Polymer compositions

Abstract

A composition contains an incompletely hydrated water soluble polymer suspended in a liquid medium.

1 . A composition, comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of the composition, greater than 2.5 parts by weight of an incompletely hydrated water soluble polymer suspended in a liquid medium. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid medium is an aqueous medium and the polymer is a water soluble polysaccharide polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein, the composition comprises a suspending agent in an amount effective to impart shear thinning properties to the composition. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the suspending agent is selected from fumed silica, inorganic colloidal or colloid-forming particles, rheology modifier polymers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein, the liquid medium is an aqueous medium and the composition further comprises a hydration inhibitor in an amount effective to inhibit hydration of the water soluble polysaccharide in the aqueous medium. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the hydration inhibitor is selected from surfactant compounds, water soluble non-surfactant salts, water dispersible organic solvents, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a personal care benefit agent, a pesticide active ingredient, or a pharmaceutical active ingredient, wherein the water soluble polymer enhances delivery of the benefit agent or active ingredient from the liquid medium to a target substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid medium is an aqueous liquid medium that comprises water or water and a water miscible organic liquid. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid medium is an aqueous liquid medium that comprises water and a water immiscible organic liquid and the composition is in the form of an emulsion, a microemulsion, or a suspoemulsion. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid medium is a non-aqueous liquid medium comprising a non-aqueous liquid selected from vegetable oils, alkylated vegetable oils, polar protic organic liquids, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the liquid medium is an aqueous liquid medium,   the water soluble polymer is selected from polyacrylamide polymers, non-derivatized guar polymers, derivatized guar polymers, and mixtures thereof, and   the composition further comprises a suspending agent selected from fumed silicas, inorganic colloidal or colloid-forming particles, rheology modifier polymers, water soluble polysaccharide polymers other than the non-derivatized or derivatized guar polymer, and mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 , further comprising a hydration inhibitor selected from surfactant compounds, non-surfactant water soluble salts, water dispersible organic solvents, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the liquid medium is an aqueous liquid medium,   the water soluble polymer is a water soluble polysaccharide polymer selected from non-derivatized guar polymers, derivatized guar polymers, and mixtures thereof, and   
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the composition further comprises a hydration inhibitor selected from surfactant compounds, non-surfactant water soluble salts, water dispersible organic solvents, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 13 , further comprising a suspending agent selected from fumed silica, inorganic colloidal or colloid-forming particles, rheology modifier polymers, water soluble polysaccharide polymers other than non-derivatized guar polymers or derivatized guar polymers. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein composition exhibits a viscosity of less than 10 Pa·s at a shear rate of greater than or equal to 10 s −1 . 
     
     
         17 . A composition, comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of the composition, from greater than 2.5 to about 8 parts by weight of a guar polymer suspended in aqueous medium, said guar polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from about 100,000 to about 5,000,000 grams per mole and said composition exhibiting:
 (a) a viscosity of greater than or equal to 5 Pa·s at a shear rate of less than 0.01 s −1 , and   (b) a viscosity of less than 5 Pa·s at a shear rate of greater than 10 s −1 .   
     
     
         18 . A method for making a polysaccharide composition that comprises a mixture of an aqueous liquid medium, an incompletely hydrated water soluble polymer dispersed in the aqueous liquid medium, and a hydration inhibitor for inhibiting hydration of the water soluble polymer, comprising:
 mixing the hydration inhibitor with the liquid medium, and   mixing the water soluble polymer with the mixture of aqueous liquid and hydration inhibitor to disperse the water soluble polymer.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising mixing a suspending agent with the mixture of aqueous liquid medium, water soluble polymer, and hydration inhibitor. 
     
     
         20 . A composition, comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of the composition:
 an aqueous liquid medium,   up to 2.5 parts by weight of an incompletely hydrolyzed water soluble polymer selected from polyacrylamide polymers, non-derivatized guar polymers and derivatized guar polymers, dispersed in the liquid medium, and   a suspending agent selected from fumed silicas, inorganic colloidal or colloid-forming particles, rheology modifier polymers, water soluble polysaccharide polymers other than the non-derivatized or derivatized guar polymer, and mixtures thereof, and   a hydration inhibitor selected from surfactant compounds, non-surfactant water soluble salts, water dispersible organic solvents, and mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         21 . A composition, comprising:
 an aqueous liquid medium that comprises water and a water immiscible organic liquid,   an emulsifier for emulsifying the water and water immiscible liquid,   an incompletely hydrolyzed water soluble polymer dispersed in the liquid medium,   wherein the composition is in the form of an emulsion, a microemulsion, or a suspoemulsion.   
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21 , further comprising a suspending agent selected from fumed silicas, inorganic colloidal or colloid-forming particles, rheology modifier polymers, water soluble polysaccharide polymers other than the non-derivatized or derivatized guar polymer, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         23 . A method for making the composition of  claim 21 , comprising:
 optionally, mixing all or a portion of the emulsifier with the water,   mixing the water soluble polymer and, optionally all or a portion of the emulsifier with the water immiscible organic liquid, and   combining the water or mixture of water and emulsifier with the mixture of water soluble polymer and water immiscible organic liquid or mixture of water soluble polymer, water immiscible organic liquid and emulsifier to form the composition.   
     
