High performance polymers for oil and gas applications

Exploring Extremophiles from Bulgaria: Biodiversity, Biopolymer Synthesis, Functional Properties, Applications

Bulgaria stands out as a country rich in diverse extreme environments, boasting a remarkable abundance of mineral hot waters, which positions it as the second-largest source of such natural resources in Europe. Notably, several thermal and coastal solar salterns within its territory serve as thriving habitats for thermophilic and halophilic microorganisms, which offer promising bioactive compounds, including exopolysaccharides (EPSs). Multiple thermophilic EPS producers were isolated, along with a selection from several saltern environments, revealing an impressive taxonomic and bacterial diversity. Four isolates from three different thermophilic species, Geobacillus tepidamans V264, Aeribacillus pallidus 418, Brevibacillus thermoruber 423, and Brevibacillus thermoruber 438, along with the halophilic strain Chromohalobacter canadensis 28, emerged as promising candidates for further exploration. Optimization of cultivation media and conditions was conducted for each EPS producer. Additionally, investigations into the influence of aeration and stirring in laboratory bioreactors provided valuable insights into growth dynamics and polymer synthesis. The synthesized biopolymers showed excellent emulsifying properties, emulsion stability, and synergistic interaction with other hydrocolloids. Demonstrated biological activities and functional properties pave the way for potential future applications in diverse fields, with particular emphasis on cosmetics and medicine. The remarkable versatility and efficacy of biopolymers offer opportunities for innovation and development in different industrial sectors.

Self-Assembly of Block Copolymers in Thin Films Swollen-Rich in Solvent Vapors

In this study we have employed a polymer processing method based on solvent vapor annealing in order to condense relatively large amounts of solvent vapors onto thin films of block copolymers and thus to promote their self-assembly into ordered nanostructures. As revealed by the atomic force microscopy, a periodic lamellar morphology of poly(2-vinylpyridine)-b-polybutadiene and an ordered morphology comprised of hexagonally-packed structures made of poly(2-vinylpyridine)-b-poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate) were both successfully generated on solid substrates for the first time.

Effect of thermally induced microstructural changes on the mechanical properties and ballistic performance of poly (p-phenylene terephthalamide) fibers

Microstructural variations have a strong influence on the load transfer capacity of the high-performance polymeric fibers, which is also reflected in their ballistic property changes. The focus of the present study is to investigate thermally induced microstructural changes and their reflection on the mechanical properties and theoretical ballistic limit of poly ( p-phenylene terephthalamide) fibers by a correlation. From the quantitative analysis of XRD, thermally induced changes in unit cell a-dimension show profound sensitivity in affecting the tenacity and modulus of the fibers. Based on the physicochemical changes in FTIR and FESEM analysis, significant surface deterioration and changes in the chemical network are observed. However, dimensional variations of the crystal structure along a-direction show a stronger influence than the chemical and morphological changes, reflecting sigmoidal responses with tenacity, modulus and theoretical V50 by correlations. As an effect of unit cell dimensional variation, changes in crystallinity are resulted and lead to the loss in theoretical ballistic limit of the fibers by following first-order kinetics. Lastly, angular separation and (200) orientation angle are determined to build a global correlation with modulus and theoretical ballistic limit for quickly decoding macro-changes in terms of micro-properties. The given correlations can help to identify crystallographic transformations upon other induction techniques and view their effect on mechanical and ballistic parameters. In addition, the given approach can be extended for different ballistic materials under any environmental conditions.

The Aging Performance of PVDF in Acid Oil and Gas Medium

In the process of transporting oil and gas, the service performance of thermoplastic pipes will decline due to the multiple influences of medium, temperature, and pressure. In order to study the service performance changes of PVDF pipes under oil and gas transportation conditions, the high-temperature autoclave is used to simulate the service state of the pipe in the mediums. The PVDF samples are exposed to simulated oil and gas mediums for 1 week, 3 weeks, 5 weeks, and 7 weeks under 60 °C and 90 °C conditions. After the exposure test, the physical and chemical properties of the PVDF pipe are tested and compared with the initial samples. Compared with the initial sample, the sample quality after the exposure test has a slight increase, with growth rates of 2% and 3% at 60 °C and 90 °C, respectively. Meanwhile, the tensile strength of the samples is about 13% and 21% lower than that of the initial sample, respectively. According to the microscopic morphology analyses, there are some crack defects on the surface of the sample after the exposure test. Through infrared analysis, it is shown that no molecular chain breakage, crosslinking, or other reactions are found after the exposure test. The above analysis shows that the PVDF sample has slight penetration and swelling during the exposure test. However, due to the large force between the PVDF molecules, its mechanical properties have a small downward trend, showing excellent environmental stress crack resistance.

Selection of Organic Coating Systems for Corrosion Protection of Industrial Equipment

The most important element of corrosion protection in industrial conditions is the protective coating system. However, selecting the right coating can often be a real problem due to the sheer number of coating manufacturers and their products on the market. A quantitative approach based on the data mining technique used to analyze the obtained multi-site exposure data has been proposed. This was demonstrated by the example of the selection of a coating system to protect an industrial ball mill located in a hall for the enrichment of copper ore at the Polish company KGHM Polska Miedz S.A. A collection of 21 two-layer coating systems from different manufacturers was tested for one year. Multiple areas on the industrial ball mill, subjected to varying degrees of vibrations and abrasion, were painted. In addition, sets of samples that can be detached from the mill housing were mounted, as well as the set exposed in the hall without vibrations. The condition of the coatings after exposure was assessed using impedance spectroscopy. The obtained data from many different exposure areas were analyzed using principal components analysis (PCA). In this way, the most advantageous coating systems for the specific conditions in the hall were indicated. Additionally, on this basis, the contribution of various destructive factors, including vibrations and abrasion, to the protective properties of the tested coatings, was estimated.

