire-resistant system containing 15–20 parts pentaerythritol, 20–25 parts melamine, 30–35 parts ammonium polyphosphate, 20–30 parts film-forming resin and 0.5–1.0 part MA-AA·Na uses the dispersant to keep components uniformly distributed and form a dense, insulating char layer under fire exposure.
• High-temperature resistant coating: a heat-resistant coating with 40–50 parts silicone resin, 20–30 parts aluminum powder, 15–20 parts mica powder, 10–15 parts ceramic microspheres and 0.8–1.2 parts MA-AA·Na uses the polymer to stabilize fillers at high temperature and maintain continuous protective films.
• Marine anti-fouling coating: a marine coating containing 35–45 % acrylic resin, 20–30 % cuprous oxide anti-fouling agent, 25–35 % functional fillers and 0.6–1.0 % MA-AA·Na relies on the dispersant to evenly distribute biocides and fillers and ensure long-lasting, uniform anti-fouling performance in seawater.
• Ceramic glaze slurry: a glaze formulation with 35–45 % feldspar, 20–30 % quartz, 15–25 % kaolin, 5–10 % limestone, 3–8 % zinc oxide, 2–5 % borax, 0.2–0.5 % MA-AA·Na and 40–50 % water uses the copolymer salt as dispersant so that ball-milled glaze attains fine particle size, stable rheology and produces smooth, defect-free glaze surfaces.
• Ceramic body slip: a body composition with 30–40 % kaolin, 20–30 % feldspar, 25–35 % quartz, 5–10 % talc, 0.1–0.3 % MA-AA·Na and 22–28 % water uses the additive as water-reducer and plasticizer to cut water content by 15–25 %, improve flow for casting or pressing and increase green and fired strength.
• Ceramic colorant slurry: a ceramic color system containing 10–30 % metal-oxide colorant, 40–60 % flux, 20–30 % carrier and 0.3–0.8 % MA-AA·Na uses the dispersant to keep high-solids color slurries stable and ensure bright, uniform color after high-temperature firing.
• Pulping chelating agent: MA-AA·Na added at 0.05–0.1 % on oven-dry pulp in chemical pulping complexes Fe, Cu and Mn ions, decreases non-productive peroxide decomposition and raises pulp brightness and whiteness stability.
• Peroxide-bleaching auxiliary: a bleaching aid composed of 20–40 parts sodium polyepoxysuccinate, 0.5–5 parts initiator, 15–30 parts acrylic acid, 1–3 parts allyloxy hydroxypropyl sulfonate sodium, 2–8 parts MA-AA·Na and 1–4 parts stabilizer stabilizes hydrogen peroxide, increases bleaching efficiency and improves brightness stability of pulp.
• Papermaking wet-end additive: MA-AA·Na dosed at 0.01–0.1 % on oven-dry pulp acts as a retention and dispersion aid that increases filler retention, improves sheet formation and enhances machine runnability.
• Paper-coating dispersant: a coating color of 40–60 % kaolin, 20–40 % calcium carbonate, 8–15 % styrene-butadiene latex, 0.1–0.5 % MA-AA·Na, 0.2–0.5 % CMC and minor lubricants and auxiliaries uses MA-AA·Na as a pigment dispersant to lower viscosity, allow 65–70 % solids and improve gloss and smoothness.
• Textile pretreatment bath: MA-AA·Na applied at 0.5–2 g/L in desizing and scouring liquors at pH 7–11 and 30–95 °C chelates hardness ions and transition metals, stabilizes auxiliaries and improves fabric cleanliness and whiteness.
• Reactive and disperse-dye dyeing bath: MA-AA·Na at 1–3 g/L in dye baths operating between pH 4–10 and 40–130 °C functions as a chelating dispersant and leveling agent, preventing dye flocculation and promoting uniform shade development.
• Printing-paste stabilizer: MA-AA·Na used at 0.2–1.0 % of total print-paste mass at pH 5–8 stabilizes viscosity, chelates metal ions and prevents dye and pigment aggregation, ensuring clear, bright and sharply defined printed patterns.
• Textile finishing bath: MA-AA·Na at 0.1–0.5 g/L in finishing baths at pH 6–8 and 40–60 °C blocks residual metal ions, improves distribution of softeners and finishing agents and enhances handle and appearance of treated fabrics.
• Phosphorus-free laundry liquid: a detergent formulation with 15–25 % surfactants, 0.5–1.5 % MA-AA·Na, 5–10 % sodium carbonate, 3–5 % sodium silicate, 0.1–0.3 % optical brightener, 0.2–0.5 % fragrance and balance water uses the polymer salt as a phosphorus-free builder to soften hard water, protect functional ingredients and improve detergency.
• Eco dishwashing liquid: a kitchen-cleaner formula based on 8–12 % alkyl polyglucoside, 0.5–1.0 % MA-AA·Na, 2–3 % sodium citrate, 3–5 % ethanol and balance deionized water uses MA-AA·Na to chelate metal ions, enhance inorganic and metallic soil removal and maintain product clarity.
• Hair-dye and personal-care system: oxidative hair-dye formulations and personal-care products containing 0.1–0.5 % MA-AA·Na use its chelating and stabilizing action to protect oxidants and colorants from metal-catalyzed degradation and improve performance in hard water.
• Soil water-retention agent: cross-linked polyacrylate super-absorbent resin based on MA-AA·Na chemistry applied at 0.1–0.5 % of soil mass provides water-absorption ratios of 100–500 times and retains more than 90 % of absorption capacity between pH 2 and 10, significantly extending crop drought-tolerance.
• Fertilizer efficiency enhancer: MA-AA·Na-type materials incorporated at about 0.05–0.2 % of fertilizer mass reduce nitrogen leaching by more than 30 %, retain nutrients in the root zone and improve water–fertilizer utilization and crop biomass yield.

Packaging

Liquid MA-AA·Na

• 25 kg plastic drum
• 250 kg plastic drum
• 1250 kg IBC tank
• Other packaging sizes available on request

Solid MA-AA·Na

• 25 kg plastic-woven bag with PE inner liner
• Customizable per customer requirements