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US4655943A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Thickeners having two ionic components and use thereof in aqueous compositions

Assignee: Henkel Corp
•
Filing: 1984-12-14
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Granted: 1987-04-07
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Expires: 2004-12-14
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Abstract

Abstract A thickener composition is comprised of a polymer having as the major recurring structural unit an acrylamidoalkanesulfonic acid or derivative thereof and a polyvalent metal crosslinking agent is provided. The compositions are useful for thickening aqueous solutions within a specified range of pH. The thickener is effective even in aqueous compositions having high levels of electrolytes.

Inventors

  • 👤 Lyle F. Elmquist
  • 👤 Warren W. Howland
  • 👤 Curtis L. Karl

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 10:04
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/02; C09K8/03; C09K8/035; C08; C08J; C08J3/00; C08J3/02; C08J3/03; C09K3/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/62; C09K8/66; C09K8/68; C09K8/685; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/903; Y10S507/922

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 123 words
A thickened aqueous composition having a pH of between about 5 and about 9 comprising: (a) a thickening amount of a homopolymer having a molecular weight of about 50,000 to about 5,000,000 and having as the recurring structural unit: --[CH.sub.2 --CH(C(O)NH--R--SO.sub.3 M)]-- wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon radical and M is a hydrogen atom, an ammonium group, or an alkali metal; and (b) a polyvalent metal cross-linking agent comprised of a metal in the +3, +4, +5 or +6 oxidation state at a concentration sufficient to increase the viscosity of the aqueous composition; and (c) water, wherein the relative proportions by weight of the polymer to the polyvalent metal cross-linking agent, is in the range of from about 400:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 123 words
A thickened aqueous composition having a pH of between about 5 and about 9 comprising: (a) a thickening amount of a homopolymer having a molecular weight of about 50,000 to about 5,000,000 and having as the recurring structural unit: --[CH.sub.2 --CH(C(O)NH--R--SO.sub.3 M)]-- wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon radical and M is a hydrogen atom, an ammonium group, or an alkali metal; and (b) a polyvalent metal cross-linking agent comprised of a metal in the +3, +4, +5 or +6 oxidation state at a concentration sufficient to increase the viscosity of the aqueous composition; and (c) water, wherein the relative proportions by weight of the polymer to the polyvalent metal cross-linking agent, is in the range of from about 400:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 12 words
A composition in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a lower alkanol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
A composition in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an electrolytic salt wherein the total concentration of electrolytic salts is in excess of 0.5% by weight of the aqueous composition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
A composition in accordance with claim 3 wherein the concentration of electrolytic salts is greater than 5% by weight of the aqueous composition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
A composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the polyvalent metal crosslinking agent is a salt of aluminum, titanium, chromium or zirconium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
A composition in accordance with claim 5 wherein the polyvalent metal crosslinking agent is comprised of Al(III), Ti(IV), Cr(III) or Zr(IV).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
A composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein R is an alkylene or alkenylene group.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 13 words
A composition in accordance with claim 7 wherein R is a 2-(N-substituted)-2-methyl-propyl group.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 18 words
A composition in accordance with claim 8 wherein M is an ammonium group, or an alkali metal atom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 13 words
A composition in accordance with claim 8 wherein M is a hydrogen atom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 12 words
A composition in accordance with claim 10 further comprising an alkaline material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
A composition in accordance with claim 11 wherein the alkaline material is calcium hydroxide or carbonate.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 147 words
A method of thickening an aqueous composition comprising adding a thickener composition to an aqueous composition in an amount sufficient to thicken the composition and lower the pH to below about 4 and then raising the pH to between about 5 and about 9, said thickener composition comprising: (a) a homopolymer having as the recurring structural unit: --[CH.sub.2 --CH(C(O)NH--R--SO.sub.3 M)]-- wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon radical and M is a hydrogen atom, an ammonium group, or an alkali metal atom; and (b) a polyvalent metal cross-linking agent wherein said homopolymer has a molecular weight between about 50,000 and about 5,000,000 and the relative proportion of the homopolymer to the polyvalent metal cross-linking agent, is in the range of from about 400:1 to about 10:1 by weight polymer to cross-linking agent and wherein the polyvalent metal cross-linking agent is a salt of aluminum, titanium, chromium, or zirconium.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 147 words
A method of thickening an aqueous composition comprising adding a thickener composition to an aqueous composition in an amount sufficient to thicken the composition and lower the pH to below about 4 and then raising the pH to between about 5 and about 9, said thickener composition comprising: (a) a homopolymer having as the recurring structural unit: --[CH.sub.2 --CH(C(O)NH--R--SO.sub.3 M)]-- wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon radical and M is a hydrogen atom, an ammonium group, or an alkali metal atom; and (b) a polyvalent metal cross-linking agent wherein said homopolymer has a molecular weight between about 50,000 and about 5,000,000 and the relative proportion of the homopolymer to the polyvalent metal cross-linking agent, is in the range of from about 400:1 to about 10:1 by weight polymer to cross-linking agent and wherein the polyvalent metal cross-linking agent is a salt of aluminum, titanium, chromium, or zirconium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method as described in claim 13 wherein the aqueous composition to which the thickener is added also contains a lower alkanol.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method as described in claim 14 wherein the lower alkanol is selected from the group consisting of: methanol, ethanol, m-propanol, and isopropanol.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 163 words
