Low-melting elemental metal or fusible alloy encapsulated polymerization initiator for delayed initiation
View Patent ↗An encapsulated composition for polymerization includes an initiator composition for initiating a polymerization reaction, and a capsule prepared from an elemental metal or fusible alloy having a melting temperature from about 20° C. to about 200° C. A fluid for polymerization includes the encapsulated composition and a monomer. When the capsule melts or breaks open, the initiator is released.
1. A fluid composition comprising a fluid, a monomer and an encapsulated polymerization initiator composition; said encapsulated polymerization initiator composition comprising:
a polymerization initiator; and
a metal capsule encapsulating the polymerization initiator composition, said metal selected from an elemental metal or a fusible alloy, said metal capsule having a melting temperature from about 20° C. to about 200° C.
2. The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated polymerization initiator composition further comprises a dye.
3. The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the monomer is selected from acrylates, methacrylates, acrylic esters, methacrylic esters, butadiene, styrene, vinyl chloride, N-vinylpyrrolidone, and N-vinylcaprolactam.
4. The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said fluid is a spacer fluid for an annulus for a borehole.
5. The fluid of claim 4 , wherein said borehole comprises a borehole in the ocean floor.
6. The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said fluid is water-based.
7. The fluid of claim 6 , wherein said fluid further comprises water, a surfactant, a suspension agent, a thickening agent, and a weighting agent.
8. The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said fluid is oil-based.
9. The fluid of claim 8 , wherein said fluid further comprises oil, a surfactant, a suspension agent, a thickening agent, and a weighting agent.
10. The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said elemental metal is Ga or In.
11. The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said fusible alloy includes Bi.
12. The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said fusible alloy includes Sn.
13. The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said fusible alloy includes Pb.
14. The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said fusible alloy includes Cd.
15. The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said fusible alloy includes Zn.
16. The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said fusible alloy includes In.
17. The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said fusible alloy includes Tl.
18. The fluid of claim 1 , wherein said fusible alloy includes at least two metals selected from Bi, Pb, In, Cd, Tl, Sn, and Zn.
19. The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the polymerization initiator is selected from an azo initiator, a peroxide initiator, or a redox initiator.