| abstract |
This invention is directed to compositions having viscosity aging and/or gas-release properties comprising 4 to 20 weight parts of an alkaline material, particularly an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, and 0.05 to 5 weight parts of a suspending copolymer of a major proportion of an acrylic acid and a minor proportion of a comonomer, particularly selected from acrylamide, N-lauryl methacrylamide, lauryl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate, and stearyl methacrylate. Such compositions can also include 40 to 80 weight parts of an electrochemically active metal, particularly zinc, suspended in the alkaline material by means of said copolymer whereby said composition functions as a component part of an electrochemical cell containing a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte wherein said metal serves as the anode and said alkaline material serves as the electrolyte. |