Method of making shear thinning gels

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to gels that flow through an orifice. Specifically the invention relates to gels that are dispensed through a trigger spray nozzle or aerosol spray valve. Still more specifically, the invention relates to nonaqueous gels containing polymers whose instantaneous viscosity reversibly decreases when the gel experiences shear loads. The invention includes spray gel compositions, methods of making spray gels and methods of dispensing gels whose viscosity exhibits an instantaneous temporary decrease in viscosity when the gel is subjected to shear force as happens when it flows through an orifice, such as a spray nozzle or aerosol valve.

1 . A method for increasing the at rest viscosity of a petroleum distillate product having a hydrocarbon base comprising adding sufficient diblock copolymer to said hydrocarbon base to make the product pseudoplastic. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the copolymer is from about 2 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of a diblock copolymer with from about 70 percent to about 98 percent of a hydrocarbon oil. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the hydrocarbon base comprises from about 0.1 to about 15 percent by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the petroleum distillate initially has a viscosity of less than about 150 SUS at 100 degrees F. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the hydrocarbon base is selected from the group consisting of mineral oils, mineral spirits, naphthalene, long carbon chain esters and vegetable oils. 
     
     
         6 . A method for increasing the viscosity of a mineral oil, said method comprising adding to said mineral oil an effective amount of a shear-thinning pseudoplastic thickener. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the pseudoplastic thickener is selected from the group consisting of a mixture comprising from about 2 percent to about 30 percent of diblock copolymer with from about 70 percent to about 98 percent of hydrocarbon oil. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the mixture includes N-Lauroyl glutamic acid di-n-butylamide. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the petroleum distillate has a viscosity of less than about 150 SUS at 100 degrees F. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the hydrocarbon base is selected from the group consisting of mineral oils, mineral spirits, naphthalene, long carbon chain esters and vegetable oils.