Claims
- 1. As a thickening agent for aqueous systems, a composition comprising a mixture of:
- (A) a water swellable clay mineral, and
- (B) a water insoluble emulsion polymer, an aqueous dispersion of which will thicken upon addition of a neutralization agent, of
- (1) 20-50 wt. % of (meth)acrylic acid,
- (2) 0.5-25 wt. % of at least one monomer of the formula (I):
- H.sub.2 C.dbd.C(R)--C(O)--O--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n --R.sup.o
- wherein R is H or CH.sub.3, n is at least 2 and has an average value up to 60 or more, and R.sup.o is a group having at least 8 carbon atoms selected from alkyl, alkaryl and polycyclic hydrocarbyl,
- (3) at least 30 wt. % of an alkyl (meth)acrylate wherein the alkyl group has 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and
- (4) zero to 1.0 wt. % of a polyethylenically unsaturated monomer;
- the proportions of (A) and (B) being effective, upon addition of a neutralizing agent for (B), for thickening an aqueous dispersion formed therewith.
- 2. A composition as in claim 1 wherein the proportions of (A) and (B) are effective for forming a firm gel upon at least partial neutralization and admixture with water.
- 3. A composition as in claim 1 wherein (A) is a montmorillonite clay mineral.
- 4. A composition as in claim 1 wherein (B) is a copolymer of
- (1) 30-45 wt. % of (meth)acrylic acid,
- (2) 1-15 wt. % of said monomer of formula (I), wherein R.sup.o contains about 8 to 24 carbon atoms, and
- (3) about 40-60 wt. % of said alkyl (meth)acrylate.
- 5. A composition as in claim 1 or 4 wherein said monomer (2) is ##STR1## wherein R.sup.o is an alkyl group having 12-18 carbon atoms, and n has an average value of at least about 10.
- 6. A composition as in claim 1 wherein (B) is a copolymer of
- (1) 30-45 wt. % of methacrylic acid,
- (2) 1-15 wt. % of said monomer of formula (I) wherein n has an average value of about 10-60 and R.sup.o is alkyl having 12-18 carbon atoms, and
- (3) 40-60 wt. % of ethyl acrylate.
- 7. A composition as in claim 1 wherein the amount of (A) is about 0.1-10 parts by weight and the amount of (B) is about 0.1-5 parts by weight, and (A) is a montmorillonite clay mineral.
- 8. A composition comprising an aqueous dispersion thickened with effective amounts of an at least partially neutralized composition of claim 1, 4, 6 or 7.
- 9. A composition comprising an aqueous gel prepared by dispersing in water and at least partially neutralizing the composition of claim 2.
- 10. A method of thickening an aqueous dispersion, comprising blending therewith a composition as in claim 1, 4, 6 or 7, and at least partially neutralizing said composition before, after or simultaneously with said blending.
- 11. A method of forming an aqueous gel, comprising dispersing in water the composition of claim 7 and at least partially neutralizing said composition before, after or during said dispersing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 075,860 filed Sept. 17, 1979 now abandoned, the latter application having been abandoned upon the filing of this application.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
75860 |
Sep 1979 |
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