Effect of nanocomposite of attapulgite/EVA on flow behavior and wax crystallization of model oil

Nanocomposites of attapulgite (ATT)/ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) were prepared with organically modified ATT covering in EVA. Organically modified ATT was prepared using KH550 and organic acid. The effect of nano-hybrid on the flow behavior of model oil containing 15 wt% wax was evaluated. The wax crystallization and crystal morphology of the model oil at low temperature were observed by polarizing optical microscopy (POM). The results indicated that the nano-hybrid with long-chain organic acid-modified ATT exhibited a better effect compared with the nano-hybrid with short-chain organic acid-modified ATT, pure EVA. In addition, it is interesting to note that EVA (VA = 32%)/stearic acid-modified ATT composite polymeric pour-point depressant (PPD) S-AtPPD(32) provided better cold-flow improvement for the model oil than EVA (VA = 32%)-modified nano-SiO2 composite PPD N-SiPPD (32) with a low dose, which resulted in a regular, bar-shaped, and uniform arrangement of wax morphologies. The pour point of the model oil was reduced from 30°C to −1°C when doped at 200 ppm S-AtPPD(32).