Effect of poly(oxypropylene)diamine adsorption on hydration and dispersion of montmorillonite particles in aqueous solution

The inhibition of hydration and dispersion of drilling cuttings and maintaining of proper flow properties of drilling fluids play a significant role in a successful drilling process. In this work, we show that low molecular weight polyetheramine provides sufficient inhibiting performance while it has no effect on the rheological properties of clay dispersions. The inhibition mechanism was explored with adsorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), contact angle, sedimentation and rheology measurements. The results indicate highly affinitive Langmuir type adsorption behaviors of polyetheramine on clay particles. The expansion of clay gallery height suggests that polyetheramine molecules intercalate into MMT interlayers. The adsorption of polyetheramine increases the hydrophobicity of MMT particle surface. The formation of a hydrophobic shell on the particle surfaces and the intercalation of polyetheramine in the clay gallery are believed to be the main inhibition mechanism of polyetheramine. Rheological measurement demonstrates that polyetheramine has no effect on the viscosity of prehydrated clay dispersions, which further proves this kind of polyetheramine can be used as superior inhibitors in water based drilling fluids.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► The adsorption of poly(oxypropylene)diamine (D230) on montmorillonite inhibits the dispersion of clay particles into aqueous solution. ► The increase of the surface hydrophobicity and the intercalation of D230 in the interlayer are believed to be the main inhibition mechanism. ► D230 has no effect on the viscosity of prehydrated montmorillonite dispersion, which proves that it can be used as superior inhibition additive in water based drilling fluids.