Triazine Polymers for Improving Elastic Properties in Oil Well Cements

The oil well cement placed in the annulus between casings and the formations experience high stresses under downhole conditions. These frequent stresses deteriorate the mechanical properties of cement and lead to the formation of micro-cracks and fractures, which affect production and increases the cost of operation. Although several polymeric materials have been employed to improve tensile properties of the cement, these additives have also adversely affected the compressive strength of the cement. A highly stable polymeric additive, triazine-based polymers, is designed, synthesized, and compounded with the cement to improve the tensile properties of the well-cement. Triazine polymer was characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The triazine polymer was mixed with cement and the cement slurries were cured at 180 °F under 3000 psi for 3 days. The set-cement samples were subjected to mechanical testing under high temperature and high pressure to study the elastic properties of the cement. The introduction of this polymer into the cement has improved the elastic properties of the cement with minimum reduction in compressive strength. The thickening time, dynamic compressive strength development, rheology, fluid loss properties, and brazilian tensile strength of the control and cement with triazine polymers were studied to understand the effect of this newly developed polymeric additive. The molecular interaction of the triazine polymer with cement particles has shown formation of covalent linkage between the polymer and cement particle. We have observed a 15 % decrease in Young's modulus for cement compounded with 2%wt. of triazine polymer, indicating the introduction of elastic properties in wellbore cement.

On the Development of an Effective Method to Produce Conductive PCL Film

The aim of this work was to develop an effective approach to improve the graphite dispersion and, consequently, the electrical conductivity of nanocomposites based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and graphite nanoplates (GNP). With this aim, a polymeric additive was designed to be compatible with the polymer matrix and capable of interacting with the graphite layers. Indeed, the compound consists of a low molecular mass PCL ending with a pyrene group (Pyr-PCL). The exploitation of such a molecule is expected to promote from one side specific interactions of the pyrene terminal group with the surface of graphite layers and from the other to guarantee the compatibility with PCL, having a chain with the same nature as the matrix. The features of the nanocomposites prepared by directly blending PCL with GNP were compared with those of the same systems also containing the additive. Moreover, a neat mixture, based on PCL and PCL-Pyr, was prepared and characterized. The specific interactions between the ad hoc synthesized compound and graphite were verified by UV measurements, while SEM characterization demonstrated a finer dispersion of GNP in the samples containing Pyr-PCL. GNP nucleating effect, proved by the increase in the crystallization temperature, was observed in all the samples containing the nanofiller. Moreover, a significant improvement of the electrical conductivity was found in the systems based on the pyrenyl terminated PCL. This peculiar and interesting phenomenon was related to the optimized nanofiller dispersion and to the ameliorated compatibility with the polymer matrix.

Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution Reactions under Aqueous, Mild Conditions Using Polymeric Additive HPMC

The use of the inexpensive, benign, and sustainable polymer, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), in water enables nucleophilic aromatic subsitution (SNAr) reactions between various nucleophiles and electrophiles. The mild reaction conditions facilitate...

Synthesis of industrial by-product based polymeric additive for use of non-coking coal in metallurgical coke making and a combined density functional theory assessment of molecular mechanism in fluidity development

Recently, utilization of inferior grade coal for production of fuel based material i.e. metallurgical coke is an exciting research area in industrial sector because of the limited reserve of prime...

Review of Tailoring Methods for Joints with Additively Manufactured Adherends and Adhesives

This review aims to assess the current modelling and experimental achievements in the design for additive manufacturing of bonded joints, providing a summary of the current state of the art. To limit its scope, the document is focused only on polymeric additive manufacturing processes. As a result, this review paper contains a structured collection of the tailoring methods adopted for additively manufactured adherends and adhesives with the aim of maximizing bonded joint performance. The intent is, setting the state of the art, to produce an overview useful to identify the new opportunities provided by recent progresses in the design for additive manufacturing, additive manufacturing processes and materials’ developments.

Improving the Aging Resistance of Asphalt by Addition of Polyethylene and Sulphur

With the increase in demand of flexible pavements, due to their various advantages over rigid pavements, there is a need to improve the aging properties of the bitumen in order to enhance its resistance against different types of distresses such as rutting, fatigue cracking. This research focus on the use of one polymeric additive Polyethylene (PE) and one non polymeric additive Sulphur (S) to enhance the aging resistance of asphalt. These modifiers are evaluated for their effect on the aging mechanism in comparison with the unmodified bitumen. Aging of the original and modified bitumen is realized by the Rolling Thin Film Oven (RTFO) and Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV). Physical properties of the aged and unaged asphalt binders are evaluated through empirical testing like penetration, ductility and softening point test. Optimum content of the modifiers is obtained by comparing the results of conventional properties before and after aging. Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) are performed to bring out the chemical and morphological changes in the modified binder. Rheological properties of modified asphalt are evaluated with the help of a Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR). Results indicate improvement in physical properties of the modified asphalt even after the aging. Penetration index increased which shows less temperature susceptibility of the modified binders. Carbonyl and sulfoxide index are used as aging indicators which shows reduction in case of modified samples. Decrease in the sulfoxide and carbonyl index indicates better oxidation resistance of the modified samples. Morphological analysis proves good compatibility of the modifiers with asphalt binders. DSR results indicate improved viscoelastic properties of the modified binders. Hence it can be concluded that Polyethylene and Sulphur are good options to improve the aging resistance of asphalt in terms of their cost effectiveness and environment friendly nature.

Development of a gripper for garment handling designed for additive manufacturing

The paper presents how a robotic gripper specific for grasping and handling of textiles and soft flexible layers can be miniaturized and improved by polymeric additive manufacturing-oriented re-design. Advantages of polymeric additive manufacturing are to allow a re-design of components with integrated functions, to be cost-effective equipment for small batches production and the availability of suitable materials for many applications. The drawback is that for design validation extended testing is still necessary because of lacks in standardization and that the mechanical properties are building parameters dependent. The outcomes are a lower complexity of the design overall and lower number of components. These are pursued taking advantage of the anisotropy of the additive manufacturing processed polymer and assigning appropriate shapes and linkages in the mechanisms. Set of common materials (polylactide, polyethylene terephthalate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and technical (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, polycarbonate/polybutylene terephthalate blend) are tested to obtain data for the modelling.