Abstract: Polymeric fibers and nonwoven polymeric fabrics having improved softness characteristics are provided. The fibers and fabrics include either a random propylene copolymer or a blend of a polypropylene polymer and a low-density polyethylene polymer. The random propylene copolymer is produced through metallocene-catalyzed and Z-N polymerization and includes from 80 wt. % to 98 wt. % of propylene-derived units and from 2 wt. % to 20 wt. % ethylene-derived units. The low-density polyethylene polymer is also produced through metallocene-catalyzed polymerization and has a melt index of greater than 10 and a molecular weight distribution of 1.5 to 4. The fibers may be produced using a variety of processes including melt blowing, melt spinning, and spunbonding. The fibers may be converted into nonwoven fabrics through conventional techniques.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to fibers and fabrics prepared using crystalline propylene polymer compositions comprising both propylene homopolymer and propylene copolymer. The propylene polymer compositions are prepared using at least one metallocene catalyst system in a polymerization process that involves the initial homopolymerization of propylene followed by the copolymerization of propylene with a small amount of comonomer. Fibers prepared with these propylene polymers are significantly more elastic and fabrics prepared with these polymers have a significantly broader bonding window which allows for more easy processing compared to fibers and fabrics prepared from known propylene polymers.

Abstract: The soluble polymers comprising an N-vinyl amide such as an N-vinyl lactam are found to be useful in processes wherein the polymer is introduced into a subterranean wellbore. Polymers useful in the recovery of natural resources are prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam by free radical initiation with polymerization conducted in an aqueous solution polymerization medium preferably containing a mixture of dissolved electrolytes, or in a polymerization medium consisting essentially of a tertiary alkanol. Copolymers of such N-vinyl lactams with unsaturated amides, and terpolymers prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam and an unsaturated amide with a selected termonomer compound are also useful when prepared by these methods. The invention also broadly encompasses utilizing a water-soluble polymer comprising at least one of a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate, phosphonate or ester and/or a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam for applications under hostile conditions.

Abstract: Water-soluble polymers comprising an N-vinyl amide such as an N-vinyl lactam are found to be useful in processes wherein the polymer is introduced into a subterranean wellbore.Polymers useful in the recovery of natural resources are prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam by free radical initiation with polymerization conducted in an aqueous solution polymerization medium preferably containing a mixture of dissolved electrolytes, or in a polymerization medium consisting essentially of a tertiary alkanol. Copolymers of such N-vinyl lactams with unsaturated amides, and terpolymers prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam and an unsaturated amide with a selected termonomer compound are also useful when prepared by these methods. The invention also broadly encompasses utilizing a water-soluble polymer comprising at least one of a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate, phosphonate or ester and/or a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam for applications under hostile conditions.

Abstract: A process capable of operation under hostile conditions for accelerating the sedimentation of suspended solids in an aqueous suspension using a flocculating agent comprising a water-soluble polymer composition produced from a monomer composition comprising at least one of a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam or a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate.

Abstract: A novel process is disclosed for crosslinking water-soluble polymers with a hydroxyphenylalkanol crosslinking agent.

Abstract: In a process for polymerizing monomers with free-radical initiators in aqueous solution to produce polymers useful in oil field applications, wherein said polymerization process employs an oxygen-scavenging agent, the improvement which comprises employing said oxygen scavenging agent and oxidase enzyme with a substrate therefor, optionally with a catalase, such as alcohol oxidase and methanol, to consume dissolved oxygen in a polymerization admixture. Oxygen-scavenging under field conditions with the oxidase/substrate system permits consistent production conveniently of water based polymer solutions of good viscosity for oil field applications.

