PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF A NEW POLYMER USEFUL FOR DRAG REDUCTION IN HYDROCARBON FLUIDS IN EXCEPTIONALLY DILUTE POLYMER SOLUTIONS

摘要

Novel polymer for drag reduction in hydrocarbon fluids is disclosed which comprises polymerising a C-12 to C-18 acrylate or methacrylate monomer and an ionic with or without other monomers acting as fillers or additives at a temperature between 20 and 30.degree.C with constant stirring and separating the resultant polymer. The preparation of the polymers is simple, shear stability is good even at high shear rates, insensitivity to the presence of any other polar solvent and good solubility in almost all the hydrocarbon liquids. The novel polymer reduces friction in the flow of a hydrocarbon fluid by a factor around 5 at concentrations as low as 1 to 25 ppm.