Swellable packer seal composition with enhanced contact sealing force and controllable swell rate

Abstract

A composition for use as a swellable seal includes a base polymer, a super absorbent polymer, and a predetermined amount of cotton flock.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition for use as a swellable seal comprising:
 a base polymer;   a super absorbent polymer; and   a predetermined amount of cotton flock.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the super absorbent polymer comprises one of a modified hydroxyl methyl cellulose, a potassium salt of crosslinked polyacrylic acid, and a polyacrylic copolymer. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the base polymer comprises one of Nipol DN401L, chlorinated polyethylene, Vistalon 3666, and Royalene 580HT. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 2 , further comprising a polyacrylic copolymer. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , further comprising a hydrocarbon resin. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 2 , further comprising a hydroxyl methyl cellulose. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , further comprising a hydrocarbon resin. 
     
     
         8 . A composition for use as a swellable seal comprising:
 about 100 phr of a base polymer;   about 125 phr of a potassium salt of crosslinked polyacrylic acid; and   about 5 phr of a cotton flock.   
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the 100 phr of a swellable polymer is selected from chlorinated polyethylene and Royalene 580HT. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , further comprising about:
 about 15 phr of N110;   about 50 phr of clay;   about 1 phr of stearic acid;   about 1 phr of a solid aromatic amine antioxidant;   about 0.5 phr of sulfur;   about 0.75 phr of a mercaptobenzthiazole disulfide; and   about 0.75 phr of a tetramethyl thiuram disulfide.   
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , further comprising about 5 phr of a hydrocarbon resin. 
     
     
         12 . A method of preparing a swellable seal composition comprising:
 providing a predetermined quantity of a base polymer;   providing a predetermined quantity of a super absorbent polymer; and   blending a predetermined amount of cotton flock into the base polymer and the super absorbent polymer in the absence of a plasticizer.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the base polymer is an ethylene propylene diene monomer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the super absorbent polymer is a potassium salt of crosslinked polyacrylic acid. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the super absorbent polymer is a modified hydroxyl methyl cellulose. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the base polymer is a chlorinated polyethylene. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the base polymer is an oil extended polymer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising mixing into the composition a predetermined amount of hydrocarbon resin. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising mixing the composition in the absence of any water dispersed materials.