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Preparation of heat resisting poly(methyl methacrylate)/graphite composite microspheres used as ultra‐lightweight proppants
Author(s) -
Chen Tao,
Wang Yixia,
Yan Chunjie,
Wang Hongquan,
Xu Yangcheng,
Ma Rui
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.41924
Subject(s) - materials science , graphite , composite number , composite material , scanning electron microscope , in situ polymerization , methyl methacrylate , sphericity , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , thermal stability , polymerization , chemical engineering , polymer , engineering
Ultra‐lightweight heat resisting poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/graphite microspheres were successfully prepared via in situ suspension polymerization. The Fourier transform infrared and X‐ray powder diffraction results confirmed the successful preparation of the composite microspheres. Field emission scanning electron microscope analysis illustrated that the graphite particles were dispersed in microspheres and the PMMA/graphite composite microspheres had good sphericity and roundness. Furthermore, density analysis indicated that the apparent density of composites microspheres was about 1.055–1.135g/cm 3 which was suitable for the transmission with water carrying. The results from thermodynamic test revealed that the thermal stability of the composite was significantly improved with increasing graphite content, which could be used as ultra‐lightweight proppant in deep underground. In addition, the crushing rate decreased to 0.5% with graphite ratio of 3.0% at the pressure of 69 MPa. Therefore, PMMA/Graphite composite microspheres exhibit a promising application in petroleum or gas exploitation as water carrying fracturing proppants. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132 , 41924.