Abstract: This invention is a process for improving the rheological properties of oil well drilling fluids particularly useful for oil-based invert emulsion types of drilling fluids. The process is particularly useful when drilling in deep water from an off-shore drilling rig. The new process uses as a rheological viscosifier, for such fluids, a composition which is a mixture of organoclays and castor wax and/or castor was type rheological additives, which when added to a drilling fluid at from about 0.5 and 5% by weight, creates an inventive drilling fluid compositions less sensitive to the variety of different and varying, very hot and very cold temperatures found in the drilling hole, and in the long stem of drilling pipe. The present invention also relates to the discovery of oil based invert emulsion drilling fluids that exhibit greater efficiency and provides more stable drilling fluid viscosity and anti-settling performance over varying temperatures when compared to conventional fluids containing organoclays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cured compositions useful as adhesives and sealants formed by dispersing an amine-terminated polyamide curative into a base to form a composite and activating the composite forming the cured composition. Bases described include epoxies, polysulfides and cyanoacrylates. Curing mechanisms include heat and pressure activation. The amine-terminated polyamide curative has a ratio of equivalents of amine to acid groups of from about 1.05:1.00 equivalents NH.sub.X :COOH to no greater than about 1.95:1.00 when x is 1 or 2.

Abstract: Quaternary ammonium compositions are described which are made in diluents based on vegetable oil such as soya bean oil. Such diluents remain as diluents in the final product and generally have a vapor pressure of 1 mm of Hg or less at 25.degree. C., and are liquid at ambient temperature. The liquid quaternary ammonium compound/diluent compositions have low toxicity and low volatile organic compound emission rates and high flash points, and can be tailored to particular applications. Such applications include use in fabric softeners, as cosmetics ingredients, deinking additives, surfactants, and reaction materials in the manufacture of organoclays.

Abstract: An improved thickening composition for aqueous systems including latex paints and coatings is described. The substantially anhydrous composition comprises in specified ratios a solid thickener polymer, and one or more surfactants. The solid thickener polymer includes associative thickeners. Associative thickener polymers include polyurethanes, polyesters, polyacrylamides, modified hydroxyethyl celluloses, alkali soluble emulsions and other chemicals. Specific surfactants utilized include dialkyl sulfosuccinates, alkyl sulfates, alpha olefin sulfonates and sulfates of ethoxylated alcohols.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved thickening compositions, often referred to as Theological additives, used to provide viscosity control, flow, leveling and other rheological properties to clear aqueous systems such as automotive clear-coat paints and coatings. The invention hereof involves the synthesis of a new family of Theological additives by combining, through a reaction process, chemicals used to make specified polyurethane polymer compositions. These novel copolymers provides the good flow and leveling and gloss retention that polyurethane associative thickeners impart to water-based systems, without the loss of clarity that such polymers have caused in the past. Levels of the rheological thickening composition, varying between about 0.01% and about 10%, based on the total weight of the system to be thickened, have been found to be useful to create novel clear aqueous systems containing such thickening compositions.

Abstract: Quaternary ammonium compositions are described which are made using diluents including soya bean oil, caster oil, mineral oils, isoparaffin/naphthenic and coconut oil. Such diluents remain as diluents in the final product and generally have a vapor pressure of 1 mm of Hg or less at 25.degree. C., and are liquid at ambient temperature. The quaternary/ammonium diluent compositions have low volatile organic compound emission rates and high flash points, and can be tailored to particular applications. Such applications include use a fabric softeners, cosmetics ingredients, deinking additives, surfactants, and reaction materials in the manufacture of organoclays.

Abstract: The present invention involves the discovery that an organoclay made by the reaction of smectite day and a quaternary ammonium compound (quat) can be mixed with fibrous material such as wastepaper pulp to form a unique theological additive for organic fluid systems. Such a theological additive has broad uses, is cost effective, and is particularly useful as a rheological additive for asphalt and organic paints and coatings. In an important aspect the invention is a rheological additive providing inexpensive, effective and efficient rheological properties when used at low levels in organic systems.

Abstract: An organoclay made by the reaction of smectite clay and a quaternary ammonium compound derived from an oil having 50% or more of its carbon chain lengths consisting of C.sub.14 or lower is described as an effective oil spill remediation agent. Oils used include coconut, babasso and palm-kennel oil. Such organoclay's effectiveness as an oil spill remediation agent, and that of organoclays can be increased by (a) further treatment with a water insoluble compound such as vegetable oil and b) by mixture with an organic fibrous material such as waste paper pulp. The agents produced are particularly effective in polar and arctic waters in maintaining buoyancy of the oil agglomeration formed by their use. Methods of remediating oil spills using organoclays particularly useful in regions such as waters of the Alaska oceans and inlets of the North Sea are also described.