Approaching Polymer Dynamics Combining Artificial Neural Networks and Elastically Collective Nonlinear Langevin Equation

The analysis of structural relaxation dynamics of polymers gives an insight into their mechanical properties, whose characterization is used to qualify a given material for its practical scope. The dynamics are usually expressed in terms of the temperature dependence of the relaxation time, which is only available through time-consuming experimental processes following polymer synthesis. However, it would be advantageous to estimate their dynamics before synthesizing them when designing new materials. In this work, we propose a combined approach of artificial neural networks and the elastically collective nonlinear Langevin equation (ECNLE) to estimate the temperature dependence of the main structural relaxation time of polymers based only on the knowledge of the chemical structure of the corresponding monomer.

Fluorescent Polymers Conspectus

The development of luminescent materials is critical to humankind. The Nobel Prizes awarded in 2008 and 2010 for research on the development of green fluorescent proteins and super-resolved fluorescence imaging are proof of this (2014). Fluorescent probes, smart polymer machines, fluorescent chemosensors, fluorescence molecular thermometers, fluorescent imaging, drug delivery carriers, and other applications make fluorescent polymers (FPs) exciting materials. Two major branches can be distinguished in the field: (1) macromolecules with fluorophores in their structure and (2) aggregation-induced emission (AIE) FPs. In the first, the polymer (which may be conjugated) contains a fluorophore, conferring photoluminescent properties to the final material, offering tunable structures, robust mechanical properties, and low detection limits in sensing applications when compared to small-molecule or inorganic luminescent materials. In the latter, AIE FPs use a novel mode of fluorescence dependent on the aggregation state. AIE FP intra- and intermolecular interactions confer synergistic effects, improving their properties and performance over small molecules aggregation-induced, emission-based fluorescent materials (AIEgens). Despite their outstanding advantages (over classic polymers) of high emission efficiency, signal amplification, good processability, and multiple functionalization, AIE polymers have received less attention. This review examines some of the most significant advances in the broad field of FPs over the last six years, concluding with a general outlook and discussion of future challenges to promote advancements in these promising materials that can serve as a springboard for future innovation in the field.

Mechanical and wear behaviour of PEEK, PTFE and PU: review and experimental study

Soft polymers such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyurethane (PU) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) have gained significant research interest in the last few decades owing to their excellent material properties which can be harnessed to meet the demands of various applications such as biomedical implants and accessories, insulation panels to cooking utensils, inner coating material for non-stick cookware etc. In the present study, we provide a comprehensive review on the mechanical and tribological behaviour of PEEK, PU and PTFE polymers. Samples of these materials were also fabricated and the experimentally obtained tensile strength, flexural strength, wear rate and coefficient of frictions were ascertained with values reported in literature. It is highlighted that coefficient of friction of polymers were highly dependent on the surface texture of the polymer’s surface; where an uneven surface exhibited higher coefficient of friction. Perspectives for future progress are also highlighted in this paper.

Additively manufactured high-performance polymeric materials and their potential use in the oil and gas industry

The oil and gas industry has been tagged as among the largest revenue-generating sectors in the world. High-performance polymers (HPPs), on the other hand, are among the most useful industrial materials, while the utility of 3D printing technologies has evolved and transitioned from rapid prototyping of composite materials to manufacturing of functional parts. In this prospective, we highlight the potential uses and industrial applications of 3D-printed HPP materials in the oil and gas sector, including the challenges and opportunities present.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Post-Processing of 3D-Printed Polymers

Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, is an advancement over traditional formative manufacturing methods. It can increase efficiency in manufacturing operations highlighting advantages such as rapid prototyping, reduction of waste, reduction of manufacturing time and cost, and increased flexibility in a production setting. The additive manufacturing (AM) process consists of five steps: (1) preparation of 3D models for printing (designing the part/object), (2) conversion to STL file, (3) slicing and setting of 3D printing parameters, (4) actual printing, and (5) finishing/post-processing methods. Very often, the 3D printed part is sufficient by itself without further post-printing processing. However, many applications still require some forms of post-processing, especially those for industrial applications. This review focuses on the importance of different finishing/post-processing methods for 3D-printed polymers. Different 3D printing technologies and materials are considered in presenting the authors’ perspective. The advantages and disadvantages of using these methods are also discussed together with the cost and time in doing the post-processing activities. Lastly, this review also includes discussions on the enhancement of properties such as electrical, mechanical, and chemical, and other characteristics such as geometrical precision, durability, surface properties, and aesthetic value with post-printing processing. Future perspectives is also provided towards the end of this review.

3D printing of biomedically relevant polymer materials and biocompatibility

ABSTRACT

Research on polymer materials for additive manufacturing technology in biomedical applications is as promising as it is numerous, but biocompatibility of printable materials still remains a big challenge. Changes occurring during the 3D-printing processes itself may have adverse effects on the compatibility of the completed print. This prospective will put emphasis on the different additives and processes that can have a direct impact on biocompatibility during and after 3D printing of polymer materials.

GRAPHIC ABSTRACT