Delaying the gelation of water soluble polymers.

摘要

A process is disclosed for delaying the rate at which water soluble polymers are gelled by an aldehyde and a phenolic compound and for increasing the mechanical strength of these gels which comprises contacting an aqueous solution of said water soluble polymer, aldehyde, phenolic compound, and water with from .004 to about 0.049 wt % of a transition metal ion. In addition, novel gelable compositions are disclosed.