Abstract: The present invention relates to aqueous solutions having dilatant properties in which the aqueous solution contains a polymer complex which is a water soluble polymer backbone containing an anionic comonomer and a copolymer of a water soluble polymer backbone containing a cationic comonomer.

Abstract: A new class of viscosification agents based on water insoluble and oil insoluble neutralized sulfonated thermoplastic resins is described for oil-based drilling muds. The resultant muds display good viscosity characteristics and good stability when formulated from water insoluble and oil insoluble neutralized sulfonated thermoplastic polymers having an appropriate sulfonate level and cation type.

Abstract: A process for fracturing a subterranean formation surrounding a gas or oil well which comprises injecting said subterranean formation under hydraulic pressure with a fluid comprising about 0.1 to about 75 percent of an interpolymer complex dissolved in a solvent system of a nonpolar organic liquid and a polar cosolvent (as desired), said polymer complex comprises the interaction product of a sulfonated polymer and an amine containing polymer, wherein the sulfonate content of the sulfonated polymer is about 4 meq. per 100 gram of polymer to about 200 meq. per 100 gram of polymer and the basic nitrogen content of the amine containing polymer is about 4 meq. per 100 gram of polymer to about 500 meq. per 100 gram of polymer, and by the addition of polar cosolvent to such solution of polymer complex modifying its rheological properties over a wide range and their subsequent use as fracturing fluids.

Abstract: A water insoluble and oil soluble polymeric additive in combination with a hydrocarbon liquid, said polymeric additive being dissolved in said hydrocarbon liquid at a concentration level of about 0.001 to about 10 wt. %, said polymeric additive comprising a polyampholyte having the formula: ##STR1## wherein x is about 40 to about 98 mole %, y is about 1 to about 50 mole %, and z is about 1 to about 50 mole %, wherein y and z are less than 60 mole %, and M is an amine or a metal cation selected from the group consisting of aluminum, iron, lead, Groups IA, IIA, IB and IIB of the Periodic Table of Elements.

Abstract: This invention relates to thermoplastic and/or elastomer blend compositions having a viscosity at 200.degree. C., at 0.73 sec.sup.-1 of about 5000 to about 5.times.10.sup.6 poises, wherein the compositions used for elastomeric articles which include a polymer complex of a neutralized sulfonated polymer and a polymer containing basic nitrogen atoms can also include about 25 to about 150 parts by weight of a nonpolar process oil per 100 parts of the polymer complex and about 50 to 300 parts by weight of a filler per 100 parts of the polymer complex. These blend compositions can be processed on conventional plastic fabrication equipment into polymeric articles having excellent physical properties.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of sulfonated copolymers having a particle size in the range of 10 to 5,000 .mu.m by a suspension copolymerization process, wherein an unsulfonated monomer is copolymerized with a sulfonated monomer such as the trioctylammonium salt of vinyl sulfonate monomer or the trioctylammonium salt of acrylamedomethylpropane sulfonate.

Abstract: This invention relates to unique and novel compositions based on chemically combining a sulfonated polymer and an amine terminated polylactone composition. The resulting amine neutralized sulfonated polymer compositions have a variety of uses including those as diverse as adhesive agents, thermoplastic elastomers, additive uses wherein these materials can be utilized to compatibilize two different polymers which are normally incompatible. These compositions can also be blended with fillers and/or oils when the sulfonated polymer is elastomeric. The materials display thermoplastic character.

Abstract: This invention relates to extrusion and injection moldable type elastomeric compositions having improved compression set properties and having a viscosity at 200.degree. C. at 0.73 sec.sup.-1 of about 8.times.10.sup.3 to about 8.times.10.sup.5 poises. The compositions used for elastomeric articles include a major portion of neutralized sulfonated EPDM terpolymer and a minor portion of an unsulfonated EPDM terpolymer or EP copolymer and optionally less than about 150 parts by weight of a non-polar process oil per 100 parts of the sulfonated polymer; less than about 300 parts by weight of a filler per 100 parts of the sulfonated polymer; and a preferential plasticizer at about 1 to about 60 parts by weight per 100 parts of the sulfonated elastomeric polymer.These blend compositions can be readily processed due to their superior rheological properties on conventional plastic fabrication equipment into elastomeric articles having improved compression set properties characteristics.

Abstract: A new family of terpolymers based on acrylamide/sodium styrene sulfonate/methacrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloride has been found to be an improved viscosity control additive for water-based drilling muds. The resultant muds display good viscosity characteristics, thermal stability and gel strength when formulated from the terpolymer intramolecular complex having the appropriate polymer concentration and salt level.

Abstract: A process for forming a thickened fluid having a viscosity of at least about 50 cps which includes the steps of:(a) forming two solvent systems one of an organic liquid and the other of said organic liquid and a polar cosolvent, said polar cosolvent being less than about 15 weight percent of each said solvent system, a viscosity of each said solvent system being less than about 100 cps;(b) dissolving a water insoluble sulfonated elastomeric polymer in said first solvent system to form a first solution, a concentration of said sulfonated polymer in said first solution being about 0.02 to about 10 weight percent, a viscosity of said first solution being less than about 2000 cps;(c) dissolving an elastomeric polymer in said second solvent system of said organic liquid to form a second solution, a concentration of said elastomeric polymer in said second solution being about 0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sulfonated thermoplastic terpolymers which are terpolymers of t-butyl styrene, styrene and sodium styrene sulfonate wherein these sulfonated terpolymers function as viscosification agents when added to oil-based drilling muds which are the fluids used to maintain pressure, cool drill bits and lift cuttings from the holes in the drilling operation for oil and gas wells. The sulfonated thermoplastic terpolymer of the latex have about 5 to 100 meg. of sulfonate groups per 100 grams of the sulfonated thermoplastic terpolymer, wherein the sulfonated groups are neutralized with a metallic cation or an amine or ammonium counterion. A polar cosolvent can optionally be added to the mixture of oil drilling mud and sulfonated thermoplastic polymer, wherein the polar cosolvent increases the solubility of the sulfonated thermoplastic terpolymer in the oil drilling mud by decreasing the strong ionic interactions between the sulfonate groups of the sulfonated polymer.

