Method of providing a foam barrier between a substrate and the atmosphere and compositions therefor
AssigneeRusmar Incorporated
InventorPaul A. Kittle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aqueous thixotropic foam-producing chemical compositions are presented which are comprised of an anionic sulfonate or sulfate surfactant, a fatty acid having 10-30 carbon atoms, an acrylic-based thixotropic thickener, an acrylic acid polymer processing aide and a base present in a concentration sufficiently high to neutralize all of the acid components of the mixture and adjust the pH to above 7.5. The thixotropic foam-producing compositions are useful for producing thixotropic foams which have the ability to resist slumping on sloped surfaces. Also disclosed is a process for mixing highly viscous, low density chemical foaming compositions with water without causing foaming of the resulting mixture.
Claims26
A method of forming a temporary barrier layer between a substrate and the atmosphere, where the substrate is a body of waste material, a liquid spill, or a plant requiring protection, comprising the steps of:
- diluting with water a formulation comprising a dry basis:
- a. about 10 to about 30 weight percent of at least one water-soluble anionic sulfonate or sulfate surface active agent;
- b. about 5 to about 30 weight percent of a fatty acid component comprising at least one fatty acid having 10 to 20 carbon atoms;
- c. about 5 to about 25 weight percent of a copolymer of acrylic acid and an ethoxylated methacrylic ester,
- d. about 5 to about 20 weight percent of an acrylic acid homopolymer, having an average molecular weight in the range of 30,000 to 100,000;
- and
- e. sufficient base to adjust the pH of the aqueous formulation to a value of at least 7.5;
- and
- forming the diluted formulation;
- and applying the foam thus formed, as a temporary covering, to the substrate.
An aqueous formulation which can be further diluted with water to form a thixotropic composition comprising an a dry basis;
- a. about 15 to about 25 weight percent of an alpha-olefin sulfonate having 12-16 carbon atoms;
- b. about 10 to about 20 weight percent of at least one fatty acid having 14-18 carbon atoms;
- c. about 10 to about 20 weight percent of a thixotropic thickening agent which is a copolymer of acrylic acid and a polyoxyethylene methacrylic ester;
- d. about 5 to about 15 weight percent of polyacrylic acid homopolymer, having an average molecular weight in the range of 40,000 to 100,000;
- and
- e. sufficient base to adjust the pH of the formulation to a value of the range of about 8 to 10.
An aqueous foamable composition comprising, based on the total weight of said composition,
- a. about 2 to about 8 weight percent of at least one alpha-olefin sulfonate having 12 to 14 carbon atoms,
- b. about 2 to about 8 weight percent of commercial grade stearic acid,
- c. about 5 to about 12 weight percent of an alkanolamine,
- d. about 2 to about 7 weight percent of a thixotropic thickner comprising a copolymer of acrylic acid and an ethoxylated methacrylic ester,
- e. about 1 to about 5 weight percent of a polyacrylic acid homopolymer, having an average molecular weight in the range of 40,000 to 100,000, and
- f. about 60 to about 90 weight percent water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.