Abstract: A method of preparing an aqueous dispersion comprising silver particles of mean diameter from 0.5 to 25 nm by weight and an aqueous carrier liquid, including the steps of i) providing a mixture comprising at least one silver salt, aqueous carrier liquid and a stabiliser for the particles ii) contacting the mixture with a non-ionic or covalent reducing agent to form a reaction mixture iii) causing the at least one silver salt to react with the reducing agent to form a dispersion comprising silver particles and acid wherein step iii) is partly or completely performed in the presence of anion exchange resin whereby the acid is exchanged for a hydroxide ion from the resin and/or is sorbed by the resin.

Abstract: A method of preparing an aqueous dispersion comprising silver particles of mean diameter from 0.5 to 25 nm by weight and an aqueous carrier liquid, including the steps of i) providing a mixture comprising at least one silver salt, aqueous carrier liquid and a stabiliser for the particles ii) contacting the mixture with a non-ionic or covalent reducing agent to form a reaction mixture iii) causing the at least one silver salt to react with the reducing agent to form a dispersion comprising silver particles and acid wherein step iii) is partly or completely performed in the presence of anion exchange resin whereby the acid is exchanged for a hydroxide ion from the resin and/or is sorbed by the resin.

Abstract: A method of preparing an aqueous dispersion comprising metal particles of mean diameter from 0.5-200 nm by weight and an aqueous carrier liquid, including the steps of i) providing a mixture comprising at least one metal salt, aqueous carrier liquid and a stabilizer for the particles ii) contacting the mixture with a reducing agent to form a reaction mixture iii) causing the at least one metal salt to react with the reducing agent to form a dispersion comprising metal particles and acid wherein step iii) is partly or completely performed in the presence of anion exchange resin whereby the acid is exchanged for a hydroxide ion from the resin and/or is sorbed by the resin.

Abstract: A salt-sensitive film-forming polymer composition is presented. The salt-sensitivity of the film is produced by the combination of the polymer and at lest one salt-sensitive adjuvant that affects the properties of the film. The film has integrity in an aqueous solution containing 0.5 weight percent or more of an inorganic salt, yet in water the adjuvant dissolves, causing the polymer film to lose integrity. The polymer composition may be used in applications requiring a salt-trigger, such as flushable non-woven products, and triggerable delivery systems for a variety of materials such as in detergents.

Abstract: A dispersion of solid inorganic particles in an aqueous medium which is stable to a range of pH's and added electrolyte wherein the dispersing agent is a water soluble copolymer derivable from a hydrophilic oligomer and certain defined olefinically unsaturated acids.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of colloidally stable particles of inorganic solid at high concentration which method comprises at least the step of precipitating from an aqueous medium the particles of the inorganic solid in the presence of a copolymer which comprises repeating units derived from:Component A: a hydrophilic oligomer or polymer bearing an addition-polymerizable olefinically-unsaturated group;Component B: an olefinically-unsaturated compound capable of copolymerizing with Component A and bearing a mineral acid group or a dicarboxylic acid group, or a carboxylic acid and a further group capable of hydrogen-bonding.

Abstract: A process for preparing suspension fertilizers wherein nutrient material and at least one crystal growth inhibitor are mixed, potassium chloride is added, the resultant slurry mixed and subsequently a suspending aid, for example a clay, is added with mixing.

Abstract: A dispersion in an aqueous medium of an organic particulate solid substantially all the particles of which have a size less than 100 microns which dispersion contains a polymeric composition which is soluble in the aqueous medium and which comprises a copolymer of at least one hydrophobic monomer as herein defined and at least one hydrophilic monomer as herein defined.