Abstract: This invention relates to unique and novel polymer complexes between a metal neutralized sulfonated polymer and a tertiary amine terminated polylactone composition. The resulting polymer complexes have a variety of uses including those as diverse as adhesive agents, thermoplastic elastomers, additive uses wherein these materials can be utilized to compatibilize two different polymers which are normally incompatible. These polymer complexes can also be blended with fillers and/or oils when the sulfonated polymer is elastomeric. The materials display thermoplastic character.

Abstract: The present invention relates to aqueous solutions having dilatant properties in which the aqueous solution contains a polymer complex which is a water soluble polymer backbone containing an anionic comonomer and a copolymer of a water soluble polymer backbone containing a cationic comonomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hydrocarbon extended gels and solutions of blends of sulfonated ionomers and their precursors which behave as rigid gels at high shear rates, but act as viscous liquids at very low shear rates. The blend gel systems have more persistent networks than the gels of sulfonated ionomers. Typically the blends containing 5 to 25 times their weight in oil are preferred compositions.

Abstract: A continuous process for sulfonating elastomeric polymers to form neutralized sulfonated elastomeric polymers with improved physical properties includes the steps of; (a) contacting a cement of an elastomeric polymer with a sulfonating agent in a staged reaction vessel for a sufficient period of time at a temperature of about -50.degree. C. to about +100.degree. C. to form an unneutralized sulfonated elastomeric polymer; (b) continuously transferring the cement of the unneutralized sulfonated elastomeric polymer to a neutralization vessel; (c) continuously adding a quenching agent and neutralizing agent to the cement of the unneutralized sulfonated elastomeric polymer in a staged neutralization vessel wherein the sulfonated cement is quenched and the neutralization agent reacts with the unneutralized sulfonated polymer to form the neutralized sulfonated elastomeric polymer; and (d) isolating said neutralized sulfonated elastomeric polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a free radical emulsion polymerization process for the formation of substantially gel-free terpolymers of a major portion of a mixture of butadiene and styrene and a minor portion of a sulfonate containing monomer wherein the terpolymers are water insoluble and have about 18 to about 100 meq. of sulfonate groups per 100 grams of polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a free radical emulsion polymerization process for the formation of substantially gel-free co- or terpolymers of a major portion of at least one conjugated diene and a minor portion of a sulfonate containing monomer, wherein the co- or terpolymers are water insoluble and have about 18 to about 100 meq of sulfonate groups per 100 grams of polymer.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to an improved process for controlling the viscosity of organic liquids at low temperatures by incorporating in said liquid a minor amount of an ionic polymer and a cosolvent for the ionic groups of said polymer. The ionic polymer comprises a backbone which is substantially soluble in said organic liquid and pendant ionic groups which are substantially insoluble in said organic liquid, wherein such ionic polymer or terpolymer is formed from at least one acrylate or methacrylate monomer having at least eight carbon atoms and a minor portion of a sulfonate-containing monomer. A cosolvent is selected which will solubilize the pendant ionomeric groups and provide a reasonably homogeneous mixture of solvent, cosolvent and ionomeric polymer. The preferred compositions prepared by the method of the instant invention comprise an organic liquid having a solubility parameter of from 6 to 10.5 in combination with a sulfonated co- or terpolymer containing from 0.2 up to 10.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymeric compositions formed from sulfonated co- or terpolymers which are formed by a free radical co- or terpolymerization process, wherein the resultant co- or terpolymers have an Mn of about 5,000 to 200,000 and these co- or terpolymers have at least about 0.5 weight percent of chemically combined sulfur therein. The free radical co- or terpolymerization process of the instant invention can be generally described as a free radical emulsion polymerization of at least one conjugated diene or a mixture of styrene and butadiene with a sulfonate monomer which is water soluble, at a temperature sufficient to cause polymerization, wherein the initiator is preferably based on a peroxide initiator accelerated by a reducing agent, and suitable surfactants are employed. Upon completion of the free radical polymerization, the resultant latex is coagulated and the water insoluble polymer is recovered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to latices of sulfonated thermoplastic polymers which function as viscosification agents when added to oil-based drilling muds which are the fluids used to maintain pressure, cool drill bits and lift cuttings from the holes in the drilling operation for oil and gas wells. The sulfonated thermoplastic polymer of the latex has about 5 to about 100 meq. of sulfonate groups per 100 grams of the sulfonated thermoplastic polymer, wherein the sulfonated groups are neutralized with a metallic cation or an amine or ammonium counterion. A polar cosolvent can optionally be added to the mixture of oil drilling mud and sulfonated polymer, wherein the polar cosolvent increases the solubility of the sulfonated polymer in the oil drilling mud by decreasing the strong ionic interactions between the sulfonate groups of the sulfonated polymer.