Dual-network polymer microspheres for conformance control: Enhancing mechanical strength via covalent and non-covalent synergy
Jiang H. Yang H. Wang R. Li H. Zhang S. Peng L. Sarsenbekuly B. Kang W. Zhang L.
5 February 2026Elsevier B.V.
Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects
2026#730
Polymer microspheres are crucial for oilfield profile control, but face higher strength demands due to fluid pressure and pore-throat shear. A dual-network polymer microsphere aimed at high strength and maintained expansibility was synthesized via inverse emulsion polymerization from acrylamide (AM), diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DMDAAC), hexadecyl dimethyl allyl ammonium chloride (C16), and octadecyl acrylate (ODA), which was named P(AM/DMDAAC/C16/ODA) (abbreviated as (PADCO)). Its expansibility, suspension rheology, adsorption, and plugging effectiveness were investigated using mass difference, oscillatory frequency sweeps, UV spectrophotometry, and core plugging tests. The strength mechanism was studied via elastic testing, cryo-SEM, and tensile/compressive strain analysis. PADCO with varying hydrophobic monomer content showed consistent trends, but the 1.0 mol% ODA variant (1.0PADCO) performed optimally due to ideal hydrophobic association density and network matching. DMDAAC imparted positive charge, enabling strong electrostatic adsorption onto sandstone, while surface ODA groups enhanced adsorption onto sandstone via polarity similarity. The strength enhancement mechanism of the PADCO microsphere is summarized as covalent/non-covalent double-network structure reinforcement. The incorporation of hydrophobic association monomers into the PADCO structure provides hydrophobic association interactions for the polymer network. This association acts as additional physical crosslinking points, increasing the crosslink density. Following hydration and swelling, these non-covalent interactions serve a sacrificial role in energy dissipation, significantly enhancing the material strength. This study provides valuable insights for the application of polymer microsphere blocking agents and enhanced oil recovery in high-water-cut reservoirs, offering an innovative perspective for improving the intrinsic strength of polymer microsphere while preserving their hydration and expansion capabilities.
Dual-network structure , Non-covalent interaction , Polymer microsphere , Profile control and water plugging , Strengthening
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School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
Shandong Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Field Chemistry, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
Faculty of Energy and Oil & Gas Industry, Kazakh-British Technical University, Almaty, 050000, Kazakhstan
Xinjiang Keli New Technology Development Co., Ltd, Karamay, 834000, China
School of Petroleum Engineering and Environmental Engineering, Yan’an University, Yanan, 716000, China
School of Petroleum Engineering
Shandong Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Field Chemistry
Faculty of Energy and Oil & Gas Industry
Xinjiang Keli New Technology Development Co.
School of Petroleum Engineering and Environmental Engineering
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