Abstract: Water-soluble polymers comprising an N-vinyl amide such as an N-vinyl lactam are found to be useful in processes wherein the polymer is introduced into a subterranean wellbore.Polymers useful in the recovery of natural resources are prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam by free radical initiation with polymerization conducted in an aqueous solution polymerization medium preferably containing a mixture of dissolved electrolytes, or in a polymerization medium consisting essentially of a tertiary alkanol. Copolymers of such N-vinyl lactams with unsaturated amides, and terpolymers prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam and an unsaturated amide with a selected termonomer compound are also useful when prepared by these methods. The invention also broadly encompasses utilizing a water-soluble polymer comprising at least one of a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate, phosphonate or ester and/or a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam for applications under hostile conditions.

Abstract: A novel composition and process are disclosed for forming crosslinked gels at elevated temperatures utilize a novel crosslinking agent comprising a furan derivative and a water dispersible aldehyde or aldehyde generating compound.

Abstract: Water-soluble polymers comprising an N-vinyl lactam are found to be useful in processes wherein the polymer is introduced into a subterranean wellbore.Polymers useful in the recovery of natural resources are prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam by free radical initiation with polymerization conducted in an aqueous solution polymerization medium preferably containing a mixture of dissolved electrolytes, or in a polymerization medium consisting essentially of a tertiary alkanol. Copolymers of such N-Vinyl lactams with unsaturated amides, and terpolymers prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam and an unsaturated amide with a selected termonomer compound are also useful when prepared by these methods. The invention also broadly encompasses utilizing a water soluble polymer comprising at least one of a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate and a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam under hostile conditions.

Abstract: Water soluble thickened acid compositions suitable for matrix or fracture acidizing are provided comprising water, an acid, and a water thickening amount of a copolymer of a N-vinyl lactam and an unsaturated amide. This composition can contain in addition a crosslinking agent to give a gelled acid composition. In a preferred embodiment, a lactam-containing copolymer is made in a diluent containing dissolved electrolytes. These compositions are particularly useful in acid or matrix fracturing in subterranean formations exhibiting a hostile environment, as exemplified by high temperatures and/or high concentration of multivalent metal cations.

Abstract: Water-soluble polymers comprising an N-vinyl lactam are found to be useful in processes wherein the polymer is introduced into a subterranean wellbore.Polymers useful in the recovery of natural resources are prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam by free radical initiation, with polymerization conducted in an aqueous solution polymerization medium preferably containing a mixture of dissolved electrolytes, or in a polymerization medium consisting essentially of a tertiary alkanol. Copolymers of such N-vinyl lactams with unsaturated amides, and terpolymers prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam and an unsaturated amide with a selected termonomer compound are also useful when prepared by these methods.

Abstract: Polymers derived by copolymerizing a hydrophilic vinyl monomer, such as acrylic acid, with at least one hydrophobic vinyl monomer, such as an acrylic acid ester, a methacrylic acid ester, a vinyl ester of a saturated monocarboxylic acid having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and the like, prepared in a suitable inert, low chain transfer, organic liquid medium, such as n-hexane, cyclohexane, and chlorofluorocarbons such as 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, and neutralized by a suitable base while still slurried in the inert low chain transfer organic liquid medium, perform effectively as water loss additives for drilling fluids under high temperature conditions. Such water loss control additives are especially effective when employed in drilling fluids having high solids content. Also disclosed are drilling fluids employing such water loss control additives as well as a method of drilling a bore hole in the earth using drilling fluids employing such water loss control additives.

Abstract: Water soluble thickened acid compositions suitable for matrix or fracture acidizing are provided comprising water, an acid, and a water thickening amount of a copolymer of a N-vinyl lactam and an unsaturated amide. This composition can contain in addition a crosslinking agent to give a gelled acid composition. In a preferred embodiment, a lactam-containing copolymer is made in a diluent containing dissolved electrolytes. These compositions are particularly useful in acid or matrix fracturing in subterranean formations exhibiting a hostile environment, as exemplified by high temperatures and/or high concentration of multivalent metal cations.

Abstract: A new class of ion exchange agents comprises water soluble polymers called polyelectrolytes sorbed onto ion exchange functional substrates.