SYNTHESIS AND EVALUATION OF ACRYLATE POLYMERS FOR IMPROVING FLOW PROPERTIES OF WAXY CRUDES

N-Alkyl acrylates and n-alkyl methacrylates were prepared by esterific ation of acrylic and methacrylic acids with two long-chain alcohol ble nds NAFOL 2022 and NAFOL 1822. The prepared monomers were characterize d and polymerized individually. In addition, copolymers of n-alkyl acr ylate-n-alkyl methacrylate, and n-alkyl methacrylate-vinyl acetate and a terpolymer of n-alkyl acrylate-acrylic acid-vinyl acetate were also synthesized. These polymers were also characterized and then evaluate d as flow improvers in Khalda mixture- and Salam Egyptian waxy crudes. The majority of the prepared additives showed good performance in imp roving the flow properties of the tested crudes. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, inc.