Study Of Foaming Property And Stability In Non-aqueous Solutions

In spite of being important in oilfield chemicals and other areas, non-aqueous foams involving basic principles of formation, interfacial and stability are poorly understood relative to aqueous systems, Such understandings encumber its applications in oilfield. The objective of this article is to investigate on the formation and stabilization mechanisms of non-aqueous foams. Foaming surfactants are selected in alkane, aromatics and grease, foaming solvent at various concentration by airflow method and surface tension, viscosity, solvent polarity were used to study the foam stability mechanism. The interfacial microstructures are directly observed adopting optical microscopy. The conclusions could be made as follows:(1) Generally foam volume shows a downward trend or slowly increase when surfactant concentration increased to a certain extent, no matter which surfactants in solvent. Overall at the same concentration of surfactants, the aromatics display foaming ability greater than alkane, the glycerol foaming ability greater than paraffin. In the same solvent, the fluorocarbon surfactant activity is stronger than ordinary surfactants.(2) Aromatic hydrocarbon solvents which have the less branched has ability greater the likelihood of reducing surface tension and improving liquid viscosity, thus produce better foam ability and stability with the fluorocarbon surfactant FC-03 and TF3721 concentration increased. Under the same fluorocarbon surfactant FC-118, glycerol could greatly decrease the surface tension and has better foam volume and stability compared with paraffin. Glycerol as a polar solvent has better foam stability than other non-polar solvents.(3) Using microscope we could found that FC-03 surfactant adsorbed on the surface film cannot form stable foam in toluene. TF3721 formed bubbles in toluene can closely arrange together and present a layered structure, which form a stable foam because of larger thicker film, elastic and repulsive force.(4) FC-03 and TF3721 respectively mixed with diglycolamide oleate borate by 1:4 ratio dissolved in aromatics. It has largely promoted foaming power and stable in non-aqueous phase compare with single surfactant. Using an optical microscope observed that TF3721 or FC-03 as blank ring closely adsorb on the bubble. The foam stabilizer of lipophilic group adsorbing non-aqueous molecular form salvation film on the outmost, which benefit for foam stability.(5) Decane and dodecane respectively mixed with xylenes by 1:5 ratio and added FC-03 or T3721. It’s enable foaming volume higher than a single solvent. It does not happen while adding silicon.