Amphiphilic copolymers based on PEG‐acrylate as surface active water viscosifiers: Towards new potential systems for enhanced oil recovery

ABSTRACT With the purpose of investigating new potential candidates for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), amphiphilic copolymers based on Poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGA) have been prepared by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP). A P(PEGA) homopolymer, a block copolymer with styrene PS‐ b ‐P(PEGA), and an analogous terpolymer including also sodium methacrylate (MANa) in the poly(PEGA) (PPEGA) block, PS‐ b ‐P(PEGA‐ co ‐MANa) have been prepared and characterized. Viscosity and surface activity of solutions of the prepared polymers in pure and salty water have been measured and the results have been interpreted in terms of the chemical structures of the systems. A clear influence of the presence of the charged MANa moieties has been observed in both rheological and interfacial properties. The PS‐ b ‐P(PEGA‐ co ‐MANa) terpolymer, being an effective surface active viscosifying agent, is a good candidate as polymeric surfactant for applications in enhanced oil recovery and related. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133 , 44100.