Patent ID: 7811605

Claim:
A method for forming a shape-retentive aggregate of gel particles, comprising: providing a suspension system comprising a plurality of gel particles, the particles having an average diameter of less than about 955 nanometers, wherein the gel particles have a first absolute zeta potential and are made in a polymerization system by adding from 0.1 to 10 mol percent of a surfactant to a monomer, or two or more different monomers, wherein the monomer(s) are selected from the group consisting of a 2-alkenoic acid, a hydroxy(2C-4C)alkyl 2-alkenoate, a hydroxy(2C-4C)alkoxy(2C-4C)alkyl 2-alkenoate, a (1C-4C)alkoxy(2C-4C)alkoxy(2C-4C)alkyl 2-alkenoate and a vicinyl epoxy(1C-4C)alkyl 2-alkenoate and a combination of two or more thereof, in a polar liquid or a mixture of polar liquids, wherein the polar liquid or at least one of the two or more polar liquids comprise(s) one or more hydroxyl groups; and, introducing the suspension system into a receiving medium, which after introduction, the gel particles acquire a second absolute zeta potential which is lower (closer to zero) than the first absolute zeta potential whereupon the gel particles coalesce into a shape-retentive aggregate that maintains indefinitely a shape and the particles of the aggregate are held together by non-covalent bond physical forces comprising hydrophobic-hydrophilic interactions and hydrogen bonds.