Oleophilic clays

Other base materials proposed are listed in Table 1-5. Quaternary oleophilic esters of alkylolamines and carboxylic acids improve the wettability of clay... 

O. Ponsati, A. Trius, C. P. Herold, H. Muller, C. Nitsch, and S. von Tapavicza. Use of selected oleophilic compounds with quaternary nitrogen to improve the oil wettability of finely divided clay and their use as viscosity promoters. Patent WO 9219693, 1992. 

Hydrogels of silica were milled into oil with an oleophilic surfactant such as a long Chain quaternary ammonium- compound, dimethyldioctadecylammonium chloride, or metal soaps. Clays were used but the process also applied to fine silica (599). This was only one of many patents relating to grease thickeners made from bentonite-type clays (600). 

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