Organic-Sulfonate Functionalized Graphene as a High Temperature Lubricant for Efficient Antifriction and Antiwear in Water Based Drilling Fluid

The lubricity of drilling fluid resistant to high-temperature over 200 celcius is still one of the technological breakthroughs. In this study, the graphene modified with sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) was selected as a resistant to high-temperature lubricant. Our results show that the drilling fluids have high stability after aging at 240 degrees C with the assistance of the SDBS/graphene. Excitingly, the tribological performance test results revealed that the SDBS/graphene exert excellent anti-friction and anti-wear properties. Compared with the base slurry, the friction coefficient and wear rate of the SDBS/graphene slurry are reduced by 76% and 59%, respectively. The deposited film composed of graphene, Al2O3, SiO2, Fe2O3, FeSO4 actualized the protection of the sliding contact zone, proving that the sulfonate group on the SDBS/graphene contributed to prompt the deposition of the graphene and bentonite and then enhanced tribological properties of the drilling fluids. Overall, the graphene modified with SDBS is expected to solve the difficulty to form effective deposited film and poor lubricity of the drilling fluid under high-temperature.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates the use of SDBS-modified graphene as a lubricant for high-temperature drilling fluids, showing high stability and excellent anti-friction and anti-wear properties. The sulfonate group on the SDBS/graphene contributes to the deposition of protective films, enhancing the tribological properties of the fluids.