Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
25 words
An improved acrylic acid type copolymer suitable for use as a thickening agent, the improvement comprising: said acrylic acid type polymer being organic solvent free.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
An improved acrylic acid type copolymer suitable for use as a thickening agent, the improvement comprising: said acrylic acid type polymer being organic solvent free.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for making a solvent free acrylic acid type polymer suitable for use as a thickening agent, comprising the steps of: charging into a reactor acrylic acid monomer, a comonomer, carbon dioxide, and a chemical initiator; polymerizing said acrylic acid monomer with said comonomer at a preselected temperature and pressure to produce a fine, fluffy acrylic acid copolymer; and separating totally and completely said acrylic acid copolymer from said carbon dioxide thus producing an organic solvent free acrylic acid polymer.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for making a solvent free acrylic acid type polymer suitable for use as a thickening agent, comprising the steps of: charging into a reactor acrylic acid monomer, a comonomer, carbon dioxide, and a chemical initiator; polymerizing said acrylic acid monomer with said comonomer at a preselected temperature and pressure to produce a fine, fluffy acrylic acid copolymer; and separating totally and completely said acrylic acid copolymer from said carbon dioxide thus producing an organic solvent free acrylic acid polymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said charging step is a batch process.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said charging step is a continuous process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said comonomer is incrementally charged into said reactor over a period of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said carbon dioxide is at least 99% by volume pure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said comonomer has at least two terminal allyl groups having the formula H₂C = C .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said comonomer is one or more polyunsaturated hydrocarbons.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2, wherein from about 1 to about 20 parts of oxygen is charged into the reactor with said carbon dioxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the amount of said chemical initiator ranges from about 0.25% to about 4% by weight based on the weight of said acrylic acid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
An acrylic acid copolymer suitable for use as a thickening agent comprising: an acrylic acid polymer crosslinked with from 0.1 to about 6% by weight based upon the weight of said acrylic acid polymer of a copolymer, said copolymer having at least two terminal allyl groups having the formula H₂C = C .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
An acrylic acid copolymer suitable for use as a thickening agent comprising: an acrylic acid polymer crosslinked with from 0.1 to about 6% by weight based upon the weight of said acrylic acid polymer of a copolymer, said copolymer having at least two terminal allyl groups having the formula H₂C = C .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The copolymer of claim 11, wherein said copolymer, at a 0.2 weight percent dispersed in distilled water, has a mucilage viscosity of at least 1000 cps.