A study of thermal stability of linked polymer solution

Abstract

The influence of temperature on the stability of linked polymer solution (LPS), which is composed of low concentration partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) and aluminum citrate (Alcit), is investigated by rheological property, membrane filtration, dynamic light scattering, and core flooding experiments. The results show that the linked polymer solution has high stability, noticeable negative thixotropy, and good plugging performance on nuclear pore membrane and core when LPS was aged below 60°C. LPS is degraded quickly with weak negative thixotropy and poor plugging performance when LPS is aged at higher temperatures. The degradation rate of LPS is accelerated as the temperature is increased. The reasons for LPS losing its stability and plugging effects after aging in high temperature are the rupture of HPAM molecular chain and the rupture at linking points between HPAM and Alcit. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.