Abstract: Polycarbophil or crosslinked acrylic acid polymer is prepared in a solvent selected from acetone, alkyl acetates, and mixtures thereof, in the presence of an effective amount of divinyl glycol crosslinker, and in the presence of an effective amount of a suitable initiator allowing for polymerization to proceed at a temperature below 100.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure. The polymer produced has average particle size of less than 10 microns without grinding, its viscosity is greater than about 20,000 cPs when measured in water at 1% concentration, and it adheres to mucous membranes. By preparing the polymer in a non-aqueous solvent, the need for aqueous washing is avoided and the subsequent and enormous swelling of the polymer is avoided which means that prolonged and excessive drying inherent in the known processes is avoided.

Abstract: This invention is directed to compositions having viscosity aging and/or gas-release properties comprising 4 to 20 weight parts of an alkaline material, particularly an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, and 0.05 to 5 weight parts of a suspending copolymer of a major proportion of an acrylic acid and a minor proportion of a comonomer, particularly selected from acrylamide, N-lauryl methacrylamide, lauryl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate, and stearyl methacrylate. Such compositions can also include 40 to 80 weight parts of an electrochemically active metal, particularly zinc, suspended in the alkaline material by means of said copolymer whereby said composition functions as a component part of an electrochemical cell containing a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte wherein said metal serves as the anode and said alkaline material serves as the electrolyte.

Abstract: Slurries of cross linked carboxyl acid polymers in petroleum base liquids such as mineral spirits are readily obtained by a solvent exchange process wherein a slurry of cross-linked carboxylic acid polymer in the organic liquid it was polymerized in, said liquid having a boiling point below that of the mineral spirits, is heated to a temperature to distill off the polymerization organic liquid while replacing this organic material with the mineral spirits, which may be done simultaneously while essentially maintaining constant volume if desired.

Abstract: A method for polymerizing olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids containing at least one activated carbon-to-carbon olefinic double bond and at least one carboxyl group in methylene chloride, in the presence of a free radical forming catalyst and a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether and/or a polyoxyethylene sorbitol ester surface active agent having an HLB value in the range of greater than 12.