A composition comprising water, a glycol, and a polyalkylene glycol which has a biodegradability of at least 60% as determined using OECD 301F wherein the composition has a kinematic viscosity of at least 25 mm.sup.2/sec at 40° C. is useful as a rheology modifier, particularly in subsea applications. In some instances, the composition comprises 10 to 65 weight % water, 20 to 60 weight % of a glycol selected from ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol and tetra ethylene glycol, 10 to 40 weight % of a polyalkylene glycol, and 0 to 10% of additives based on total weight of the composition wherein the polyalkylene glycol has a—molecular weight of no more than 4000 g/mol and is characterized in that it is an oxyethylene/oxypropylene block copolymer having a weight percent of oxyethylene of at least 20% based on total weight of the copolymer.

The present invention relates to conveyor lubricant compositions including an emulsion of a lipophilic compound and also including an emulsifier and/or an anionic surfactant. The present invention also relates to methods employing such lubricant compositions. In an embodiment, the method includes applying the present lubricant composition to a conveyor with a non-energized nozzle.

In one embodiment, a retarded acid system comprises an aqueous acid and a retarding surfactant. The aqueous acid may comprise from 5 wt. % to 25 wt. % of a strong acid, that is, an acid having a K.sub.a greater than or equal to 0.01. The aqueous acid may further comprise from 75 wt. % to 95 wt. % water. The retarding surfactant may have the general chemical formula R—(OC.sub.2H.sub.4).sub.X—OH where R is a hydrocarbon having from 11 to 15 carbon atoms and x is an integer from 6 to 10. The retarding surfactant may have a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance from 8 to 16.

In one embodiment, a retarded acid system comprises an aqueous acid and a retarding surfactant. The aqueous acid may comprise from 5 wt. % to 25 wt. % of a strong acid, that is, an acid having a K.sub.a greater than or equal to 0.01. The aqueous acid may further comprise from 75 wt. % to 95 wt. % water. The retarding surfactant may have the general chemical formula R—(OC.sub.2H.sub.4).sub.X—OH where R is a hydrocarbon having from 11 to 15 carbon atoms and x is an integer from 6 to 10. The retarding surfactant may have a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance from 8 to 16.

One or more embodiments presently described are directed to lubricants and methods for making such lubricants. According to one embodiment, a lubricant suitable for use in a water-based drilling fluid may comprise one or more alkyl esters and a fatty acid blend comprising at least palmitic acid and stearic acid. The sum of the weight percent of the palmitic acid and stearic acid may be at least 50 wt. % of the fatty acid blend. The weight ratio of the one or more alkyl esters to the fatty acid blend may be from 1:1 to 3:1. The molar ratio of palmitic acid to stearic acid may be from 20:80 to 40:60.

One or more embodiments presently described are directed to lubricants and methods for making such lubricants. According to one embodiment, a lubricant suitable for use in a water-based drilling fluid may comprise one or more alkyl esters and a fatty acid blend comprising at least palmitic acid and stearic acid. The sum of the weight percent of the palmitic acid and stearic acid may be at least 50 wt. % of the fatty acid blend. The weight ratio of the one or more alkyl esters to the fatty acid blend may be from 1:1 to 3:1. The molar ratio of palmitic acid to stearic acid may be from 20:80 to 40:60.

A lubricant for the hot forming of metals, with respect to the solid constituents, contains at least the following constituents: 55 to 85 wt % of a solid lubricating agent comprising a mixture of talc and a potassium mica, wherein the ratio of talc to potassium mica in the solid lubricating agent is 2.0 to 5.0, 10 to 30 wt % of an adhesive agent selected from a polyvinyl acetate, sodium water glass and dextrin or a mixture of same, 2 to 10 wt % of a thickener selected from hydroxy cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxyproply cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, methylethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylmethyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, ethylhydroxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethylhydroxy cellulose, dextrin, starch, organically modified bentonite, smectite and xanthan gum, 0 to 10 wt % of further auxiliary agents, and not more than 10 wt % of graphite.

A lubricant for the hot forming of metals, with respect to the solid constituents, contains at least the following constituents: 55 to 85 wt % of a solid lubricating agent comprising a mixture of talc and a potassium mica, wherein the ratio of talc to potassium mica in the solid lubricating agent is 2.0 to 5.0, 10 to 30 wt % of an adhesive agent selected from a polyvinyl acetate, sodium water glass and dextrin or a mixture of same, 2 to 10 wt % of a thickener selected from hydroxy cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxyproply cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, methylethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylmethyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, ethylhydroxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethylhydroxy cellulose, dextrin, starch, organically modified bentonite, smectite and xanthan gum, 0 to 10 wt % of further auxiliary agents, and not more than 10 wt % of graphite.

The present invention relates to a method of processing a workpiece comprising contacting a tool and a workpiece to effect a change in the shape of the workpiece, and applying a metalworking fluid to a surface area where the tool and the workpiece are in contact, where the metalworking fluid contains a propoxylate of the formula R—O—(C.sub.3H.sub.6O).sub.n—H, where R is a branched C.sub.6 to C.sub.20 alkyl and n is from 3 to 30. The invention further relates to the metalworking fluid, and to a use of the propoxylate as additive in metalworking fluids.

The present invention relates to a method of processing a workpiece comprising contacting a tool and a workpiece to effect a change in the shape of the workpiece, and applying a metalworking fluid to a surface area where the tool and the workpiece are in contact, where the metalworking fluid contains a propoxylate of the formula R—O—(C.sub.3H.sub.6O).sub.n—H, where R is a branched C.sub.6 to C.sub.20 alkyl and n is from 3 to 30. The invention further relates to the metalworking fluid, and to a use of the propoxylate as additive in metalworking fluids.