| 摘要 |
<p>There is disclosed an article of manufacture (and a method of using same) useful for preventing flow of water therethrough by hydration of a water-swellable clay composition comprising a cohesive mass of a water-swellable clay (12) in essentially non-hydrated form, said water-swellable clay (12) present in an amount of at least 20% by weight of the total composition, and a non-aqueous liquid binder capable of adhering the clay together without substantial hydration of said clay, said composition having a flexible, elongated structural support material (40; 42; 44) embedded in said composition to prevent the composition from being displaced from its intended location in use. Preferably the clay composition is a non-hydrated, bentonite composition including an intimate mixture of bentonite clay with a non-aqueous liquid binder, such as polypropene or polybutene, to form a cohesive, non-hydrated, shapeable bentonite composition, and the composition is adhered to a structural, flexible, support material either within the interior of the composition, or on at least one major outer surface of the composition. In one embodiment of the invention, an elastomer such as partially cross-linked butyl rubber is included in the composition. The elastomer has sufficient resiliency to stretch upon hydration of the bentonite and adds structural integrity to the composition. Additional additives may be included in the formable bentonite composition, such as tackifiers, viscosity modifiers, thickeners, extenders and the like. <IMAGE></p> |
