High-temperature sulfone polymers

Figure 1.15 Structure of high-temperature sulfone polymer.

In 2004 Solvay Advanced Polymers introduced these HTS under the Supradel trademark. In 2007 the trademark was changed to EpiSpire. The structure appears in Eig. 1.15. HTS is a high-temperature amorphous polymer. The more rigid biphenyldisul-fone unit results in polymer with a of265°C, which is noticeably higher than TgS other sulfone polymers [30,31]. The structure of HTS appears in Fig. 1.15. 

An ultra class of high performing polymers (CUT > 240 °C) including polybenzimidazole (PBI), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyimide, polyamide-imide, polyether-imide (PI, PAI, PEI), high temperature sulfone (HTS), self-reinforced polyphenylene ether (SRP),etc. 

Low molecular weight (1000—5000) polyacrylates and copolymers of acryflc acid and AMPS are used as dispersants for weighted water-base muds (64). These materials, 40—50% of which is the active polymer, are usually provided in a Hquid form. They are particularly useful where high temperatures are encountered or in muds, which derive most of their viscosity from fine drill soHds, and polymers such as xanthan gum and polyacrylamide. Another high temperature polymer, a sulfonated styrene maleic—anhydride copolymer, is provided in powdered form (65,66). AH of these materials are used in relatively low (ca 0.2—0.7 kg/m (0.5—2 lb /bbl)) concentrations in the mud. 

A number of synthetic polymers having the abHity to control filtration rates at high temperature and in the presence of calcium and magnesium have also been developed (88). Such materials include vinyl sulfonate—vinyl amide copolymers (89,90), a copolymer of AMPS and A/,A/-dialkyl (meth) acrylamide (91) and a sulfonated hydroxylated polymer (92). AppHcation levels for these materials range from 5 to 18 kg/m (2—6 lb /bbl). Sulfonated asphalt is also used for high temperature filtration control. 

An additive described as reducing the water loss and enhancing other properties of well-treating fluids in high-temperature subterranean environments consists of polymers or copolymers from N-vinyl lactam monomers or vinyl-containing sulfonate monomers. Organic compounds like lignites, tannins, and asphaltic materials are added as dispersants [175]. 

Conventional polymer and phosphonate scale inhibitors may not be appropriate for application in high-pressure and high-temperature reservoirs. Only a limited range of commercially available oil field scale inhibitor chemicals are sufficiently thermally stable at temperatures above 150° C. These chemicals are homopolymers of vinyl sulfonate and copolymers of acrylic acid... 

J. Hen. Sulfonate-containing polymer/polyanionic cellulose combination for high temperature/high pressure filtration control in water base drilling fluids. Patent US 5(X)8025,1991. 

Montaudo and co-workers have used direct pyrolysis mass spectrometry (DPMS) to analyse the high-temperature (>500°C) pyrolysis compounds evolved from several condensation polymers, including poly(bisphenol-A-carbonate) [69], poly(ether sulfone) (PES) and poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) [72] and poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) [73]. Additionally, in order to obtain data on the involatile charred residue formed during the isothermal pyrolysis process, the pyrolysis residue was subjected to aminolysis, and then the aminolyzed residue analysed using fast atom bombardment (FAB) MS. During the DPMS measurements, EI-MS scans were made every 3 s continuously over the mass range 10-1,000 Da with an interscan time of 3 s. 

Solid state NMR has been used to study polymers of various classes over the past several years. In particular, the technique has been used to study curing reactions in epoxies (12). polyimides (1), and acetylenic terminated sulfones (13). The ability to observe the evolution of the carbons of the reacting species has been clearly shown to provide valuable information which has been difficult or impossible to obtain with other techniques. The use of 13C solid state NMR techniques is essential for the understanding of curing reactions in high temperature polymers in order to be able to correlate the reaction chemistry with the structural and resulting physical properties. 

Arylene ether/imide copolymers were prepared by the reaction of various amounts 4,4 -carbonylbis[Ar-(4 -hydroxyphenyl)phthalimide] and 4,4 -biphenoi with a stoichiometric portion of 4,4 -dichlorodiphenyl sulfone in the presence of potassium carbonate in NMP/CHP [55]. To obtain high molecular weight polymer, the temperature of the reaction was kept below 155 °C for several hours before heating to >155°C in an attempt to avoid undesirable side reactions such as opening of the imide ring. The imide ring is not stable to conditions of normal aromatic nucleophilic polymerizations unless extreme care is exercised to remove water. Special conditions must be used to avoid hydrolysis of the imide as previously mentioned in the section on Other PAE Containing Heterocyclic Units and as practiced in the synthesis of Ultem mentioned in the Historical Perspective section. 

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