Self-stabilized thermoresponsive polymer suspensions for reversibly increading fluid viscosity at elevated temperatures

NU2019-015 

INVENTORS

- Kenneth Shull*

- Yaoyao Chen

SHORT DESCRIPTION

For oil and gas, personal care, and adhesive applications, this low-cost thermoresponsive polymer technology delivers massive, reversible viscosity increases at elevated temperatures. It provides a simple, self-stabilizing alternative to expensive chemical modifiers, optimizing smart fluid performance.

BACKGROUND

Many industries rely on fluids whose viscosity must change in response to temperature, such as in oil drilling, personal care products, adhesives, and industrial processing. Existing solutions often require complex, expensive polymers or additives to achieve reliable thermoresponsive behavior. These systems can be difficult to manufacture, costly to scale, and may lack long-term stability or reversibility. Additionally, many current materials need extra surfactants or stabilizers to prevent separation, adding further cost and complexity. There is a clear need for a simpler, more cost-effective, and easily tunable approach to temperature-sensitive viscosity control.

ABSTRACT

This technology from Northwestern University addresses the need for simple, cost-effective fluids that dramatically change viscosity with temperature. It creates a self-stabilized, thermoresponsive polymer solution that shifts from a low-viscosity suspension to a highly viscous fluid as temperature rises, then returns to a clear, flowable state at higher temperatures. The system achieves large, reversible viscosity changes without complex chemistries or added surfactants, and its properties can be precisely tuned for specific applications. This approach offers strong potential for use in oil and gas, personal care, adhesives, and industrial processes requiring temperature-dependent flow control.

APPLICATIONS

• Oil and gas drilling fluids: The technology acts as a viscosity modifier to maintain or increase fluid thickness at elevated downhole temperatures.
• Personal care products: The solution stabilizes particle suspensions in consumer goods like shampoos and lotions.
• Underwater adhesives: The system leverages hydrogen bonding and solvent sensitivity to provide controlled adhesion in submerged environments.
• Energy storage and industrial processing: The fluid provides precise temperature-dependent rheological control for complex manufacturing applications.

ADVANTAGES

• Lowers manufacturing costs: Uses simple, inexpensive polymers and a basic mixing process instead of complex, costly chemical structures.
• Enhances viscosity control by 1,000-fold: Delivers a dramatic, reversible thickening effect as temperatures rise to optimize performance in extreme environments like oil drilling.
• Extends product shelf life: Features a self-stabilizing formula that prevents particle settling for over a year without requiring extra chemical additives.
• Facilitates customizable performance: Allows manufacturers to easily tune the thickening temperature and maximum viscosity by simply adjusting the polymer ratios.

IP STATUS

Issued US patent 12,528,064