Nanoparticle-based shear-thickening materials
A composition includes an aqueous colloidal dispersion of a nanomaterial. The nanomaterial includes, disposed on a surface of the nanomaterial, a first coupling agent including silane and a functional group including an amino acid. The nanomaterial includes, disposed on the surface of the nanomaterial, a second coupling agent including silane and a polymer with a molecular weight between 1,000 and 20,000.
1. A method comprising:
forming a nanomaterial, wherein an average particle size of the nanomaterial is equal to or less than approximately 1 μm, the forming comprising:
disposing, on a surface of a silica nanoparticle, a first coupling agent comprising a silane having a functional group comprising an amino acid; and
disposing, on the surface of the silica nanoparticle, a second coupling agent comprising a silane coupled to a polymer with a molecular weight between 1,000 and 20,000; and
dispersing the nanomaterial in a fluid comprising water to form an aqueous colloidal dispersion, wherein the aqueous colloidal dispersion is a shear-thickening material.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid is a polar amino acid.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is polyethylene glycol or polyethylene oxide.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a ratio between the first coupling agent and the second coupling agent disposed on the surface of the silica nanoparticle is between 1:1 and 20:1.
5. A method comprising introducing an aqueous colloidal dispersion to a subterranean zone, the aqueous colloidal dispersion comprising a nanomaterial including, disposed on a surface thereof:
a first coupling agent comprising a silane having a functional group comprising an amino acid; and
a second coupling agent comprising a silane coupled to a polymer with a molecular weight between 1,000 and 20,000, wherein the aqueous colloidal dispersion is a shear-thickening material.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a ratio between the first coupling agent and the second coupling agent disposed on the surface of the nanomaterial is between 1:1 and 20:1.
7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising mixing the aqueous colloidal dispersion with a cement before introducing the aqueous colloidal dispersion to the subterranean zone.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the aqueous colloidal dispersion is a shear-thickening material, and applying a shear on the aqueous colloidal dispersion causes a viscosity of the aqueous colloidal dispersion to reversibly increase by a factor of 1.1 to 3.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein heating the aqueous colloidal dispersion to above 90° C. causes a viscosity of the aqueous colloidal dispersion to reversibly increase by a factor of 1.5 to 15.