Abstract: Water-soluble polymers and/or copolymers possessing enhanced biodegradability, and their applications are disclosed.Acrylic and/or vinyl polymers and/or copolymers containing acid groups, in which 35% to 90% of the active acid sites are neutralized by magnesium ions, the specific viscosity is at most 25, and biodegradability is enhanced. Their decomposition after 36 days is greater than 50% as measured by the modified Sturm test.These polymers can be used in industries as varied as: paper-making, paints, plastics, petroleum, drilling fluids, water treatment, detergents, cosmetics, textiles, inks, leather, grinding and/or splitting of minerals in water.

Abstract: A grinding agent for refining coarse lime by grinding in an aqueous medium to a microparticulate size, composed of a water-soluble ethylene polymer and/or copolymer, wherein, said grinding agent:a) is formed from a least one monocarboxylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer, andb) has an average molecular weight of between 200 and 1,900 g/mole.Grinding in the presence of the grinding agent allows the production of aqueous lime suspensions which have a high concentration of dry material expressed in weight percent, preferably between 40% and 60%, with particles of a size of less than 4 microns and median diameter of less than 2.9 microns.

Abstract: Copolymers for stabilizing aqueous suspensions of sodium silico-aluminates or zeolites, which are crosslinked, soluble in water, at least at pH 7 or above, and consist essentially of:a) at least one non-crosslinking acrylic monomer having a carboxylic function, chosen from among acrylic and methacrylic acids,b) possibly at least one non-crosslinking acrylic monomer chosen from among the esters, amides and/or nitriles of acrylic and/or methacrylic acids,(c) at least one crosslinking monomer having at least two acrylic and/or allyl and/or vinyl double bonds,(d) possibly, at least one at least bifunctional crosslinking monomer comprising at most one double bond and at least one other chemical function that is reactive with regard to the other monomers with acid, amide or nitrile functions of the monomers of types (a) and (b),the total amount of the crosslinking monomers of types (c) and (d) constituting from 1 to 5, preferably from 1 to 4 weight percent based on the total weight of the monomers, when used in a r

Abstract: Ground calcium carbonate is prepared by a process of grinding a suspension containing calcium carbonate and a water-soluble grinding agent in an aqueous medium while the temperature of the aqueous suspension is kept at or below 60.degree. C.

Abstract: A water-soluble complexing agent of metallic cations having a high complexing power and a high threshhold effect, constituted from acrylic copolymers, characterized by the fact that said agent is formed by terpolymers comprising acrylic and methacrylic and itaconic units of the general formula: ##STR1## in which the indices, expressed in percent by weight have at least a value of 10 for x and y, and a value of 5 for z.

Abstract: Copolymers having the general formula: ##STR1## are useful as compatibility, dispersion and grinding agents for aqueous pigmentary suspensions formulated from a mixture of mineral pigments, at least one of which is hydrated calcium sulfate. These suspensions are useful in papermaking.

Abstract: The viscosity increase of aqueous calcium carbonate pigment suspensions having high concentrations of dry substance is prevented by adding as a compatibility, dispersing, and/or grinding agent to an aqueous calcium carbonate suspension a copolymer of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is H or methyl, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is H, C.sub.1-4 alkyl or a carboxylic acid group, R.sub.4 is H or C.sub.1-4 alkyl, R.sub.5 is a bridging group, R.sub.6 is H, a cation, an amino group, C.sub.1-3 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 ester or substituted amide and R.sub.7 to R.sub.9 each is hydrogen, a carboxylic acid containing group; K has a value between 30 and 65% by weight relative to the total weight; L has a value between 20 and 60% by weight relative to the total weight; M has a value between 10 and 45% by weight relative to the total weight; and the sum of L and M is equal to at least 35% by weight relative to the total weight, thereby preventing the shock effect when a concentrated alkaline electrolyte is added to the suspension.

Abstract: Copolymers having the general formula: ##STR1## are useful as compatibility, dispersion and grinding agents for aqueous pigmentary suspensions formulated from a mixture of mineral pigments, at least one of which is hydrated calcium sulfate. These suspensions are useful in papermaking.

Abstract: Copolymers having the general formula: ##STR1## are useful as compatibility, dispersion and grinding agents for aqueous pigmentary suspensions formulated from a mixture of mineral pigments, at least one of which is hydrated calcium sulfate. These suspensions are useful in papermaking.

Abstract: A non-polluting dispersing agent for drilling fluids based on soft water or salt water.A dispersing agent for aqueous drilling fluids, optionally saline, belonging to the group of polymers and/or copolymers containing acid functions which is characterized in that, to ensure that these fluids retain their rheological characteristics, even under the extreme temperature and pressure conditions prevailing in deep bore holes, said dispersing agent is a salt of said polymers and/or copolymers of which the salifying cation corresponds to a metal having a Pauling electronegativity at least equal to 0.95 and preferably greater than 1.

Abstract: An associative thickening copolymer, water-soluble in a neutral or alkaline medium, for charged and/or pigmented, white or colored aqueous compositions is disclosed. The copolymer is composed of (a) at least one monomer with ethylenic unsaturation having at least one carboxylic function, (b) at least one other monomer with ethylenic unsaturation without a carboxylic function, (c) at least one surfactant monomer having at least one urethane function resulting from the reaction of an isocyanate with ethylenic unsaturation with a surfactant compound having a hydroxyl function which is reactive with regard to the --NCO group, wherein said copolymer belongs to the group composed of those which, by definition, placed in aqueous solution with 2% by weight of dry material, brought to a pH of 9 by the addition of ammonia and at a temperature of 20.degree. C., have a Brookfield viscosity at 100 revolutions per minute of at most equal to 220 centipoises.

