Hydrocarbon based gels and solutions of blends of sulfonate ionomers and their precursors extended over critical regions
AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorsPawan K. Agarwal, Robert D. Lundberg, William W. Graessley, Gay Ver Strate
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Abstract
The present invention relates to hydrocarbon extended gels and solutions of blends of sulfonated ionomers and their precursors which behave as rigid gels at high shear rates, but act as viscous liquids at very low shear rates. The blend gel systems have more persistent networks than the gels of sulfonated ionomers. Typically the blends containing 5 to 25 times their weight in oil are preferred compositions.
Claims5
A method for controlling the viscosity of hydrocarbon liquids havng a solubility parameter of less than about 9.5 and a viscosity of less than about 100 cps, said hydrocarbon liquid being selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, synthetic oil, lubricating oil, alkanes, cycloalkanes and aromatics and mixtures thereof, which comprises incorporating into said hydrocarbon liquid about 1 to about 15 grams/100 ml of said hydrocarbon liquid of a polymer blend, such polymer blend comprising a metal or amine neutralized sulfonated polymer and an unsulfonated polymer, said unsulfonated polymer comprising about 0.1 to about 35 weight percent of said polymer blend, such neutralized sulfonated polymer and said unsulfonated polymer each having the same polymeric backbone and said unsulfonated polymer being selected from the group consisting of EPDM terpolymers and polystyrene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.