This work was supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) under the Ministry of Economy, Trade, Industry (METI) in Japan (ME, TN, HU, AM, KN, HJ), and the CLUSTER (the second stage) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan (ME, TH, YAK, KT), and grant-in-aid for specially promoted Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (no. 19002007) (ME, TH, YAK). This work was supported in part by CONACYT-México grants: 56787 (Laboratory for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Research-LINAN), 45772 (MT) and Fondo Mixto de San Luis Potosí 63001 S-3908 (MT). We acknowledge Dr. S. Iinou (MEFS Corp.) for very fruitful scientific discussion about nanotube synthesis and surface modification. Supporting Information is available online from Wiley InterScience or from the author.
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Full Paper
Extreme-Performance Rubber Nanocomposites for Probing and Excavating Deep Oil Resources Using Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes†
Article first published online: 21 OCT 2008
DOI: 10.1002/adfm.200801136
Copyright © 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Additional Information
How to Cite
Endo, M., Noguchi, T., Ito, M., Takeuchi, K., Hayashi, T., Kim, Y. A., Wanibuchi, T., Jinnai, H., Terrones, M. and Dresselhaus, M. S. (2008), Extreme-Performance Rubber Nanocomposites for Probing and Excavating Deep Oil Resources Using Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes. Advanced Functional Materials, 18: 3403–3409. doi: 10.1002/adfm.200801136
- †
Publication History
- Issue published online: 3 NOV 2008
- Article first published online: 21 OCT 2008
- Manuscript Received: 4 AUG 2008
Funded by
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. Grant Number: 19002007
- CONACYT-M&1eacute;xico. Grant Number: 56787
- Laboratory for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Research-LINAN
- MT. Grant Number: 45772
- Fondo Mixto de San Luis Potosí 63001 S-3908 (MT)
Keywords:
- celluation;
- gels;
- multi-walled carbon nanotubes;
- o-ring;
- rubber nanocomposite
Graphical Abstract
Here, it is demonstrated that homogeneously and randomly dispersed, surface-controlled, multi-walled carbon nanotubes within fluorine rubber, exhibiting a cellulation structure, make the sealant durable at extremely high temperatures and pressures. This novel rubber nanocomposite with a cellulation structure that exhibits an extremely good performance leads to a balanced pressure resistance and good sealing ability, thermal resistance, and durability.
Abstract
The scarcity of oil resources is going to become one of the main factors threatening the stability of the global economy. To avoid an energy crisis in the future, it is essential to increase oil extraction in much deeper wells, experiencing higher temperatures and pressures. Exploring these deeper areas will demand novel and robust materials. Rubber sealants, or O-rings, are especially key components in enabling the probing and production of oil in deeper wells, so that higher temperature and pressure reservoirs are reached. In this account, it is demonstrated that carbon nanotubes homogeneously and randomly dispersed in rubber matrices, are able to generate durable sealants that operate satisfactorily at extremely high temperatures and pressures (e.g., 260 °C and 239 MPa). The key issues in these novel composites are: i) the nanotube surface-control and reactivity, ii) the used of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)-embedded in fluorinated rubber, and iii) the formation of a cellulation structure. This rubber nanocomposite with a cellulation structure and having extreme performance leads to a balanced pressure resistance, sealing ability, thermal resistance, and durability, which can contribute to doubling the current average global oil recovery efficiency.