A comparative study of pH and temperature on rheological behaviour between Polyacrylamide (PAM) and its modified PAM

¹ Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre (NANOCAT), Level 3, Block A, Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Malaya (UM), 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
² Natural Composite Research Group Lab, Department of Materials and Production Engineering. The Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering (TGGS), King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), Bangkok, Thailand.

^* Corresponding author: cwlai@um.edu.my.

Abstract

Drilling waste is a problem that affects the environment, society, and health. However, the rheological additive in drilling fluid is the source of the generation of drilling waste. Hence, a suitable rheological additive became a concern in bored pile construction. Conventional bentonite has been replaced by the usage of polymer in drilling operations, this is due to the operational, environmental, and economic aspects. Unlike bentonite, polyacrylamide (PAM) has a high molecular weight, good gelling behaviour, and is eco-friendly. However, there are limitations of PAM in terms of thermal stability and pH sensitivity. Therefore, the conventional polymer-based drilling fluid requires the hybridisation of functionalised material. In this paper, PAM with its enhancement is needed for water-based drilling through modification using silica (SiO₂) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The paper presented a comparative analysis of rheological behaviour between polyacrylamide (PAM) and modified PAM. This research involved the influence of temperature (ambient to 80 °C) and pH (9 and 10). Results revealed that modified PAM performed better at 40 °C and pH 10. Furthermore, PAM and modified PAM had a better rheological performance at pH 10. Future studies can demonstrate the modified PAM as the drilling fluid in the bored pile construction to investigate the frictional resistance of the drilling fluid.