POLY(METHYLPENTENE) COMPOSITION INCLUDING HOLLOW GLASS MICROSPHERES AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

• US 20160326351A1
• Filed: 12/29/2014
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: YALCIN, Baris, HUNTER, Robert W., GUNES, Ibrahim S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,590,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2203/06 CO2, N2 or noble gases
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2203/08 Supercritical fluid
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2205/044 Micropores, i.e. average diameter being between 0,1 micrometer and 0,1 millimeter
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2323/20 having four to nine carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2423/08 Copolymers of ethene C08J2423/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2423/26 modified by chemical after-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/122 Hydrogen, oxygen, CO2, nitrogen or noble gases
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/32 from compositions containing microballoons, e.g. syntactic foams
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 7/28 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/0815 Copolymers of ethene with aliphatic 1-olefins
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/20 having four to nine carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 51/06 grafted on to homopolymers or copolymers of aliphatic hydrocarbons containing only one carbon-to-carbon double bond
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/80 Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/267 reinforcing fractures by propping

Abstract

A composition includes poly(4-methylpent-1-ene) and hollow glass microspheres. The composition has a density of less than 0.8 grams per cubic centimeter. Articles made from the composition and methods of making an article by injection molding the composition are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A composition comprising:

poly(4-methylpent-1-ene); and

hollow glass microspheres,

wherein the composition has a density of less than 0.8 grams per cubic centimeter.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hollow glass microspheres have an average true density less than 0.5 grams per cubic centimeter.

3. The composition of claim 1, comprising at least twenty-five percent by weight of the hollow glass microspheres, based on the total weight of the composition.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition has a density of up to 0.75 grams per cubic centimeter.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein a isostatic pressure at which ten percent by volume of the hollow glass microspheres collapses is in a range from about 70 megapascals to about 250 megapascals.

6. The composition of claim 1, having an isostatic pressure resistance with less than five percent volume loss more than double than the isostatic pressure at which ten percent by volume of the hollow glass microspheres collapses.

7. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a polyolefin impact modifier that is chemically non-crosslinked and free of polar functional groups.

8. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a polyolefin compatiblizer modified with polar functional groups.

9. The composition of claim 8, wherein the composition comprises an impact modifier, wherein the composition has an isostatic pressure resistance with greater than 25 percent volume loss substantially the same as the isostatic pressure at which ten percent by volume of the hollow glass microspheres collapses.

10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the impact modifier is an ethylene propylene elastomer, an ethylene octene elastomer, an ethylene propylene diene elastomer, an ethylene propylene octene elastomer, or a combination thereof, and wherein the compatibilizer is a maleic anhydride-modified polyolefin.

11. The composition of claim 1, wherein the poly(methyl pentene) is microcellular.

12. An article comprising a solidified composition of claim 1.

13. The article of claim 12, wherein the article is spherical.

14. A conduit comprising the article of claim 12 within.

15. A method of making an article, the method comprising injection molding the composition of claim 1 to make the article.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising feeding the composition into a microcellular foam injection molding machine;

injecting a supercritical fluid into the composition;

blending the composition and the supercritical fluid at high pressure to form a blend; and

injecting the blend into a molding tool.

17. The conduit of claim 14, further comprising oil within.

18. The article of claim 13, wherein the article is a buoyancy device.

19. The article of claim 13, wherein the article is a proppant.

20. A method of fracturing a subterranean geological formation penetrated by a wellbore, the method comprising:

injecting into the wellbore penetrating the subterranean geological formation a fracturing fluid at a rate and pressure sufficient to form a fracture therein; and

introducing into the fracture a plurality of articles according to claim 19.