Synthesis of water and oil dual-absorption materials by bicontinuous microemulsion polymerization

Water and oil dual-absorption materials for application in oil well cement for self-healing micro creaks has been synthesized through bicontinuous microemulsion polymerization. Bicontinuous structure of microemulsion was used to implement the performance of absorbing both water and oil. Phase behavior of the microemulsion system was analyzed by “ε–β fish-shape phase diagram” from which middle phase line was obtained to provide the formula of polymerization. The product was characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), pore size distribution (BET), water/oil absorption rate test and water/oil absorption speed test. SEM analysis showed that neither water absorption component nor oil absorption component formed separated particles, while they formed continuous component respectively. Due to the bicontinuous structure and pores, the materials have fast water and oil absorption rate.