Rheology modifying star macrmolecules for fracking fluids and home care
View Patent ↗A polymer composition comprising star macromolecules is provided. Each star macromolecule has a core and five or more arms, wherein the number of arms within a star macromolecule varies across the composition of star molecules. The arms on a star are covalently attached to the core of the star; each arm comprises one or more (co)polymer segments; and at least one arm and/or at least one segment exhibits a different solubility from at least one other arm or one other segment, respectively, in a reference liquid of interest.
1. A composition, comprising at least 0.05 wt. % of one or more rheology-modifying star macromolecules, wherein the one or more rheology-modifying star macromolecules comprises:
a) a molecular weight of greater than 100,000 g/mol;
b) a core having a hydrophobic crosslinked polymeric segment; and
c) a plurality of hydrophilic-segment-containing arms comprising at least two types of arms, wherein a first-arm-type extends beyond a second-arm-type and said first-arm-type has a hydrophobic segment on its distal end; and
wherein the composition has a shear-thinning value of at least 6.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is a home care composition.
3. The composition of claim 2 , wherein the composition is a sprayable formulation.
4. The composition of claim 2 , wherein the composition is a sprayable cleaner.
5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the composition is clear.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is a detergent composition.
7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is a cosmetic or personal care composition.
8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is a paint or oil-well drilling-fluid composition.
9. A composition, comprising at least 0.05 wt. % of an additive to improve water flooding during enhanced oil recovery, wherein the additive is a star macromolecule comprising:
a) a molecular weight of greater than 100,000 g/mol;
b) a core having a hydrophobic crosslinked polymeric segment; and
c) a plurality of hydrophilic-segment-containing arms comprising at least two types of arms, wherein a first-arm-type extends beyond a second-arm-type and said first-arm-type has a hydrophobic segment on its distal end; and
wherein the composition has a shear-thinning value of at least 6.
10. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the composition has high gel strength, according to the strong gel test.
11. A shear-sensitive gel composition, comprising at least 0.05 wt. % of one or more shear-sensitive star macromolecules, wherein the one or more shear-sensitive star macromolecules comprises:
a) a molecular weight of greater than 100,000 g/mol;
b) a core having a hydrophobic crosslinked polymeric segment; and
c) a plurality of hydrophilic-segment-containing arms comprising at least two types of arms, wherein a first-arm-type extends beyond a second-arm-type and said first-arm-type has a hydrophobic segment on its distal end; and
wherein the composition has a shear-thinning value of at least 6.
12. The shear-sensitive gel composition of claim 11 , wherein the composition is a lubricant.
13. The shear-sensitive gel composition of claim 11 , wherein the composition is a personal care lubricant.
14. The shear-sensitive gel composition of claim 11 , wherein the composition is homogeneous.
15. The shear-sensitive gel composition of claim 11 , wherein the composition is clear.
16. The shear-sensitive gel composition of claim 11 , wherein the composition is an emulsion.
17. The shear-sensitive gel composition of claim 16 , wherein the emulsion is an emulsifier-free emulsion.
18. The shear-sensitive gel composition of claim 11 , wherein the composition has an emulsion value of greater than 12 hours.
19. The shear-sensitive gel composition of claim 11 , wherein the composition has a salt-induced break value of at least 60%.
20. The shear-sensitive gel composition of claim 11 , wherein the composition has a dynamic viscosity of at least 20,000 cP at 1 rpm.