Sulfonated polymers, thermal stability

Cross-linked macromolecular gels have been prepared by Eriedel-Crafts cross-linking of polystyrene with a dihaloaromatic compound, or Eriedel-Crafts cross-linking of styrene—chloroalkyl styrene copolymers. These polymers in their sulfonated form have found use as thermal stabilizers, especially for use in drilling fluids (193). Cross-linking polymers with good heat resistance were also prepared by Eriedel-Crafts reaction of diacid haUdes with haloaryl ethers (194). 

Table 11 describes the thermal properties of polyether sulfone based on DCDPS and heteroarylenediol. The TgS range from 230 to 315°C and the decomposition temperature is higher than 450°C. Their thermal stability depends on the bisphenol and activated difluoride used in the polymer synthesis (Tables 10 and 11). 

Modifying polymers is veiy convenient and quite economic. However, control of sulfonation is veiy difficult since the sulfonation occurs on the activated ring, which may deteriorate thermal stability of the polymer. The extent of sulfonation is also hard to control and side reactions may occur. 

Synthetic polymers and natural polymers suitable for drilling muds are listed in Tables 1-7 and 1-8, respectively. Polyacrylamides are eventually hydrolyzed in the course of time and temperature. This leads to a lack of tolerance toward electrolyte contamination and to a rapid degradation inducing a loss of their properties. Modifications of polyacrylamide structures have been proposed to postpone their thermal stability to higher temperatures. Monomers such as AMPS or sulfonated styrene/maleic anhydride can be used to prevent acrylamide comonomer from hydrolysis [92]. 

Polydrill is a sulfonated polymer for filtration control in water-based drilling fluids [1775]. Tests demonstrated the product s thermal stability up to 200° C and its outstanding electrolyte tolerance. Polydrill can be used in NaCl-saturated drilling fluids as well as in muds containing 75,000 ppm of calcium or 100,000 ppm of magnesium. A combination of starch with Poly drill was used successfully in drilling several wells. The deepest hole was drilled with 11 to 22 kg/m of pregelatinized starch and 2.5 to 5.5 kg/m of Polydrill to a depth of 4800 m. Field experience with the calcium-tolerant starch/Polydrill system useful up to 145° C has been discussed in detail [1774]. 

A composition containing polyanionic cellulose and a synthetic polymer of sulfonate has been tested for reducing the fluid loss and for the thermal stabilization of a water-based drilling fluid for extended periods at deep well drilling temperatures [812]. 

However, the mechanism of action of filtration control additives is not yet completely understood. Examples are bentonite, latex, various organic polymers, and copolymers. Many additives for fluid loss are water-soluble polymers. Vinyl sulfonate fluid loss additives based on the 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propane sulfonic acid (AMPS) monomer are in common use in field cementing operations [363]. The copolymerization of AMPS with conjugate monomers yields a fluid loss agent whose properties include minimal retardation, salt tolerance, high efficiency, thermal stability, and excellent solids support. 

A. Audibert and J. F. Argillier. Thermal stability of sulfonated polymers. In Proceedings Volume, pages 81-91. SPE Oilfield Chem Int Symp (San Antonio, TX, 2/14-2/17), 1995. 

Acrylamide copolymers designed to reduce undesired amide group hydrolysis, increase thermal stability, and improve solubility in saline media have been synthesized and studied for EOR applications. These polymers still tend to be shear sensitive. Acrylamide comonomers that have been used include 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate, abbreviated AMPS, (1,321-324), 2-sulfo-ethylmethacrylate (325,326), diacetone acrylamide (324, 326), and vinylpyrrolidinone (327,328). Acrylamide terpolymers include those with sodium acrylate and acrylamido-N-dodecyl-N-butyl sulfonate (329), with AMPS and N,N-dimethylacrylamide (330), with AMPS and N-vinylpyrrolidinone (331), and with sodium acrylate and sodium methacrylate (332). While most copolymers tested have been random copolymers, block copolymers of acrylamide and AMPS also have utility in this application (333). 

Nafion, a perfluorinated sulfonated polymer, is a typical example of an ion-exchangeable resin with high promise as a catalyst support. Its properties are significantly different from those of common polymers (stability towards strong bases, and strong oxidizing and reducing acids and thermal stability up to at least 120 °C if the counter ion is a proton, and up to 200-235 °C if it is a... 

To date, much effort has been undertaken to develop new alternatives. For example, sulfonated aromatic polymers, i.e., polymers with the sulfonic acid groups directly attached to the main chain or carrying short pendant side chains with terminal sulfonic acid units, attract increasing interest because of their chemical and thermal stability, and the ease of the sulfonation procedure. Some of the proposed polymers are sulfonated polysulfone (SPSU) [134] sulfonated poly(phenylene oxide) (SPPO) [135] sulfonated poly-(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) [136] poly(phenylquinoxaline) (PPQ) [137] and poly(benzeneimidazole) (PBI) [138],... 

Of all the hydrocarbon-based PEMs, this group most likely has the largest variety of different systems. This is probably due to the wealth of prior knowledge of the nonsulfonated analogues that have been developed over the last several decades as well as the general expectation of higher thermal stability, better mechanical properties, and increased oxidative stability over polystyrene-based systems. Within the context of this section, polyarylenes are systems in which an aryl or heteroaryl ring is part of the main chain of the polymer. This section will, therefore, include polymers such as sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) and sulfonated poly(imides) but will not include systems such as sulfonated polystyrene, which will be covered in Section 3.3.I.3. 

Blends of sulfonated polymers and polymers containing basic moieties have also been made. Represented schematically in Figure 3.35, ionic cross-linking between acidic and basic sites generally leads to improved mechanical and thermal stabilities. strong interactions within these blends results... 

Poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) is an aromatic, high performance, semicrystalline polymer with extremely good thermal stability, chemical resistance, and electrical and mechanical properties. This polymer shows little solubility in organic solvents due to the crystallinity. One of the first ways to characterize PEEK was by sulfonating the polymer. By adding sulfonic acid groups to the backbone, the crystallinity decreased and solubility increased.Commercially available Victrex appears to be one of the more interesting poly(arylene ether) s used for postmodification. 

Polymerization Solvent. Sulfolane can be used alone or in combination with a cosolvent as a polymerization solvent for polyureas, polysulfones, polysiloxanes, polyether polyols, polybenzimidazoles, polyphenylene ethers, poly(l,4-benzamide) (poly(imino-l,4-phenylenecarbonyl)), silylated poly(amides), poly(arylene ether ketones), polythioamides, and poly(vinylnaphthalene/fumaronitrile) initiated by laser (134—144). Advantages of using sulfolane as a polymerization solvent include increased polymerization rate, ease of polymer purification, better solubilizing characteristics, and improved thermal stability. The increased polymerization rate has been attributed not only to an increase in the reaction temperature because of the higher boiling point of sulfolane, but also to a decrease in the activation energy of polymerization as a result of the contribution from the sulfonic group of the solvent. 

One of the technically and commercially most important cation-exchange membranes developed in recent years is based on perfluorocarbon polymers. Membranes of this type have extreme chemical and thermal stability and they are the key component in the chlorine-alkaline electrolysis as well as in most of today s fuel cells. They are prepared by copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene with perfluorovinylether having a carboxylic or sulfonic acid group at the end of a side chain. There are several variations of a general basic structure commercially available today [11]. The various preparation techniques are described in detail in the patent literature. 

Feldheim DL, Lawson DR, Martin CR (1993) Influence of the sulfonate countercation on the thermal stability of Nation perfluorosulfonate membranes. J Polym Sci Part B Polym Phys 31(8) 953—7... 

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