Rheological properties of hexadecyl dimethyl amine modified carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose solutions and its gelling process

ABSTRACT

To obtain a new fracturing fluid viscosifier, hexadecyl dimethyl amine was used to modify carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (CMHEC) to obtain a product called HD-CMHEC with high viscosity. The rheological properties of HD-CMHEC solutions and CMHEC solutions were studied. For the concentration of 0.3%, the viscosity of CMHEC and HD-CMHEC solutions is, respectively, 19.0 mPa · s and 73.6 mPa · s, respectively. The viscosity of HD-CMHEC solution increases 2.8 times than before. The thixotropy and viscoelasticity of HD-CMHEC solutions become stronger. As a typical viscoelastic fluid, HD-CMHEC solutions show better rheological performance than that of CMHEC solutions. The gelling process of HD-CMHEC solutions under steady shear was studied in detail. The concentrations of HD-CMHEC solutions, shear rates, and crosslinking agent were investigated. Viscosity versus time curves during the crosslinking process were obtained. The four-parameter crosslinking rheokinetics equation can describe the gelling process of HD-CMHEC solutions under different conditions well. Study on the gelling process of HD-CMHEC solutions under steady shear contributes to the understanding of gel formation, and provides theoretical guidance for exploration and exploitation of the system.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Cellulose
• gelling process
• modification
• rheological properties

Acknowledgments

This project was granted financial support from the National High Technology Research and Development Program “863” Project of China (2013AA064801).