Clay cation complexes and their use to increase viscosity of liquid organic systems

An organophilic clay gellant, which comprises:

• the reaction product of an organic cationic compound and a smectitetype clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least 75 milliequivalents per 100 grams of said clay, wherein said organic cationic compound has the general formula:
• ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of a .alpha.,.gamma.-unsaturated alkyl group having 6 or less aliphatic carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof;
• R.sub.2 is a long chain alkyl group having 12 to 60 carbon atoms;
• R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are selected from the group consisting of an R.sub.1 group, an aralkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms in the alkyl portion, an alkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof;
• X is nitrogen;
• and M.sup.- is selected from the group consisting of Cl.sup.-, I.sup.-, Br.sup.-, NO.sub.2.sup.-, OH.sup.- and C.sub.2 H.sub.3 O.sub.2.sup.-, and wherein the amount of said organic cationic compound is from 90 to 140 milliequivalents per 100 grams of said clay, 100% active clay basis.

A method of increasing the viscosity of a liquid organic system in the absence of a polar organic dispersant comprising mixing with said liquid organic system an amount sufficient to effect said viscosity increase of an organophilic clay gellant comprising the reaction product of an organic cationic ammonium compound and a smectite-type clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least 75 milliequivalents per 100 grams of said clay, wherein said organic ammonium cationic compound contains

• (a) a first member selected from the group consisting of a .alpha.,.gamma.-unsaturated alkyl group having 6 or less aliphatic carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 aliphatic atoms, and mixtures thereof,
• (b) a second member comprising a long chain alkyl group having 12 to 60 carbon atoms, and
• (c) a third and fourth member selected from a member of group (a), an aralkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms in the alkyl portion, an alkyl group having 1 to 22 cerbon atoms and mixtures thereof;
• and wherein the amount of said organic cationic ammonium compound is from 90 to 140 milliequivalents per 100 grams of said clay, 100% active clay basis.