Method for the preparation of gels capable of taking up and releasing water in a reversible manner from clay minerals and polymers.

摘要

A method of making a gel capable of reversibly absorbing and releasing water is described in which a clay mineral (a smectite or a swellable silicate), that has optionally been activated by no more than 1% of an activator (an alkali metal or ammonium salt having an anion that forms an insoluble precipitate with alkaline earth metal ions), is mixed with a water soluble polymer capable of reacting with the clay (e.g. polymers containing -COOH, -COO<-> M<+> (where M<+> is a monovalent cation), -CONH2, -OH and/or -C-O-C- groups). This mixture can then be mixed with an activator (as described above) and optionally some water to form the gel. The final addition of activator can be performed on site so that the whole gel need not be transported to the site.