Effect Of Comb-like Copolymer On Properties Of Wax And Rheology Of High Waxy Oil

As the economy develops rapidly, the demand for energy follows. As the main resource of energy, crude oil plays an important role in industry. While the consumption rate grows every year, the reservation decreases sharply, leading to a consequence that the exploit for waxy oil increases. At the same time, people come across a series of problems such as high yield stress, high viscosity and poor flowing ability during the process of exploit and transportation. Chemical additives can improve the flowing ability of crude oil effectively with advantages of lower energy consuming, smaller dose and less cost compared with traditional methods.A series of comb-like copolymers called SMACs were synthesized. Three alkyl amines with different length were grafted onto the main chain of poly (styrene-co-maleic anhydride). They are tetradecylamine, cetylamine and octadecylamine. The ratio of alkylamine to poly (styrene-co-maleic anhydride) was adjusted to gain SMACs with different amination degree. With the whole series of SMACs, the effect of length of side chain and amination degree on improving flowing ability of crude oil can be researched.1H-NMR was used to determine the structure of SMACs, by calculating the integration area of the peaks, the amination degree of SMACs was obtained. GPC was used to determine the molecular weight of SMACs, a rheometer was used to test the yield stress and melting point of oil with and without SMACs, the morphology of wax in oils was confirmed by polarizing light microscopy while through DSC, the phase transformation temperature and heat of wax in oils was obtained.According to the results, the series of comb-like copolymers can reduce the yield stress and melting point of oils effectively, also they can modify the morphology of wax crystals, making them separate with each other. With the addition rate of0.3%, SMAC18-2.0can reduce the yield stress of crude oil with a scale of99.3%at50℃. The length of side chains, addition rate and amination degree affect the results remarkably. Basicly, longer length of side chains, more addition and higher amination degree bring better improvement of flowing ability of oils.A series of comb-like copolymers were successfully synthesized. They can effectively restrain the crystallization of wax, reduce the yield stress and pour point of high waxy oil, therefore improve the flowing ability of high waxy oil, reduce energy consumption and bring considerable economical income.