A method of thickening an aqueous composition comprising adding a thickener composition to an aqueous-composition having a pH below about 4 in an amount sufficient to thicken said aqueous composition and then raising the pH to between about 5 and about 9, wherein said thickener composition comprises (a) a homopolymer having as the recurring structural unit: --[CH.sub.2 --CH(C(O)NH--R--SO.sub.3 M)]-- wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon radical and M is a hydrogen atom, and (b) a polyvalent metal cross-linking agent; and (c) an alkaline material wherein R is a 2-(N-substituted)-2-methylpropyl group, said alkaline material is calcium hydroxide or carbonate, and wherein the homopolymer has a molecular weight in the range of from about 50,000 and about 5,000,000; the polyvalent metal cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, titanium, chromium, and zirconium; and the relative proportions of the polymer to the polyvalent metal cross-linking agent is in the range of from about 400:1 to about 10:1 by weight polymer to cross-linking agent.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 163 words
A method of thickening an aqueous composition comprising adding a thickener composition to an aqueous-composition having a pH below about 4 in an amount sufficient to thicken said aqueous composition and then raising the pH to between about 5 and about 9, wherein said thickener composition comprises (a) a homopolymer having as the recurring structural unit: --[CH.sub.2 --CH(C(O)NH--R--SO.sub.3 M)]-- wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon radical and M is a hydrogen atom, and (b) a polyvalent metal cross-linking agent; and (c) an alkaline material wherein R is a 2-(N-substituted)-2-methylpropyl group, said alkaline material is calcium hydroxide or carbonate, and wherein the homopolymer has a molecular weight in the range of from about 50,000 and about 5,000,000; the polyvalent metal cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, titanium, chromium, and zirconium; and the relative proportions of the polymer to the polyvalent metal cross-linking agent is in the range of from about 400:1 to about 10:1 by weight polymer to cross-linking agent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method as described in claim 16 wherein the aqueous composition to which the thickener is added also contains a lower alkanol.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 171 words
A method of thickening an aqueous composition comprising: (a) adding to an aqueous composition to be thickened a homopolymer having a molecular weight in the range of from about 50,000 and about 5,000,000 and having as the recurring structural unit: --[CH.sub.2 --CH(C(O)NH--R--SO.sub.3 M)]-- wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon radical and M is a hydrogen atom in an amount sufficient to both thicken the aqueous composition and lower the pH of the composition below about 4; (b) adding to the aqueous composition, at a time when the pH of the composition is below about 4, a viscosity increasing amount of a polyvalent metal cross-linking agent, and (c) lastly, adjusting the pH of the aqueous solution to between about 5 and about 9 wherein the the polyvalent metal cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, titanium, chromium, and zirconium; and the relative proportions of the polymer to the polvalent metal cross-linking agent is in the range of from about 400:1 to about 10:1 by weight polymer to cross-linking agent.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 171 words
A method of thickening an aqueous composition comprising: (a) adding to an aqueous composition to be thickened a homopolymer having a molecular weight in the range of from about 50,000 and about 5,000,000 and having as the recurring structural unit: --[CH.sub.2 --CH(C(O)NH--R--SO.sub.3 M)]-- wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon radical and M is a hydrogen atom in an amount sufficient to both thicken the aqueous composition and lower the pH of the composition below about 4; (b) adding to the aqueous composition, at a time when the pH of the composition is below about 4, a viscosity increasing amount of a polyvalent metal cross-linking agent, and (c) lastly, adjusting the pH of the aqueous solution to between about 5 and about 9 wherein the the polyvalent metal cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, titanium, chromium, and zirconium; and the relative proportions of the polymer to the polvalent metal cross-linking agent is in the range of from about 400:1 to about 10:1 by weight polymer to cross-linking agent.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 146 words
A method of thickening an aqueous composition comprising: (a) adding to an aqueous composition a thickening amount of a homopolymer having a molecular weight in the range of from about 50,000 to about 5,000,000 and having as the recurring structural unit: --[CH.sub.2 --CH(C(O)NH--R--SO.sub.3 M)]-- wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon radical and M is an ammonium group, or an alkali metal atom; then (b) adjusting the pH of the aqueous composition to below about 4 and then adding to the aqueous composition a viscosity increasing amount of a polyvalent metal cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, titanium, chromium, and zirconium; and the relative proportions of the homopolymer to the polyvalent metal cross-linking agent is in the range of from about 400:1 to about 10:1 by weight polymer to cross-linking agent and (c) lastly, raising the pH to between about 5 and about 9.
Claim 24
Independent Claim 146 words
A method of thickening an aqueous composition comprising: (a) adding to an aqueous composition a thickening amount of a homopolymer having a molecular weight in the range of from about 50,000 to about 5,000,000 and having as the recurring structural unit: --[CH.sub.2 --CH(C(O)NH--R--SO.sub.3 M)]-- wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon radical and M is an ammonium group, or an alkali metal atom; then (b) adjusting the pH of the aqueous composition to below about 4 and then adding to the aqueous composition a viscosity increasing amount of a polyvalent metal cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, titanium, chromium, and zirconium; and the relative proportions of the homopolymer to the polyvalent metal cross-linking agent is in the range of from about 400:1 to about 10:1 by weight polymer to cross-linking agent and (c) lastly, raising the pH to between about 5 and about 9.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4498539A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-04-06 1990-10-06 1991-04-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-04-06 1994-10-06 1995-04-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-04-06 1998-10-06 1999-04-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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