Synthesis, characterization and rheological properties of copolymer based on poly (para-isobutyl-N-Phenethyl acrylamide -Acrylamide) with drilling mud

This research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of a new form of hydrophobic modified polyacrylamide copolymer. The new copolymer is synthesized in the laboratory using an alternative polymerization process for acrylamide and para-isobutyl-N-phenylethyl acrylamide reactions. The prepared copolymer is characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (HNMR) spectroscopy to identify those functional groups present in the copolymer (AM-PIAM). In addition, the mean molecular weight of the copolymer has been calculated. By way of a Gel permeation chromatography, it has been demonstrated that the copolymer has a molecular weight of 3.2 x 105 Da. In this analysis, the impact of adding copolymer on the rheological properties of drilling mud is observed and it is noticed that there is a significant increase in the apparent viscosity (AV)), plastic viscosity (PV), Yield point (YP) and Gel strength (GS) values, while the filtration properties of drilling mud decreased. The effect of the incorporation of sodium and calcium salts on the rheological and filtration properties of drilling mud has also been observed and it has been found that there is a substantial decrease in apparent viscosity values and a comparatively high increase in filtration values. On the other hand, it is observed that the PH feature had an opposite effect on the rheological and filtration properties relative to the effects of sodium and calcium salts.