Abstract: Improved organophilic clay gellants can be prepared by a process wherein the smectite-type clay is subjected to shearing in order to break apart the agglomerates and/or the smectite-type clay can be reacted with organic cation and, possibly organic anion, under dilute reaction conditions. The reaction product is recovered using gentle drying conditions. Depending in large part on its composition, the organophilic clay gellant may be used to thicken a variety of organic compositions. In a preferred aspect, the organophilic clay gellant can be directly added to polyester compositions in order to efficiently and effectively increase the viscosity thereof or can be first formed into a pregel under low shear conditions to yield even higher efficiencies.

Abstract: Improved organophilic clay gellants can be prepared by a process wherein the smectite-type clay is subjected to shearing in order to break apart the agglomerates and/or the smectite-type clay can be reacted with organic cation and, possibly organic anion, under dilute reaction conditions. The reaction product is recovered using gentle drying conditions. Depending in large part on its composition, the organophilic clay gellant may be used to thicken a variety of organic compositions. In a preferred aspect, the organophilic clay gellant can be directly added to polyester compositions in order to efficiently and effectively increase the viscosity thereof or can be first formed into a pregel under low shear conditions to yield even higher efficiencies.