Abstract: Finely divided mineral ore is pelletized using a soluble synthetic polymer. Preferably the polymer is in the form of beads made by reverse phase polymerization and all having a size of below 300 .mu.m. When the ore gives a pH in water of below 8 the soluble polymer is preferably cationic.

Abstract: Process of forming prepasted wallcovering comprising a porous surface that carries a dry coating of polymer particles that become adhesive when wetted by water is made by applying to the surface a dispersion of the particles in a non-aqueous liquid that is stabilized by a polymeric stabilizer and then evaporating the non-aqueous liquid. A dried residue of the dispersion must not form a coherent film and should have a softening point substantially independent of the softening point of the polymeric stabilizer. The polymeric stabilizer is preferably an oil. The non-aqueous liquid is preferably relatively non-volatile.

Abstract: The flocculation performance, for instance on low pressure or other pressure filtration (such as a belt press), of a solution of a high molecular weight organic polymeric flocculant having IV above 4 is improved by subjecting the solution to degradation, preferably by mechanical shear such as through a Silverson mixer or by a fast rotating blade.

Abstract: A particulate substantially homogeneous polymeric product is made by dispersing ungelatinised polysaccharide in aqueous monomer containing polymerization initiator, initiating polymerization and thereby inducing exothermic polymerization, utilizing the exotherm to provide part at least of the heat necessary to gelatinise the polysaccharide and thereby producing a comminutable gel comprising polymerized monomer and gelatinised polysaccharide, comminuting the gel and drying the comminuted gel. The product generally comprises a blend of water soluble synthetic polymer, gelatinised polysaccharide having a low degree of graft polymerization and optionally gelatinised polysaccharide. Products comprising these components are particularly suitable for use as wallpaper adhesives.

Abstract: A suspension may be flocculated using a water soluble substantially linear polymer having a single point intrinsic viscosity above 3 and that is a copolymer of two or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers including at least 0.5% by weight of monomer carrying pendant hydrophobic groups. The cationic polymers are novel. Preferred polymers are those in which the hydrophobic group is introduced as an allyl ether.

Abstract: Aqueous well fluids, such as completion, stimulation and work over fluids contain, as a viscosifier, a polymer having recurring units derived from monomers of the formulaCH.sub.2 .dbd.C(R.sup.1)CONHR.sup.2 NR.sup.3 R.sup.4wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or methyl, R.sup.2 is straight or branched chain is C.sub.2-8 alkylene having at least 2 carbon atoms in the backbone and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are independently selected from C.sub.1-4 alkyl. Preferred units are derived from dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide, generally as an acid addition salt. The fluids may contain high ion concentrations. The fluids may be used in processes in which they are maintained downhole for long periods of time at high temperatures.

Abstract: A slurry or cake is converted to a crumbly state by admixture, in the absence of a polymeric binder, with water swellable, cross-linked, non-sticky, wholly synthetic polymer particles formed of a polymer of acrylic acid (as free acid or water soluble salt) with cross-linking agent and, optionally, acrylamide and/or other monomers.

Abstract: Finely particulate iron ore is pelletized using finely particulate, free flowing, anionic water soluble synthetic polymer having intrinsic viscosity of from 3 to 16 as binder.

Abstract: A polymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a pendant hydrophobic group and, optionally, other monomers such as (meth) acrylic acid, ethyl acrylate or acrylamide is provided as a stable, substantially anhydrous dispersion containing at least 40% by weight of the polymer in a continuous phase of a non-aqueous liquid. The polymer in the dispersion generally includes acid groups and is neutralized, preferably with ammonia or a volatile amine. The dispersion can be made by reverse phase polymerization of an aqueous blend of monomers, followed by dehydration, or by making the polymer from a water insoluble blend of monomers by oil in water emulsion polymerization, dispersing the resultant oil in water emulsion into the non-aqueous liquid, and then dehydrating. The monomer including the hydrophobic group is preferably an allyl ether.

Abstract: Sulphonated polymers and copolymers are used as thinners in aqueous drilling or packer fluids. The sulphonated polymer has polydispersity below 2 and has a low solution viscosity. It is generally a copolymer of beta-acrylamidoalkane sulphonate or allyl sulphonate or other aliphatic sulphonate with an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, generally acrylic acid.

Abstract: A water miscible, stable, fluid product comprises particles above 20 microns in size of a high molecular weight polymer gel interconnected by a continuous phase that is an aqueous solution of an equilibrating agent that holds the water content of the particles in equilibrium with the water content of the aqueous phase and that prevents substantial agglomeration of the particles in the fluid product. Preferred equilibrating agents are sodium polyacrylate and poly-diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride.

