Abstract: Improved organophilic clay gellants can be prepared by a process wherein the smectite-type clay is subjected to shearing in order to break apart the agglomerates and/or the smectite-type clay can be reacted with organic cation and, possibly organic anion, under dilute reaction conditions. The reaction product is recovered using gentle drying conditions. Depending in large part on its composition, the organophilic clay gellant may be used to thicken a variety of organic compositions. In a preferred aspect, the organophilic clay gellant can be directly added to polyester compositions in order to efficiently and effectively increase the viscosity thereof or can be first formed into a pregel under low shear conditions to yield even higher efficiencies.

Abstract: Improved organophilic clay gellants can be prepared by a process wherein the smectite-type clay is subjected to shearing in order to break apart the agglomerates and/or the smectite-type clay can be reacted with organic cation and, possibly organic anion, under dilute reaction conditions. The reaction product is recovered using gentle drying conditions. Depending in large part on its composition, the organophilic clay gellant may be used to thicken a variety of organic compositions. In a preferred aspect, the organophilic clay gellant can be directly added to polyester compositions in order to efficiently and effectively increase the viscosity thereof or can be first formed into a pregel under low shear conditions to yield even higher efficiencies.

Abstract: An organophilic clay gellant useful for gelling organic liquids is disclosed which comprises the reaction product of (a) a smectite-type clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least 75 milliequivalents per 100 grams of said clay; (b) a primary anion selected from the group consisting of anions derived from organic sulfonic acids, alkylsulfates and mixtures thereof containing at least one lineal or branched alkyl group having greater than 9 carbon atoms, aromatic sulfonic acids and mixtures thereof; (c) a secondary anion different from said primary anion and selected from the group consisting of anions derived from organic acids having a pKa of less than about 11.

Abstract: Printing inks are provided comprising an organic ink vehicle having dispersed therein an ink coloring material and an organophilic clay gellant comprising the reaction product of a smectite-type clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least 75 milliequivalents per 100 grams of clay and a material selected from the group consisting of methyl trialkyl quaternary compound, benzyl trialkyl quaternary compound, and mixtures thereof, said quaternary being ammonium or phosphonium and wherein the alkyl groups contain 14 to 22 carbon atoms and the amount of said ammonium compound reacted with said clay being from 100 to 130 milliequivalents per 100 grams of clay based upon 100% active clay.

Abstract: The viscosity of liquid organic systems is increased by adding thereto an organophilic clay gellant which is the reaction product of a smectite-type clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least 75 milliequivalents per 100 grams of said clay and from 100 to 120 milliequivalents per 100 grams of clay of methyl or benzyl trialkyl ammonium salt, wherein the alkyl groups independently contain from 14 to 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: An organophilic clay gellant is disclosed which comprises the reaction product of an organic cation compound, an organic anion, and a smectite-type clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least 75 milliequivalents per 100 grams of said clay. The organic cation compound has the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of a .beta., .gamma.-unsaturated alkyl group and a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof; R.sub.2 is a long chain alkyl group having 12 to 60 carbon atoms; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are individually selected from the group consisting of a .beta., .gamma.-unsaturated alkyl group, a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group, an alkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof; X is selected from a group consisting of phosphorous and nitrogen.

Abstract: An organophilic clay gellant comprising the reaction product of an organic cationic compound and a smectite-type clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least 75 milliequivalents per 100 grams of said clay, wheein said organic cationic compound contains (a) a first member selected from the group consisting of a .beta., .gamma.-unsaturated alkyl group, and a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof, (b) a second member comprising a long chain alkyl group having 12 to 60 carbon atoms and (c) a third and fourth alkyl member.

Abstract: An organophilic clay gellant and methods of using and making the same which comprises the reaction product of an organic cation, an organic anion and a smectite-type clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least 75 milliequivalents per 100 grams of said clay such that an organic cation-organic anion complex is intercalated with the smectite-type clay and the cation exchange sites of the smectite-type clay are substituted with the organic cation.

Abstract: Printing inks are provided comprising an organic ink vehicle having dispersed therein an ink coloring material and an organophilic clay gellant. The organophilic clay gellant comprises the reaction product of an organic cation, an organic anion and a smectite-type clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least 75 milliequivalents per 100 grams of said clay such that an organic cation - organic anion complex is intercalated with the smectite-type clay and the cation exchange sites of the smectite-type clay are substituted with the organic cation.

Abstract: A self-activating organophilic clay gellant having enhanced dispersibility in non-aqueous fluid systems comprising the reaction product of a smectite-type clay and an organic cationic compound having at least one long chain alkyl group and at least one long chain alkyl group and at least one group selected from a .beta., .gamma.-unsaturated alkyl group or a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The viscosity of liquid organic systems is increased by adding thereto an organophilic clay gellant which is the reaction product of a smectite clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least 0.75 milliequivalents per gram and from 1.00 to less than 1.20 milliequivalents per gram of clay of a methyl benzyl dialkyl ammonium salt, wherein the two alkyl groups independently contain from 16 to 18 carbon atoms, and from 0% to 1% water in the absence of a polar organic dispersant for the gellant.

Abstract: Organophilic clays and thixotropic cross-linkable polyester compositions containing the same are provided comprising an unsaturated polyester and an unsaturated aromatic monomer such as styrene having dispersed therein an organophilic clay gellant comprising the reaction product of a smectite-type clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least 75 milliequivalents per 100 grams of clay and a methyl benzyl dialkyl ammonium compound or a dibenzyl dialkyl ammonium compound, said alkyl groups comprising long chain alkyl radicals having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein at least 5% of said long chains contain 8 to 14 carbon atoms and preferably at least 20% have 12 carbon atoms, the amount of said ammonium compound reacted with said clay being from 100 to 130 milliequivalents per 100 grams of clay based on 100% active clay.

Abstract: An organoclay rheological additive for non-aqueous fluid systems comprising an organophilic clay gellant comprising the reaction product of a smectite-type clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least 75 milliequivalents per 100 grams of clay and a methyl benzyl dialkyl ammonium compound or a dibenzyl dialkyl ammonium compound wherein the alkyl groups contain specific amounts of 8 to 22 carbon atoms and the amount of said ammonium compound reacted with said clay being from 100 to 130 milliequivalents per 100 grams of clay based upon 100% active clay.

Abstract: Printing inks are provided comprising an organic ink vehicle having dispersed therein an ink coloring material and an organophilic clay gellant comprising the reaction product of a smectitetype clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least 75 milliequivalents per 100 grams of clay and a methyl benzyl dialkyl ammonium compound or a dibenzyl dialkyl ammonium compound wherein the alkyl groups contain 14 to 22 carbon atoms and the amount of said ammonium compound reacted with said clay being from 100 to 120 milliequivalents per 100 grams of clay based upon 100% active clay.

Abstract: An organophilic clay gellant having enhanced dispersibility in organic systems is prepared from the reaction product of a smectite-type clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least 0.75 milliequivalents per gram and from 1.00 to less than 1.20 milliequivalents per gram of clay of a methyl benzyl dialkyl ammonium compound, wherein the compound contains 20 to 35% alkyl groups having 16 carbon atoms and 60 to 75% alkyl groups having 18 carbon atoms.