Abstract: A pourable concentrate suitable for forming structured surfactant drilling muds on dilution with aqueous electrolyte comprises: a) from 30 to 80% by weight, based on the weight of the composition, of surfactant consisting of at least 25%, based on the weight of the surfactant, of an anionic surfactant, from 0 to 70% by weight, based on the total weight of surfactant, of an alkanolamide, and from 0 to 20% based on the total weight of surfactant, of other non-ionic surfactant and/or amphoteric surfactants; b) from 3 to 60% by weight of the composition of a compound of the formula RHX where R is hydrogen or a C1-6 alkyl group and X is a random or block copolymeric chain comprising a total of from 3 to 20 ethoxy and propoxy units in a relative numerical proportion of 0 to 10:1; and c) up to 65% by weight of water.

Abstract: The use of a stabiliser comprising a hydrophilic polymeric chain of more than four hydrophilic monomer groups and/or having a mass greater than 300 amu, linked at one end to a hydrocarbon-soluble hydrophobic group to reduce or prevent the flocculation of systems comprising a flocculable surfactant and a liquid medium which is capable of flocculating the surfactant and in which the stabiliser is capable of existing as a micellar solution at a concentration of at least 1% by weight.

Abstract: A pourable aqueous composition for use as, or for dilution to form, a drilling mud comprises a least 2% by weight of a water soluble polyvalent metal salt of an alkyl polyoxyalkylene sulphuric or carboxylic acid, and at least 1% by weight of a corresponding salt of an alkyl benzene sulphuric acid, preferably in the presence of a water soluble inorganic salt or base of said polyvalent metal.

Abstract: In a method for recovering polymers in a substantially pure form from a solution containing the polymers, the solution is first treated with a reactant (e.g. an acid, a sequestrant or a mixture of both) to form the free polymers and salts of the reactant. Second, the solution is treated to remove the salts therefrom and in a final stage the polymer solution is concentrated and the polymers recovered. The second treatment step may consist of membrane-filtration, ion-exchange or electrodialysis.

Abstract: A polymer composition including phosphorus substituents which comprises:(a) a phosphono-substituted carboxylic acid or an ester of such acid; and(b) a mono- or polyfunctional entity polymerizable with (a).Substances suitable for use as (a) are aliphatic or aromatic phosphono substituted dicarboxylic acids or esters thereof.Substances suitable for use as (b) are polyhydric alcohols, aliphatic mononuclear or polynuclear aromatic polycarboxylic acids or esters or anhydrides thereof. Also suitable for use as (b) are aliphatic or aromatic polyamines and aliphatic or aromatic polyisocyanates or polyepoxides.

Abstract: The use of a stabiliser comprising a hydrophilic polymeric chain of more than four hydrophilic monomer groups and/or having a mass greater than 300 amu, linked at one end to a hydrocarbon-soluble hydrophobic group to reduce or prevent the flocculation of systems comprising a flocculable surfactant and a liquid medium which is capable of flocculating the surfactant and in which the stabiliser is capable of existing as a micellar solution at a concentration of at least 1% by weight.

Abstract: The reaction of compounds of the formula:X.sub.2 O.sub.3 P CHY CZ.sub.2where Y and each Z are each H, PO.sub.3 X.sub.2, SO.sub.3 X or CO.sub.2 X (e.g. vinyl phosphonic acid or vinylidene diphosphonic acid) with hypophosphorous acid in the presence of free radicals provides novel compounds X.sub.2 O.sub.3 PCHYCZ.sub.2 PO.sub.2 XH which react with monomers such as vinyl sulphonate, vinyl phosphonate, vinylidene diphosphonate and acrylic acid to form telomers useful for scale inhibition, especially barium scale in oil wells. The polymers show better absorption to rock than PVSA and better thermal stability than random copolymers containing equivalent phosphorus.

Abstract: Halogen-free, oligomeric or polymeric, alkylene-bridged alkyl phosphonates having the general formula ##STR1## where n is a whole number of from 1 to 20;R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl;R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 are each C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkyl andR.sup.3 is C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkyl.The use of such phosphonates as, or in connection with, a flame-retardant (e.g. for polyurethane foams, resins and composites, epoxy resins, phenolic resins, paints, varnishes or textiles).

Abstract: Phosphonic acid polymers are prepared from di- or polyphosphonic acids having one or more unsaturated C.dbd.C bonds (e.g. vinylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid), either as homopolymers or as higher polymers with at least one further compound having unsaturated C.dbd.C bonds (e.g. acrylic acid). The polymers can be used as, or in connection with, flame-retardants, corrosion inhibitors, coatings, cements and ion exchange resins.

Abstract: A process for the flame-retardant treatment of a cellulosic fabric by impregnating a fabric with an aqueous solution of a tetrakis (hydroxyorgano) phosphonium (THP) and then at least partially drying it. The partially dried impregnated fabric is passed at a speed of 30 to 100 m/minute once through a chamber containing ammonia for a single cure. Both the moisture contained in the fabric and water produced as a by-product of curing are volatilized and condensed on an interior wall of the chamber and flow down the walls to a drain for removal of the condensed water from the apparatus. The process further includes measuring the rate of ammonia in the gas fed into the chamber, determining the ammonia content of the gas and measuring the temperature within the chamber, for maintaining the initial concentration of ammonia in the gas at 70% to 90% by volume and for maintaining the ratio of ammonia input to the THP composition in the range of at least 1.

Abstract: A method for producing alkyl derivatives of phosphonic acids together with hexyl-bis?5-ethyl-2-hexyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-5-yl)methyl!ester, P,P'dioxide as a novel product and the use of such a product as, or in connection with, a flame retardant.

Abstract: A one-pack composition conferring flame-retardant and fabric-softening properties on fabrics comprises a THP.sup.+ salt, an organic nitrogen compound (eg urea) and a hydroxyl-reactive organic compound having 12 or more carbon atoms. Preferred examples of such compounds include C.sub.12 amine, C.sub.18 amine and tallow amine (viz C.sub.16 /C.sub.18 /C.sub.20 amine mixture).

Abstract: In the flame-retardant treatment of fabrics, there is provided a means for increased "loading" of phosphorus compounds (up to 25% moisture is retained after impregnation and drying of the fabric). This in turn enables a phosphonium compound "add-on" of 50% to 73% (relative to the weight of the fabric) and gives a correspondingly higher degree of flame-retardant properties.