SALT WATER SWELLABLE COMPOSITIONS AND ARTICLES

• US 20110045726A1
• Filed: 08/19/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amcol International Corporation (Minerals Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Amcol International Corporation (Minerals Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Logsdon, Jason M., Mosiewicz, Marek R., Donovan, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,318,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 442/86
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/10 Homopolymers or copolymers of propene
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/20 having four to nine carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/22 Copolymers of isobutene; Butyl rubber ; Homo- or copolymers of other iso-olefins
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/06 Homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated hydrocarbons; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 33/26 Homopolymers or copolymers of acrylamide or methacrylamide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1476 Release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2221 Coating or impregnation is specified as water proof

Abstract

The compositions, articles and methods described herein remain intact for sealing between and around structures that contact salt water. The compositions include: (i) a partially cross-linked polyacrylamide/partially neutralized polyacrylic acid copolymer; (ii) a smectite clay; (iii) an elastomer, e.g., butyl rubber; (iv) a polyolefin polymer or copolymer; and (v) a cationic flocculant, the compositions have exceptional and unexpected free swell and cohesiveness when in contact with high conductivity water or multivalent ion-containing-contaminated water. The articles of manufacture described herein all include a combination of (i) a partially cross-linked acrylamide/acrylate/acrylic acid copolymer; (ii) a smectite clay; (iii) an elastomer, e.g., butyl rubber; (iv) polyisobutene or polyisopropene; and (v) a cationic flocculent, and are used for waterproofing against high conductivity salt-containing water preferably when used in putty-like or paste-like consistency to fill areas between and around structures, e.g., to surround a pipe inserted in a concrete wall, or to seal between two concrete sections.

Claims

1. A composition capable of swelling in salt water comprising:

a) about 30 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of a smectite clay;

b) about 5 wt. % to about 25 wt. % of a partially cross-linked acrylamide/partially neutralized acrylic acid copolymer;

c) about 3 wt. % to about 15 wt. % of at least one elastomeric resin;

d) about 5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of a cationic flocculant; and

e) about 0.5 wt. % to about 25 wt. % of at least one primary plasticizing agent for the elastomeric resin.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the partially cross-linked acrylamide/partially neutralized acrylic acid copolymer contains about 5 mole % to about 95 mole % acrylamide, and the polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of polypropene, polybutene, polyisopropene, polydiene, polyisobutene, mixtures, and copolymers thereof.

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the partially cross-linked acrylamide/partially neutralized acrylic acid copolymer contains about 15 mole % to about 80 mole % acrylamide.

4. The composition of claim 3, wherein the partially cross-linked acrylamide/partially neutralized acrylic acid copolymer contains about 55 mole % to about 75 mole % acrylamide.

5. The composition of claim 4, wherein the partially cross-linked acrylamide/partially neutralized acrylic acid copolymer contains about 60 mole % to about 70 mole % acrylamide.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the copolymer comprises a water-insoluble partially cross-linked acrylamide/partially neutralized acrylic acid copolymer.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the primary plasticizing agent is a straight chain or branched polyolefin selected from the group consisting of (C₃H₆)_n, wherein n is about 7 to about 60;

(C₄H₈)_m, wherein m is about 6 to about 45;

(C₅H₈)_x, wherein x is about 100 to about 1100; and

(C₄H₆)_y, wherein y is about 100 to about 1100 and combinations thereof.

8. The composition of claim 1 wherein a secondary plasticizing agent is included in the composition in an amount of about 4 wt. % to about 20 wt. %, said secondary plasticizing agent being selected from epoxidized soybean oil;

blown castor oil;

dioctyl adipate;

butyl cetlosolve oleate;

long chain (C₆-C₃₀) partial ether esters;

long chain (C₆-C₃₀) alkyl diesters; and

petroleum-derived plasticizers.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the partially cross-linked acrylamide/partially neutralized acrylic acid copolymer is identified by the CAS #31212-13-2.

10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the clay has a particle size such that at least 60% of the particles pass through a #200 mesh sieve (ASTM D 422).

11. The composition of claim 9, wherein at least 70% of the particles pass through a #200 mesh sieve.

12. The composition of claim 1, wherein the partially cross-linked acrylamide/partially neutralized acrylic acid copolymer has a particle size such that at least 90% of the particles have a size in the range of about 1 micron to about 4000 microns.

13. The composition of claim 11, wherein the partially cross-linked acrylamide/partially neutralized acrylic acid copolymer has a particle size is in the range of about 1 micron to about 200 microns.

14. The composition of claim 1, wherein the salt water contains ions selected from the group consisting of Na⁺, Mg⁺⁺, Ca⁺⁺, Al⁺⁺ and combinations thereof.

15. The composition of claim 1, wherein the elastomer comprises butyl rubber.

16. The composition of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric resin comprises a blend of a pre-crosslinked and non-crosslinked elastomers.

17. The composition of claim 1, wherein the smectite clay comprises calcium bentonite clay.

18. A method of water proofing a surface from contact with a water source having a conductivity of at least 15 mS/cm comprising disposing the composition of claim 1, such that the composition contacts the water source.

19. A sealed concrete structure comprising two adjacent concrete sections containing the composition of claim 1 disposed in contact with both concrete sections to seal against passage of salt water therebetween.

20. A salt water barrier article comprising the composition of claim 1 adhered to a woven or non-woven geotextile fabric.

21. The article of claim 20, further including an outer layer of a polymeric film or sheet material in contact with the composition on a side opposite the geotextile fabric.

22. The article of claim 21, wherein the outer layer is a release sheet that is peeled from the article prior to disposing the article in position to seal an area against water passage therethrough.

23. The article of claim 19, wherein the outer layer is water-soluble.