Cross-linked, water-swellable polymer microgels
AssigneeThe Dow Chemical Company
InventorsMaurice L. Zweigle, Jack C. Lamphere
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Abstract
Discrete, spheroidal microgels of a water-swollen or water-swellable, cross-linked polymer such as cross-linked polyacrylamide are particularly useful as thickening agents for aqueous dispersions to be subjected to high shear and as agents for reducing the permeability of porous structures.
Claims10
A composition which comprises discrete, spheroidal microgels of a water-swellable polymer consisting essentially of water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomers wherein said microgels in the dry state have diameters less than about 20 micrometers, said polymer being sufficiently cross-linked to enable the microgels to remain as discrete spheroidal particles having diameters in the range from about 0.5 to about 200 micrometers when said microgels are dispersed in an aqueous fluid medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.