Methods for dissolving water soluble polymers and compositions using same

A method for dissolving a water soluble, poly(olefin oxide) polymer comprising generating a gas around and between polymer particles as said particles are wetted with water while simultaneously creating an alkaline environment around individual polymer particles, said gas generation produced by the reaction of a basic compound with an acid, said alkaline environment created by arranging particles of said basic compound as a first layer around said polymer particles, the amount of gas generated being sufficient to prevent agglomeration of the polymer particles as they dissolve.

A method for preparing a particulate, rapid dissolving formulation of a water soluble polymer comprising adding to a finely divided polymer, selected from the group consisting of poly(olefin oxides), vinyl addition polymers, and copolymers and mixtures thereof, at least two other particulate compounds, a first said compound being basic and another of said compounds being acidic, said other compounds being non-reactive toward said polymer but reacting to produce a gas upon being wetted with water, mixing said polymer and said first compound together to form particulates comprising polymer particles arranged in intimate association with particles of said first compound to form polymer particles having a layer of said first compound particles thereon and to obtain a first composite, particulate formulation, and thereafter mixing said first composite formulation with said acidic compound to obtain a second, layered, composite formulation having particles of said acidic compound arranged as a second layer exterior to said first particulate formulation, said second formulation characterized by readily dissolving without agglomeration when contacted with water.