Stable suspensions of water-soluble polymers and their manufacture

A process for manufacturing a stable suspension of a water-soluble polymer, consisting essentially of solid particles of at least one water-soluble polymer suspended in (a) a liquid hydrocarbon medium, non-solvent of the water-soluble polymer, said liquid hydrocarbon medium comprising at least one aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon, the proportions being 40 to 150 parts by weight of said water-soluble polymer per 100 parts by weight of said liquid hydrocarbon medium, said stable suspension further comprising per 100 parts by weight of said liquid hydrocarbon medium, from 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of (b) at least one thickening agent selected from the alkali or alkaline-earth metal salts of fatty acids having 6-33 carbon atoms, said process consisting essentially of, in a first step, adding said thickening agent (b) to the liquid hydrocarbon medium, while heating at a temperature of 40.degree.-150.degree. C., and

• in a second step, after cooling of the mixture below 40.degree. C., adding progressively to the resultant mixture of thickening agent and hydrocarbon medium said solid particles of the water-soluble polymer.