Abstract: The invention involves biopolymer/oil suspension compositions for the oil service industry, most particularly drilling and completion fluids, which provide such fluids a variety of desirable properties. Biopolymers include water soluble polymers and water swellable polymers. Such biopolymer/oil suspension compositions are essentially mixtures of biopolymers such as cellulosics in an oil medium with a specific anti-settling additive. The invention is particularly directed to providing enhanced anti-settling properties to such biopolymer/oil compositions; that is, the ability of the biopolymer/oil composition to retain the biopolymers in suspension prior to the composition being introduced into drilling and completion fluids. The invention in one embodiment is described as a liquid biopolymer-in-oil additive compositions for use in aqueous-based completion fluids, containing an agent comprising: a) one or more polyamides, and b) hydrogenated caster oils including castorwax.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of quaternary ammonium compounds, by preparing a mixture of a tertiary amine and a liquid reaction vehicle and adding an alkyl halide to the mixture to produce a quaternary ammonium halide, the liquid reaction medium being a liquid, low volatility, substantially non-toxic diluent having a vapor pressure not greater than about 1 mm. Hg at a temperature of 25.degree. C. and preferably being a fatty acid or a fatty acid mono-, di-, or triglyceride, a mineral oil, or 2-ethylhexanol wherein the alkyl groups comprising the fatty acids or the triglycerides have from about 10 to about 24 carbon atoms, the quaternary ammonium compounds being particularly suited for uses such as deinking of paper in conjunction with appropriate clays, surfactants, flotation agents, anti-static agents and biocides.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for removing dissolved heavy metals including lead and radioactive contaminants from contaminated aqueous systems including aqueous soil systems. Such systems have resulted from Department of Defense activities and chemical manufacture, as well as from a large variety of past activities. An organically modified smectite clay, or organoclay, is used to treat these systems. Organoclays are the reaction product of smectite clays and quaternary ammonium compounds. The organoclay is brought in contact with system to be treated where it sorbs the heavy metal in the aqueous system onto the organoclay which sorbed complex is then removed by a variety of methods including flotation and air sparging.

Abstract: Quaternary ammonium compositions are described which are made using diluents including soya bean oil, caster oil, mineral oils, isoparaffin/naphthenic and coconut oil. Such diluents remain as diluents in the final product and generally have a vapor pressure of 1 mm of Hg or less at 25.degree. C., and are liquid at ambient temperature. The quaternary/ammonium diluent compositions have low volatile organic compound emission rates and high flash points, and can be tailored to particular applications. Such applications include use a fabric softeners, cosmetics ingredients, deinking additives, surfactants, and reaction materials in the manufacture of organoclays.

Abstract: An organoclay made by the reaction of smectite clay and a quaternary ammonium compound derived from an oil having 50% or more of its carbon chain lengths consisting of C.sub.14 or lower is described as an effective oil spill remediation agent. Oils used include coconut, babasso and palm-kennel oil. Such organoclay's effectiveness as an oil spill remediation agent, and that of organoclays can be increased by (a) further treatment with a water insoluble compound such as vegetable oil and b) by mixture with an organic fibrous material such as waste paper pulp. The agents produced are particularly effective in polar and arctic waters in maintaining buoyancy of the oil agglomeration formed by their use. Methods of remediating oil spills using organoclays particularly useful in regions such as waters of the Alaska oceans and inlets of the North Sea are also described.

Abstract: A pourable liquid thickening composition for aqueous systems including latex coatings is described. The composition comprises in specified ratios an associative thickener polymer, water and one or more surfactants. Associate thickener polymers include polyurethanes, polyesters, polyacrylamides, modified hydroxyethyl celluloses, alkali soluble emulsions and other chemicals. Specific surfactants include dialkyl sulfosuccinates, alkyl sulfates, alpha olefin sulfonates and sulfates of ethoxylated alcohols.

Abstract: Improved organophilic clay gellants for highly viscous systems such as asphalt and creosote can be prepared by a process wherein the smectite-type clay is gently dried and/or subjected to minimum or no grinding. The organophilic clay agent may be used to thicken a variety of organic compositions including pitch and heavy resins. In a preferred aspect, the organophilic clay gellant can be directly added to asphalt systems in order to efficiently and effectively modify the viscosity thereof without the use of either a polar activator as a dispersion agent or a preactivation agent.

Abstract: A process for treating wastepaper to remove oily waste and inorganic components, which comprises: (a) forming an organoclay treating composition in a wastepaper aqueous system; (b) contacting the wastepaper aqueous system with an amount of the organoclay effective to remove from the wastepaper oily waste and inorganic components; and (c) recovering paper pulp from the aqueous system. The process is effective in wastepaper treatment systems using both air flotation removal as well as systems utilizing water-washing processes.

Abstract: A theological additive especially for liquid organic systems containing a castor-oil derivative with hydroxyl values below that appearing in nature. The additive may also contain clays and other extenders. The preferred derivative is castor wax. The additive largely eliminates the long term problem of seeding exhibited by paints and coatings using castor-oil derived additives while simultaneously providing improved dispersability and viscosity modifying qualities.

Abstract: Disclosed are polyurethane base resins, and polyurethane composites and adhesive compositions formed using the base resins. The polyurethane base resins are formed by reacting a polycarbodiimide-modified 4, 4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate with a mixture of the following polyols: (a) a hydroxyl-terminated, linear, saturated liquid copolyester diol having a glass transition temperature of at most -10.degree. C. and at least -60.degree. C.; and (b) a homopolyester polyol that is a ring-opened polymer of a cyclic ester. The polyurethane composites include typical active hydrogen-containing species that will react with isocyanates and promote curing, in addition to the polyurethane base resin. The polyurethane adhesive compositions, which are thermosetting, include the cured polyurethane base resin, cured by exposure to moisture or any other applicable curing mechanism. The adhesive compositions have improved performance (e.g.

Abstract: A process for deinking wastepaper, which comprises: (a) forming an organoclay deinking agent in an aqueous system; (b) contacting ink from wastepaper in the aqueous system with an amount of the organoclay deinking agent effective to deink the wastepaper; and ( c ) recovering deinked paper pulp from the aqueous system.

Abstract: A moisture curable composition comprised of a moisture curable base and a curing agent which does not contain molecular water but which produces water upon activation so as to cure the curable base. The composition exhibits improved stability and shelf life and can be formulated so that curing of the composition can be controlled substantially independently of ambient conditions.