Abstract: An associative thickening copolymer, water-soluble in a neutral or alkaline medium, for charged and/or pigmented, white or colored aqueous compositions is disclosed. The copolymer is composed of (a) at least one monomer with ethylenic unsaturation having at least one carboxylic function, (b) at least one other monomer with ethylenic unsaturation without a carboxylic function, (c) at least one surfactant monomer having at least one urethane function resulting from the reaction of an isocyanate with ethylenic unsaturation with a surfactant compound having a hydroxyl function which is reactive with regard to the --NCO group, wherein said copolymer belongs to the group composed of those which, by definition, placed in aqueous solution with 2% by weight of dry material, brought to a pH of 9 by the addition of ammonia and at a temperature of 20.degree. C., have a Brookfield viscosity at 100 revolutions per minute of at most equal to 220 centipoises.

Abstract: A granular polymer composition having increased water absorption and desorption capability, resistance to photogradation and increased life span, comprising a water-insoluble but swellable cross-linked polymer material formed of at least one polymer and/or copolymer prepared from at least one unsaturated ethylene monomer having at least one carboxylic, amide, sulfuric, sulfonic, phosphoric, phosphonic, or hydroxyl functional group and at least one powdered mineral charge well dispersed in and intimately bonded to said polymer as a result of its introduction into the mixture of monomers of the same type or of a different type before their polymerization into said polymer or copolymer.

Abstract: Grinding agent based upon neutralized polymers and/or copolymers for an aqueous suspension of coarse mineral materials for applications in pigments consisting of acid acrylic polymers and/or copolymers which are entirely neutralized by at least one neutralizing agent having a monovalent function and at least one neutralizing agent having a polyvalent function.

Abstract: An agent to be used to treat water and aqueous media contacting heat transfer surfaces for inhibiting the build-up of scale and settlement of dissolved alkaline earth materials in water and aqueous media, which agent consists of acrylic and methacrylic acid polymers and/or copolymers and is characterized in that it comprises the fraction of said polymers and/or copolymers having a symmetrical, single-mode molecular weight distribution centered on an average molecular weight of about 800, in which 100% of said molecular weights are individually lower than 1,200 and at least 90% of same are in the 400-1,000 range.

Abstract: A pre-treatment of rough pigmentary mineral materials to eliminate the viscosifying effect of the swelling clays present in said materials used to condition said materials before refining them in an aqueous medium by abrasion or grinding. The method enables the production of refined pigmentary suspensions with a concentration of at least 75% by weight and low viscosity and stable over time. The pre-treatment agent is comprised of acid polymers and/or copolymers containing at least one carboxylate ethylenic monomer. Suspensions with high concentration of pigmentary mineral materials are prepared from the conditioned materials.

Abstract: Non-polluting thinning adjuvant for sea-water and/or fresh-water based drilling muds.Non-polluting thinning adjuvant for sea-water and/or fresh-water based drilling muds, with the aim to maintain their rheological characteristics in the extreme conditions of temperature and pressure which prevail in wells drilled at great depths. This thinning adjuvant is characterized by the fact that it is a hydrosoluble copolymer resulting from the copolymerization of ethylenic acids, acrylamides and ethylenic esters of phosphoric acid.Its general formula is: ##STR1## in which the indices m,n,p -expressed in % in mole- are chosen from the following intervals:0%<m<90%2%<n<100%0%<p<90%and where radicals R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.4 are chosen from the group consisting of H and the alkyles, and radical R.sub.3 is chosen from the group consisting of alkylenes and alkylene-oxides and/or polyalkylene oxides.

Abstract: Complex pigment compositions for the coating of paper, comprising an aqueous phase, at least one pigment of mineral origin, a binding agent, optionally various customary additives, and a dispersing agent comprised of carboxyl-containing polymers which are water soluble and are converted to form salts. The polymers are obtained by known polymerization processes. The dispersing agent(a) has a specific viscosity (measured on the sodium salt) of between 0.25 and 2; and(b) is converted to the salt form to the extent of at least 60% by at least one salt-forming agent which has a polyvalent function.These complex pigment compositions have very low viscosities. They may also simultaneously contain diverse pigments, such as kaolin, titanium dioxode, and calcium carbonate, without suffering the usual increase in viscosity and the risk of setting.

Abstract: Acid compositions with high concentrations of active ingredients intended for the treatment of industrial or domestic waters and for cleaning the corresponding industrial or sanitary installations, comprising carboxylic polymer materials, a strong acid, possibly a salt of a divalent metal and possibly known specific agents, which comprise:(a) from 10 to 60% by weight expressed in anhydrous form of a water-soluble carboxylic polymer in its acid form containing at least 5% by weight and preferably at least 10% by weight of itaconic acid,(b) from 10 to 80% by weight expressed in anhydrous form of at least one strong acid,(c) from 0 to 15% by weight expressed in anhydrous form of zinc in the form of Zn.sup.2+ ions,(d) from 0.1 to 10% by weight expressed in anhydrous form of specific agents,(e) from 5 to 65% by weight of water.

Abstract: A water soluble ethylenic copolymer-based dispersant for water-based pigment compounds, comprising a liquid phase, a binder which is an emulsion polymer, especially without protective colloids and which contains a considerable density of anionic groups, of pigments wholly or partially reactive with regard to their medium by the creation of bonds between the particles of emulsion polymer and the metallic ion of the partially soluble reactive pigment, characterized by the fact that in order to confer on such water-based pigment compounds definable rheological characteristics, which can be adjusted in advance and remain stable over periods of time, the said water soluble dispersant is an acrylic, methacrylic and itaconic acid copolymer.