Flow improvement of waxy oils mediated by self-aggregating partially crystallizable diblock copolymers

The efficacy of PE-b-PEP diblock polymers at preventing the formation of wax gel networks in oil upon cooling below the wax solubility limit was examined. Linear paraffins were considered as a model for waxy crude oil. PE-b-PEP polymers of two different PEP brush lengths with the PE block of nearly constant length and paraffins of varying molecular weight were considered to determine the effect of the polymer composition and paraffin distribution on the effectiveness of the additive. Relationships for the aggregate brush volume and exposed surface area were derived. Based on the observations, the differences between the two different PE-b-PEP additives were rationalized.