Process for preparing high molecular-weight, water soluble vinyl polymers by irradiation

Claim 2

A PROCESS FOR PREPARING AN AQUEOUS GEL OF A WATER SOLUBLE, HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT COPOLYMER, WHEREIN THE COPOLYMER HAS AN INTRINSIC VISCOSITY OF AT LEAST 6 DECILITERS PER GRAM AS MEASURED IN 2 NORMAL SODIUM CHLORIDE SOLUTION AT 25.5*C WHICH COMPRISES IRRADIATING WITH HIGH ENERGY IONIZING RADIATION AT AN INTENSITY OF FROM 250 RADS TO 200,000 RADS PER HOUT TO A DOSE OF FROM 1,000 TO 2K00,000 RADSM AN AMMONIA FREE AQUEOUS SOLUTION HAVING A PH FROM ABOUT 3 TO ABOUT 13 AND CONTAINING FROM 10% TO 45% CONCENTRATION BY WEIGHT OF (1) AT LEAST TWO MONOMERS CONFORMING TO THE FORMULA

Claim 3

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution contains a mixture of monomers and wherein from 80% to 100% of the monomers are converted to copolymer.

Claim 4

A process in accordance with claim 2 wherein the intensity is from 5,000 rads to 100,000 rads per hour and the dose is sufficient to produce a water-soluble, high molecular weight copolymer having an intrinsic viscosity of at least 6 deciliters per gram in 2 normal sodium chloride solution at 25.5*C. but the dose is not sufficient to produce substantial amounts of water-insoluble copolymer.

Claim 5

A process in accordance with claim 2 wherein the intensity is from 5,000 rads to 50,000 rads per hour and the dose is from 5, 000 rads to 30,000 rads.

Claim 6

A process in accordance with claim 2 wherein the copolymer formed has an intrinsic viscosity of from 10 to 30 deciliters per gram in 2 normal sodium chloride solution at 25.5*C.

Claim 7

A process in accordance with claim 5 wherein the intensity is from 5,000 rads to 50,000 rads per hour and the total dose of radiation is from 5,000 rads to 30,000 rads.

Claim 8

A process in accordance with claim 6 wherein the monomers are a mixture of acrylamide and sodium acrylate.

Claim 9

A process for preparing an aqueous gel of a water-soluble, high molecular weight copolymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein the copolymer has an intrinsic viscosity of from 10 to 30 deciliters per gram in 2 normal sodium chloride solution at 25.5*C., which process comprises irradiating with gamma radiation at an intensity of from 5,000 rads to 50,000 rads per hour to a total dose of from 5,000 rads to 30,000 rads, an aqueous solution of from 15% to 35% by weight of a mixture of acrylamide and sodium acrylate containing at least 25% by weight of acrylamide and having a pH from 3 to 13, until from 80% to 100% of the mixture of acrylamide and sodium acrylate is converted to a water-soluble, high molecular weight copolymer having an intrinsic viscosity of from 10 to 30 deciliters per gram in 2 normal sodium chloride solution at 25.5*C.

Claim 10

A process in accordance with claim 2 wherein the intensity is from 5,000 rads to 50,000 rads per hour and the dose is from 5, 000 rads to 30,000 rads and wherein the monomers are a mixture of acrylamide and the dimethyl sulfate quaternary ammonium salt of dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate.

Claim 11

A process in accordance with claim 2 wherein the intensity is from 5,000 rads to 50,000 rads per hour and the dosE is from 5,000 rads to 30,000 rads and wherein the monomers are a ternary mixture comprising acrylamide, sodium acrylate, and the dimethyl sulfate quarternary ammonium salt of dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate.

Claim 12

A process in accordance with claim 2 wherein the intensity is from 5,000 rads to 50,000 rads per hour and the dose is from 5,000 rads to 30,000 rads and wherein the monomers are a mixture of acrylamide and the dimethyl sulfate quaternary ammonium salt of dimethyl aminoethyl acrylate.

Claim 13

A process for preparing an aqueous solution of a water-soluble, high molecular weight homopolymer which comprises irradiating with high energy ionizing radiation at an intensity of from 250 rads to 200,000 rads per hour to a dose of from 1,000 rads to 200,000 rads, an aqueous solution having a pH from 3 to 13 and containing from 10% to 45% concentration by weight of dimethyl sulfate quaternary ammonium salt of dimethyl aminoethyl acrylate, dimethyl sulfate quaternary ammonium salt of dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate, diethyl sulfate quaternary ammonium salt of dimethyl aminoethyl acrylate, or diethyl sulfate quaternary ammonium salt of dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate, to form an aqueous solution of a water-soluble, high molecular weight homopolymer.

Claim 14

A process for preparing an aqueous solution of a water-soluble, high molecular weight homopolymer which comprises irradiating with high energy ionizing radiation at an intensity of from 250 rads to 200,000 rads per hour to a dose of from 1,000 rads to 200,000 rads, an aqueous solution having a pH from 3 to 13 and containing from 10% to 45% concentration by weight of dimethyl sulfate quaternary ammonium salt of dimethyl aminoethyl acrylate, dimethyl sulfate quaternary ammonium salt of dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate, diethyl sulfate quaternary ammonium salt of dimethyl aminoethyl acrylate, or diethyl sulfate quaternary ammonium salt of dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate, to form an aqueous solution of a water-soluble, high molecular weight homopolymer.