Title: Gas permeameter for polymers and nanocomposites: Improvements and advances

Abstract

Gas permeability in homogeneous semipermeable materials such as semicrystalline polymers is the object of research in several fields, in particular, in the oil and natural gas prospecting industries. However, information on gas transport coefficients under extreme pressures and temperatures is rarely found in the literature. Therefore, the objective of this work is to showcase a medium pressure gas permeameter suitable for polymeric and polymeric nanocomposite plates, developed by the authors, which was validated with Nitrogen at 1 MPa and 69ºC (342.15 K) using pure high density polyethylene samples (HDPE) and samples with nanoclay, redoing the tests published in a previous work. The obtained results were compared against data gathered in a previous work and data found in literature, validating the new model of this equipment, which is capable of analyzing gas permeability under the described conditions with greater accuracy than the previous model for the values of the transport coefficients of Nitrogen in HDPE, demonstrating that the implemented improvements and advances were adequate, allowing the measurement of the transport properties of gases permeating polymeric and nanocomposite plates, necessary information for the design of risers for the transportation of oil and natural gas, for example.

Biography

Gilberto João Pavani graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil (1991), postgraduate in Systems Analysis from Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil (1994), degree in Informatics from Federal Center for Technological Education of Minas Gerais - Brazil (1996), postgraduate in Occupational Safety Engineering from Unisinos - Brazil (2001), master's degree in Computer Science from Federal University do Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil (2003) and doctorate in Materials Science (student) from Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. - Brazil. Professor at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil. Interested in polymeric composites, mechanical manufacturing processes and work safety. Author of several books in the field of Mechanical Engineering.