Study on the Dynamic Rheometry and Swelling Properties of the Polyacrylamide/Laponite Nanocomposite Hydrogels in Electrolyte Media

Polyacrylamide/laponite/chromium triacetate nanocomposite (NC) hydrogels were prepared by incorporation of the laponite nanoparticles in partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide followed by cross-linking of their aqueous solutions with chromium triacetate. Influence of nanoparticle, cross-linker, polymer concentrations, and gelation media (water) temperature, salinity, and rheometer frequency on the viscoelastic behavior of the NC hydrogels were studied by probing the network properties. In addition, swelling behaviors of these NC gels in tap and oil reservoir water were evaluated. According to dynamic rheometry of the gelation process, the limiting storage modulus of the NC gels increased with increasing laponite content. The addition of laponite into the polyacrylamide gelling system increased their viscous properties more strongly than the elastic properties. The ultimate elastic modulus of the NC gels increased with increasing water salinity and temperature. Increasing rheometer frequency during gelation retarded the sol–gel transition and decreased the ultimate elastic modulus. The equilibrium swelling ratio of the NC hydrogels in tap water decreased with increasing laponite content. The salt sensitivity of the NC gels in oil reservoir water slightly decreased with increasing laponite content. These results suggest the superiority of the hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM)/chromium acetate/laponite NC hydrogels for water shut-off applications in oil reservoirs as compared with unfilled HPAM gels.