Abstract: A friction control composition having high and positive frictional properties for sliding steel surfaces includes a water insoluble hydrocarbon that enables a reduced water content, a rheological additive, a freezing point depressant, a friction modifier, and a lubricant.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention generally relate to the field of rheologically modified fuels, including hydrocarbon, hydrophobic, and/or liquid fuels such as alkane-based odorless mineral spirits, paraffin oil and biofuels such as mono-alkyl esters of medium to long chain (C8-C18) fatty acids, that have been thickened or gelled, e.g., by precipitation of fatty acid monoglycerides such as glyceryl monostearate and glyceryl monopalmitate. A thickened fire lighting fuel composition is described in some embodiments which includes a hydrocarbon- or alkyl ester-based hydrophobic liquid fuel, and an effective amount of at least one saturated fatty acid monoglyceride. The monoglyceride may be thermo-precipitated in certain instances in the fuel composition causing a substantial increase in the viscosity of the fuel composition.

Abstract: A fuel mixture for fuel cells, comprising a gelled product containing at least a fuel and a gelling agent, in which reliquefaction for the fuel of the gelled product is brought about in the coexistence with a reliquefying agent; and a method of extracting a fuel for fuel cells, including: providing a gel structure in which a fuel is incorporated into a network structure of a gelling agent, with a reliquefying agent dispersed therein; adding a reliquefaction inducing agent to the gel structure to make the reliquefying agent break the network structure of the gelling agent, and thereby reliquefying and extracting the fuel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a decorative gel containing crystals that form in situ in the gel from an additive. The additive is an aromatic solid or mixture of aromatic solids and may optionally include an oil-soluble ester that aids solubilization of the aromatic compound(s) in a gel-forming material, while allowing crystallization of the aromatic compound(s) after gelation. The present invention also provides articles of manufacture like candles and sustained release air fresheners containing the gel.

Abstract: Blooming and/or syneresis in gel formulations can be reduced or eliminated by adding to an organic mixture an effective amount of a polyamide gelling agent having a softening point of less than about 105° C. wherein the polyamide is the reaction product of one or more diamines, optionally one or more mono-amines, one or more hydrogenated C36 dimer acids, optionally one or more C2-22 dicarboxylic acids, and optionally one or more C2-22 monocarboxylic acids.

Abstract: An ester-terminated dimer acid-based polyamide may be blended with a solvent to form a gel. The solvent may be flammable, and a wick may be added to the resulting gel so as to form a candle. Depending on the composition, the candle may be formed into a free standing pillar, or may be better suited to being placed in a container. The solvent may be mineral oil. A solid coating may be placed around the candle, for advantages including to enhance the mechanical stability of the gelled body, and to eliminate the tendency of a gel to have an oily feel and to accept noticeable fingerprints. The solvent which, in combination with the ester-terminated dimer acid-based polymer forms a gel, may be or include a fragrance material, an insecticide or an insect repellent. A wick may or may not be present in this gel, but in any event, the composition provides for the release of the fragrance, insecticide or insect-repellent.

Abstract: This invention involves a process for improving the energy and ignitability of a metal slurry gel rocket fuel by the use of an energetic metal compound of higher energy than the parent metal. An energetic metal compound is added slowly to a liquid rocket fuel with appropriate stirring to form a suspension of the metallic compound in the liquid fuel. To this is added a small quantity of a gelling agent, such as silicon dioxide, with stirring, to form an energetic metal fuel gel. The energetic metal compound is prepared by using a high purity metal in the form of a wire. As an example, a sample of aluminum wire weighing 2.26 grams is supplied with an external source of high voltage and amperes, while the wire is in an environment of an inert gas (e.g., argon) under about 40 atmospheres pressure, to achieve electrical explosion of the wire. The product produced is a fine, gray, non-conductive powder in high yield. This powder contains aluminum and argon.

Abstract: This invention relates to water-in-oil emulsion explosives in which an oxidizing material is contained in the discontinuous water phase, and the continuous oil phase acts as a carbonaceous fuel. More particularly, this invention relates to such explosives in which polyfunctional carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, or phosphorous-containing acids, soluble in the oil phase, are caused to cross-link using an inorganic cross-linker, thereby causing the viscosity of the emulsion to increase.

Abstract: An emulsion composition with a polymerizing and/or crosslinking agent and method for its use in improving the manufacturing, packaging, transporting, storage placement and blasting characteristics of explosives containing an emulsion. More specifically, compositions and methods directed to controlling the rheology of an emulsion or explosive containing an emulsion by polymerizing and/or crosslinking the continuous phase of the emulsion by employing hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene and polymerizing agents and/or maleic anhydride adducted polybutadiene and crosslinking agents, but without compromising the integrity of the explosive reaction.Explosive materials comprised of a water-in-oil emulsion containing a continuous carbonaceous fuel phase at least partially polymerized and/or crosslinked.