Abstract: A wallcovering comprises a substrate carrying a water-moistenable coating formed of at least two layers. The layer adjacent to the substrate generally comprises unswollen particles of an anionic polymer that is substantially non-swellable in water and that is swellable in aqueous alkali and the upper layer contains an alkali which on contact with water forms an alkaline solution which swells the anionic polymer and a water soluble cationic polymer. The anionic polymer generally comprises beads of cross-linked copolymers of lower alkyl acrylates and methacrylic acid having a molecular weight of about 5 million. Processes for producing the wallcoverings comprise coating the substrate separately with an aqueous dispersion of the anionic polymer and an aqueous solution containing both the cationic polymer and the alkaline material to give at least two separate layers.

Abstract: An ester interchange process, preferably for the formation of vinyl higher esters from methyl acrylate or methacrylate, is conducted in the presence of a novel alcoholate of the formula[M.sup.1 (OR.sup.4).sub.2-a R.sub.a.sup.6 ].sub.x [M.sup.2 (OR.sup.4).sub.n-b R.sub.b.sup.6 ].sub.y IwhereinM.sup.1 is selected from Mg, Ca and BaM.sup.2 is selected from Ti, Zr and Aln is 3 or 4 and is the valency of M.sup.2a is a number from 0 to 1.5b is a number from 0 to 0.75nx+Y=1 and each is a number from 0.005 to 0.995 and is such that the compound is liquid at 30.degree.0 C.R.sup.4 is selected from alkyl having at least 4 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having at least 4 carbon atoms and aminoalkyl, andeach group R.sup.6 is individually selected from C.sub.1-3 alkoxy and blocking groups that are substantially less reactive in the ester interchange reaction than the groups OR.sup.4.

Abstract: The rate of separation of insoluble material from an acid-leached uranium slurry is improved by adding a flocculating agent that is a combination of polyacrylamide and a copolymer of acrylamide with 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid or a water soluble salt thereof with acrylamide.

Abstract: A high solids, pumpable stable dispersion of substantially anhydrous water soluble or swellable polymer particles contains at least 70% by weight polymer and contains 1 part by weight fine polymer particles below 10 microns in size and 0.1 to 7 parts by weight coarse polymer particles having a size of 10 to 300 microns with substantially no particles above 300 microns.

Abstract: Polysaccharide is provided as a fluid composition that is a dispersion of the polysaccharide in oil and that contains a dispersion promoter selected from surfactants and stabilizers. The dispersion is generally a stable flocculated dispersion. It is generally made by dispersing an aqueous polysaccharide solution having a consistency index of about 20,000 cps in oil in the presence of dispersion promoter and then drying the dispersion. The oil generally comprises volatile and non-volatile components such that the drying can be by azeotroping. The dispersion promoters are generally selected from amphiphatic copolymers and surfactants having HLB at 20.degree. C. above 6.5 but which serve as water in oil dispersing agents during the formation of the dispersion. Aqueous solutions of the polysaccharide can be made by dispersing the fluid composition in water. These aqueous solutions are of particular value in methods of enhanced oil recovery.

Abstract: Substantially non-ionic polyacrylamide cross linked with a low amount of cross linking agent is used as an additive for a plant growth medium.

Abstract: A substantially anhydrous mixture of methanol with an organic compound with which it forms an azeotrope can be separated by dissolving into the mixture lithium chloride or other suitable salt that forms a complex with methanol so as to form a homogeneous mixture, adding an organic solvent that is miscible with the organic compound but immiscible with the complex and thereby forming a heterogeneous mixture, and separating the phases. The methanol can be recovered from one phase and the organic compound from the other. The organic compound may typically be methyl acrylate or methacrylate, the blend being, for instance, obtainable during the transesterification of methyl (meth)acrylate with an alcohol to form a higher boiling ester such as dimethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate.

Abstract: A thickening agent that is particularly suitable for alkaline print pastes is a water insoluble, water swellable or water swollen polymer made by reverse phase polymerization of a blend of water soluble, copolymerizable monomers in which the monomers comprise at least one ethylenically unsaturated acid having free acid groups, at least one ethylenically unsaturated acid having salt groups selected from ammonium, amine and alkali metal and at least one ethylenically unsaturated cross-linking agent, the molar proportions of the said free acid groups to the said salt groups during the polymerization being from 80:20 to 10:90.

Abstract: Pigment dispersions contain, as dispersing agent novel water soluble polymers containing acid groups, preferably polyacrylic acid or copolymers of polyacrylic acid with AMPS, having polydispersity below 1.5 and molecular weight in the range about 1,000 to about 5,000.