     
         24 . A composition, comprising:
 a non-aqueous liquid medium comprising a non-aqueous liquid selected from fatty acid esters, alkylated fatty acid esters, and mixtures thereof, and   an incompletely hydrolyzed water soluble polymer dispersed in the non-aqueous liquid medium.   
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 24 , further comprising a suspending agent selected from fumed silicas and inorganic colloidal or colloid-forming particles. 
     
     
         26 . A composition, comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of the composition:
 a liquid medium,   greater than 2.5 parts by weight of a water soluble polymer, wherein at least a portion of the water soluble polymer is in the form of particles and at least a portion of such particles are dispersed in the liquid medium,   optionally, a suspending agent dissolved or dispersed in the liquid medium, and   optionally, a hydration inhibitor dissolved or dispersed in the liquid medium.   
     
     
         27 . A method for making an agricultural pesticide composition, comprising mixing the composition of  claim 26  with an agricultural pesticide compound, optionally other agricultural adjuvants, and water to form an pesticide composition for spray application to target pests. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein
 the liquid medium is an aqueous medium,   the water soluble polymer is selected from polyacrylamide polymers, non-derivatized guar polymers, derivatized guar polymers, and mixtures thereof, wherein at least a portion of the water soluble polymer is in the form of particles and at least a portion of such particles are dispersed in the liquid medium,   optionally, a suspending agent selected from fumed silicas, inorganic colloidal or colloid-forming particles, rheology modifier polymers, water soluble polysaccharide polymers other than derivatized or non-derivatized guar polymers, and mixtures thereof dissolved or dispersed in the liquid medium, and   optionally, a hydration inhibitor hydration inhibitor selected from surfactants, water soluble non-surfactant salts, water dispersible organic solvents, and mixtures thereof, dissolved or dispersed in the liquid medium.   
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the composition exhibits a viscosity of less than or equal to 10 Pa·s at a shear rate of greater than or equal to 10 s −1 . 
     
     
         30 . A composition, comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of the composition:
 an aqueous liquid medium,   up to 2.5 parts by weight of a water soluble polymer, wherein at least a portion of the water soluble polymer is in the form of particles and at least a portion of such particles are dispersed in the liquid medium,   a suspending agent dissolved or dispersed in the liquid medium, and   a hydration inhibitor dissolved or dispersed in the liquid medium.   
     
     
         31 . A method for making an agricultural pesticide composition, comprising mixing the composition of  claim 30  with an agricultural pesticide compound, optionally other agricultural adjuvants, and water to form an pesticide composition for spray application to target pests. 
     
     
         32 . A composition, comprising:
 a liquid medium comprising water and a water immiscible organic liquid,   an emulsifier for emulsifying the water and a water immiscible organic liquid,   a water soluble polysaccharide polymer selected from polyacrylamide polymers, non-derivatized guar polymers, derivatized guar polymers, and mixtures thereof, wherein at least a portion of the water soluble polysaccharide polymer is in the form of particles of the water soluble polymer and wherein at least a portion of such particles are dispersed in the liquid medium, and   optionally, a suspending agent selected from fumed silicas, inorganic colloidal or colloid-forming particles, rheology modifier polymers, water soluble polysaccharide polymers other than derivatized or non-derivatized guar polymers, and mixtures thereof dissolved or dispersed in the liquid medium,   wherein the composition is in the form of an emulsion, a microemulsion, or a suspoemulsion.   
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 32 , wherein the composition comprises, based on 100 parts by weight of the composition:
 from about 0.1 part by weight to about 50 parts by weight of the water soluble polysaccharide polymer, and   from about 0.1 part by weight to about 10 parts by weight of the suspending agent.   
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 32 , wherein the composition exhibits a viscosity of less than or equal to 10 Pa·s at a shear rate of greater than 10 s −1 . 
     
     
         35 . A method for making an agricultural pesticide composition, comprising mixing the composition of  claim 32  with an agricultural pesticide compound, optionally other agricultural adjuvants, and water to form an pesticide composition for spray application to target pests. 
     
     
         36 . A composition, comprising:
 a non-aqueous liquid medium comprising a non-aqueous liquid selected from fatty acid esters, alkylated fatty acid esters, and mixtures thereof,   a water soluble polysaccharide polymer selected from polyacrylamide polymers, non-derivatized guar polymers, derivatized guar polymers, and mixtures thereof, wherein at least a portion of the water soluble polymer is in the form of particles and at least a portion of such particles are dispersed in the non-aqueous liquid medium, and   optionally, a suspending agent selected from fumed silicas, inorganic colloidal or colloid-forming particles, and mixtures thereof, dispersed in the non-aqueous liquid medium.   
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 36 , wherein the composition comprises, based on 100 parts by weight of the composition:
 from about 0.1 part by weight to about 50 parts by weight of the water soluble polysaccharide polymer, and   from about 0.1 part by weight to about 10 parts by weight of the suspending agent.   
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 36 , wherein the composition exhibits a viscosity of less than or equal to 10 Pa·s at a shear rate of greater than or equal to 10 s −1 . 
     
     
         39 . A method for making an agricultural pesticide composition, comprising mixing the composition of  claim 36  with an agricultural pesticide compound, optionally other agricultural adjuvants, and water to form an pesticide composition for spray application to target pests.