Thermoplastic Vulcanizate Compositions Their Preparation and Use in Flexible Tubular Pipes
A flexible pipe for transporting fluids in hydrocarbon production. The flexible pipe includes at least one layer comprised of a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) composition. In one embodiment, the TPV composition further includes a cyclic olefin copolymer present in a range from 0.1 wt % to 30 wt % based upon a total weight of the TPV composition. In another embodiment, the TPV composition further includes a hydrocarbon resin present in a range from 0.1 wt % to 30 wt % based upon a total weight of the TPV composition. In another embodiment, the TPV composition further includes a slip agent present in a range from 0.1 wt % to 30 wt % based upon a total weight of the TPV composition. In another embodiment, the TPV composition further includes a silicon hydride reducing agent compound with at least two Si—H groups. In another embodiment, the TPV composition further includes a polyolefin based compatibilizer. In another embodiment, the TPV composition has an abrasion resistance of 75 mg/1000 cycle or less. In another embodiment, the TPV composition has a CO 2 gas permeability greater than 10 barrers.
1 . A flexible pipe for transporting fluids in hydrocarbon production comprising at least one layer comprised of a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) composition, the TPV composition comprising:
a thermoplastic polyolefin;
a rubber phase that is dispersed and at least partially crosslinked; and
a cyclic olefin copolymer present in a range from 0.1 wt % to 30 wt % based upon a total weight of the TPV composition.
2 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , wherein the cyclic olefin copolymer is present in a range from 1 wt % to 10 wt % based upon a total weight of the TPV composition.
3 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , wherein the cyclic olefin copolymer has glass transition temperature in a range from 10° C. to 190° C. when measured using a differential scanning calorimeter at 10° C./min.
4 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , further comprising:
a hydrocarbon resin present in a range from 0.1 wt % to 30 wt % based upon a total weight of the TPV composition.
5 - 6 . (canceled)
7 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , further comprising:
a slip agent present in a range from 0.1 wt % to 30 wt % based upon a total weight of the TPV composition.
8 . The flexible pipe of claim 7 , wherein the slip agent is present in a range from 1 wt % to 10 wt % based upon a total weight of the TPV composition.
9 . The flexible pipe of claim 7 , wherein the slip agent is selected from the group consisting of polysiloxanes, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, a blend of polysiloxane and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene molybdenum disulfide, fluorinated polymer, perfluorinated polymer, aliphatic fatty chains, graphite, and combinations thereof.
10 - 16 . (canceled)
17 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , further comprising:
a polyolefin based compatibilizer.
18 . The flexible pipe of claim 17 , wherein the polyolefin based compatibilizer is present in a range from 0.5 wt % to 10 wt % based upon a total weight of the TPV composition.
19 . The flexible pipe of claim 17 , wherein the polyolefin based compatibilizer is selected from a group consisting of a styrenic block copolymer, an alpha-olefin copolymer, a copolymer comprising olefinic monomeric units and aromatic monomeric units, a diblock polyolefin, or a combination thereof.
20 - 25 . (canceled)
26 . A flexible pipe for transporting fluids in hydrocarbon production comprising at least one layer comprised of a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) composition, the TPV composition comprising:
a thermoplastic polyolefin; and
a rubber phase that is dispersed and at least partially crosslinked,
the TPV composition having a CO 2 gas permeability greater than 10 barrers.
27 - 32 . (canceled)
33 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , wherein the rubber phase comprises a diene-containing rubber having sterically unhindered non-conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds.
34 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , wherein the rubber phase is an ethylene propylene diene terpolymer.
35 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , wherein the rubber phase comprises a diene selected from a group consisting of ethylidenenorbornene and vinylnorbornene.
36 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , wherein the rubber phase is a copolymer of isobutylene and C 1-4 alkyl styrene.
37 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , wherein the rubber phase is a non-halogenated elastomer comprising repeating units derived from at least one C 4 to C 7 isomonoolefin monomer and at least 3.5 mol % of repeating units derived from at least one C 4 to C 7 multiolefin monomer.
38 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , wherein the rubber phase is a blend of an ethylene propylene diene terpolymer and a copolymer of isobutylene and C 1-4 alkyl styrene.
39 . The flexible pipe of any of claim 1 , wherein the rubber phase is present in a range from 5 wt % to 70 wt % based on a total weight of the TPV composition.
40 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polyolefin is an isotactic polypropylene.
41 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polyolefin is a polyethylene with a density greater than 0.90 g/cm 3 .
42 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polyolefin is a copolymer of ethylene with a density greater than 0.90 g/cm 3 .
43 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polyolefin is a blend of isotactic polypropylene and a polyethylene.
44 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , wherein thermoplastic polyolefin is present in a range from 20 wt % to 80 wt % based on the total weight of the TPV composition.
45 - 69 . (canceled)
70 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , wherein the flexible pipe comprises:
a thermal insulation layer;
a tensile armor ply;
a pressure sheath;
the at least one layer is the thermal insulation layer, the TPV composition layer having a thermal conductivity of 0.3 W/m.K or less.
71 - 75 . (canceled)
76 . The flexible pipe of claim 1 , wherein the flexible pipe comprises:
an external sheath,
a tensile armor ply; and
a pressure sheath,
the at least one layer is the external sheath, the external sheath comprising the TPV composition with a CO 2 gas permeability 10 barrers or greater.
77 - 82 . (canceled)