Bulk and surface rheology of Aculyn™ 22 and Aculyn™ 33 polymeric solutions and kinetics of foam drainage

•Aculyn™ 22 and Aculyn™ 33 are good foamers.•Solution properties can be controlled by the polymer and salt concentrations.•Solutions of A22 have higher bulk viscosity at the same composition as A33.•A33 has higher surface viscoelasticity at the same bulk viscosity as A22.•The foam drainage kinetics for these solutions is determined by the bulk viscosity.

Experimental investigations of both bulk and surface rheology of solutions of commercially available polymers Aculyn™ 22 and Aculyn™ 33 in presence of sodium chloride are performed in a wide range of the polymer and salt concentrations. It is shown that the bulk viscosity and the surface viscoelastic modulus of solutions of both polymers increases with the increase of polymer concentration and the decrease of the salt concentration. Solutions of both polymers demonstrate very good foamability and form stable foams. Foam drainage is governed mainly by the bulk viscosity when the latter is in the range of 100–500 mPa s.

Graphical abstractFoam drainage kinetics depends on concentration of polymer and salt.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide