The Dow Chemical Company

Richard J Pilny

Thomas W Regulski

Aqueous solutions of amide polymers, such as polyacrylamide when treated with small amounts of a water-soluble polyaldehyde and a hypohalite salt at an alkaline pH, react to form firm gels within a short time at ambient temperature. Such gels, which are stable under alkaline as well as acidic conditions, are usefully employed to plug porous subterranean formations, for grouting of leaking soil pipes or wells, and to otherwise render porous structures impermeable to the passage of liquids such as water.

Rendering porous structures impermeable by treatment with pH insensitive

Aqueous solutions of amide polymers such as polyacrylamide when treated with small amounts of a water-soluble polyaldehyde at an alkaline pH react to form film gels within a short time at ambient temperature. Such gels are usefully employed to plug porous subterranean formations, for grouting of leaking soil pipes or wells, and to otherwise render porous structures impermeable to the passage of liquids such as water.

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Midland, MI, United States of America

Richard J Pilny