Synthesis, evaluation and aqueous solution behavior of the cationic fluorinated hydrophobically associating polyacrylamide

Hydroxypropyl acrylate-N-diethyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamide (HAF), a novel surface active cationic fluorinated monomer, is designed and synthesized in this study. The structure of HAF and its intermediate product are characterized by FT-IR and 1 H-NMR. Then the hydrophobically associating polyacrylamide (PMHAF) is prepared by free radical polymerization of acrylamide, 2-Acrylamido-2- methylpropane sulfonic acid and HAF in an aqueous solution. The structure and composition of PMHAF are characterized by FT-IR, 1 H-NMR, XPS and Tg. Macroscopic and microscopic self-assembly associative properties in solutions of PMHAF are studied via viscosimetry, SEM and AFM. The result show that with the polymer concentration increase, the viscosity increased and the critical association concentration (CAC) is about 1.09 g.L −1 . Moreover, the active of PMHAF solution are examined with surface tension, interfacial tension (IFT) and contact angle. The CAC values of PMHAF in water and in salt from surface tension are 1.39 g.L −1 and 1.22 g.L −1 respectively. Copolymers can reduce the interfacial tension between crude oil from Xinjiang Oilfield /water, and the final values of IFT is around 0.0243 mN.m −1 and PMHAF solution has good potential on change of wettability. All of these properties indicate that the fluorinated hydrophobically associating polyacrylamide is an excellent chemical for chemical enhanced oil recovery.