Agglomerated polymer particles of finely divided, water-soluble or water-swellable polymers, the preparation thereof and the use thereof

Abstract

Agglomerated polymer particles of finely divided, water-soluble or water-swellable polymers are prepared by azeotropic dewatering of water-in-oil emulsions of water-soluble or water-swellable polymers in the presence of from 1 to 40% by weight, based on the polymers, of polyalkylene glycols which (a) are obtainable by an addition reaction of C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 -alkylene oxides with alcohols, phenols, amines or carboxylic acids and (b) contain not less than 2 polymerized alkylene oxide units and isolation of the agglomerated polymer particles. The water-soluble agglomerated polymer particles are used as flocculants and retention and drainage aids, while the water-swellable polymer powders are employed as thickeners for aqueous systems, in particular as thickeners for textile print pastes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.