Self-stabilized thermothickening colloids

Abstract

A thermothickening fluid is provided which comprises a liquid phase; a first polymer comprising functional groups and having a room temperature solubility in the liquid phase; and a second, different polymer comprising functional groups and having a room temperature solubility in the liquid phase, wherein functional groups on the first polymer are capable of associating with functional groups on the second polymer to form complexes, and the room temperature solubility of the first polymer is greater than the room temperature solubility of the second polymer. The fluid is a colloid at room temperature, a solution at an elevated temperature, and exhibits a thermothickening/thinning transition viscosity value at a thermo-thickening/thinning transition temperature between room temperature and the elevated temperature.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.