Dissolvable rubber

Abstract

A degradable elastomeric material that is formed from a composite blend of elastomeric particles in a continuous degradable binder. The degradable binder is generally a water-soluble binder which has a temperature dependent solubility in water and brine systems. Such degradable elastomers are particularly useful in the fabrication of degradable oil tools, among other applications.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method for degrading or dissolving a rubber component in a well comprising:
 providing a tool that is at least partially formed of a degradable elastomeric composite material; said degradable elastomeric composite material comprised of a first material and a second material and secondary component; said first material including one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of polyurethane rubber, vulcanized rubber, polyurethane, nitrile rubber, and nitrile butadiene rubber; said first material constitutes 50-70 vol. % of said composite material; said particles of first material having a particle size of 30-1000 μm; said second material is a polymer that is dissolvable and/or degradable in water; said first material including one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol), polyethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol plasticized poly(vinyl alcohol), and polyvinylpyrrolidone; said second material constitutes 5-30 vol. % of said composite material; said secondary component including one or more materials selected from the group consisting of plasticizer, fiber reinforcer, and binder; said secondary component constitutes 1-30 vol. % of said composite material; said first material is disbursed in said second material; said first material bonded together by said second material; a vol. % of said first material is greater than a vol. % of said second material in said composite material; a vol. % of said first material is greater than or equal to a combined vol. % of said second material and said secondary component in said composite material; said second material having a different composition than said first material; said first and second material having a different composition from said secondary material; said composite material formulated to have at least 10% dissolution or hydrolyzation in a 2-3 hour period at a temperature of at least 55 C;   inserting said tool into the well; and   exposing said tool to an environment to cause said composite material to at least partially degrade or dissolve in said well.   
     
     
         20 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said secondary component includes said plasticizer; said plasticizer constitutes 5-15 vol. %; said plasticizer having a weight ratio of said second material to said plasticizer of 3:1 to 25:1; said plasticizer selected from the group consisting of polyhydric alcohol plasticizer, sugar alcohol, poiyol, manganese chloride tetrahydrate and magnesium chloride hexahydrate. 
     
     
         21 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said secondary component includes one or more components selected from the group consisting of manganese chloride tetrahydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, and glycerol. 
     
     
         22 . The method as defined in  claim 20 , wherein said secondary component includes two or more components selected from the group consisting of manganese chloride tetrahydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, and glycerol. 
     
     
         23 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said first material includes one or more of polyurethane rubber, vulcanized rubber, polyurethane, and/or nitrile butadiene rubber. 
     
     
         24 . The method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said first material includes one or more of polyurethane rubber, vulcanized rubber, polyurethane, and/or nitrile butadiene rubber. 
     
     
         25 . The method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said first material includes one or more of polyurethane rubber, vulcanized rubber, polyurethane, and/or nitrile butadiene rubber. 
     
     
         26 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said first material has a particle size of 30-100. 
     
     
         27 . The method as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said first material has a particle size of 30-100. 
     
     
         28 . The method as defined in  claim 25 , wherein said first material has a particle size of 30-100. 
     
     
         29 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said secondary component includes 2-10 vol. % of one or more components selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, iron, silicon, zinc, aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, and magnesium alloy. 
     
     
         30 . The method as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said secondary component includes 2-10 vol. % of one or more components selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, iron, silicon, zinc, aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, and magnesium alloy. 
     
     
         31 . The method as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said secondary component includes 2-10 vol. % of one or more components selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, iron, silicon, zinc, aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, and magnesium alloy. 
     
     
         32 . The method as defined in  claim 29 , wherein said secondary component further includes 1-15 vol. % glass fiber. 
     
     
         33 . The method as defined in  claim 30 , wherein said secondary component further includes 1-15 vol. % glass fiber. 
     
     
         34 . The method as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said secondary component further includes 1-15 vol. % glass fiber. 
     
     
         35 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , further including an outer polymer coating material coating about an outer surface of said composite material; said outer polymer coating material includes polysiloxane coating. 
     
     
         36 . The method as defined in  claim 33 , further including an outer polymer coating material coating about an outer surface of said composite material; said outer polymer coating material includes polysiloxane coating. 
     
     
         37 . The method as defined in  claim 34 , further including an outer polymer coating material coating about an outer surface of said composite material; said outer polymer coating material includes polysiloxane coating.