Extrusion process for proppant production

摘要

An extrusion method and apparatus are described for producing ceramics, glass, glass-ceramics, or composites suitable for use as proppants. The method includes forming one or more green body materials, extruding the green body materials to form a green body extrudate, separating and shaping the green body extrudate into individual green bodies, and sintering the green bodies to form proppants. The apparatus includes a means for forming an intimate mixture of green body materials, means to produce a green body extrudate, means for separating and shaping the green body extrudate into individual green bodies, and means to sinter the green green bodies to form proppants.

主权项

1. A method for producing a proppant comprising the steps of:
a. forming two or more green body materials comprising sacrificial materials, reactive materials, riders, pore formers, flow agents, or any combination thereof, b. co-extruding said two or more green body materials to form a green body extrudate, wherein the green body extrudate comprises a core and at least one layer that surrounds the core, c. separating and optionally shaping said green body extrudate into individual green bodies, and d. sintering said green bodies.