Effect of plasma treatments on the steam-sour gas resistance and lubricity of elastomers. [Rubbers used: copoly(ethene-propene); copoly(1,1-difluoroethane-hexafluoropropene); copoly(2-propenenitrile-1,3 butadiene); plasma polymerized tetrafluoroethane]

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · J. Appl. Polym. Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/app.1982.070270304· OSTI ID:5531539

Arnold, C Jr; Bieg, K W; Cuthrell, R E; Nelson, G C

Elastomers are widely used in drilling and logging applications as static seals such as casing packers and dynamic seals such as o-rings for drill bits. Static seals often fail in service because of thermochemical degradation due to the combined effects of steam and sour gas at elevated temperatures that are characteristic of deep wells. Dynamic seals frequently fail because of abrasive wear that occurs even at the low temperatures that prevail in shallow wells. We have shown that improved steam-sour gas resistance of a fully formulated ethylene-propylene rubber at elevated temperatures can be achieved by coating the rubber with a thin film of plasma polymerized tetrafluoroethylene. Thus, no change in the mechanical properties of the coated rubber was observed after exposure to steam and sour gas at 275/sup 0/C for 48 h. In contrast, the shear modulus of the upcoated rubber increased by 96% after the same exposure. While the effectiveness of the fluorocarbon coating decreased at longer exposure times, short-term protection of elastomers could be beneficial in certain logging operations. It was also found that the coefficient of friction of a nitrile rubber (Buna N) was reduced by 20% after treatment with a carbon tetrafluoride plasma. This enhanced lubricity could lead to better wear characteristics in conventional drill bits where the seal is in contact with a moving metal surface. The surfaces of the plasma treated elastomers were characterized by water contact angle, scanning electron microscopy, and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5531539
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Polym. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Polym. Sci.; (United States) Vol. 27:3; ISSN JAPNA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360401 -- Polymers & Plastics-- Preparation & Fabrication-- (-1987)
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COATINGS
COLLISIONS
DATA
ELASTOMERS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
FLUORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
INFORMATION
ION COLLISIONS
ION-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
MICROSCOPY
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
NATURAL GAS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PLASMA
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
RUBBERS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SHEAR
SPECTROSCOPY
STEAM