POLYETHER THICKENERS FOR AQUEOUS SYSTEMS CONTAINING ADDITIVES FOR INCREASED THICKENING EFFICIENCY

摘要

Polyether-based thickeners for aqueous systems having molecular weight of about 1000 to about 75,000 which are modified with alpha-olefin epoxides having about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms exhibit increased thickening efficiency in the presence of certain organic additives. These are ethoxylated phosphate esters or mixture of said esters with water-soluble amines. The polyethers contain about 1 to about 20 percent by weight based upon the weight of the polyether of an alpha-olefin oxide. Polyether-based thickeners containing at least one of an ethoxylated phosphate ester, or said ester in admixture with a water-soluble amine, processes for the preparation of thickened aqueous systems, and thickened aqueous compositions are disclosed. The polyether-based thickeners of the invention are particularly useful for thickening water or water-glycol mixtures which are useful as hydraulic fluids.