# US 10,370,502 B2 · Disperse non-polyalphaolefin drag reducing polymers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,502 B2 - Document ID: US10370502B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/728,366 - Filed: 2017-10-09 - Published: 2018-05-03 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-26 - Assignees: Liquidpower Specialty Products Inc. - Applicants: LiquidPower Specialty Products Inc. - Inventors: Timothy L. Burden; Ray L. Johnston; William F. Harris; Kenneth W. Smith; Wayne R. Dreher; Stuart N. Milligan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370502B2 ## CPC - C08J 3/02: Making solutions, dispersions, lattices or gels by other methods than by solution, emulsion or suspension polymerisation techniques - C08J 2333/04: esters - Y10T 137/0391: Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy - C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A drag reducing composition comprising at least one non-polyalphaolefin polymer having an average particle size in the range of from about 5 to about 800 micrometers. The non-polyalphaolefin polymer can initially be formed via emulsion polymerization. The initial polymer particles can then be at least partially consolidated and then reduced in size and suspended in a carrier fluid. The resulting drag reducing composition can be added to a hydrocarbon-containing fluid to decrease the pressure drop associated with the turbulent flow of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid through a conduit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drag reducer, comprising: a plurality of first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer particles, wherein the plurality of first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer particles have a weight average molecular weight of at least about 1×106 g/mol and an average particle size ranging from about 5 micrometers to about 800 micrometers; and a plurality of second non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer particles having an average particle size of less than about 1 micrometer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drag reducer of claim 1, wherein the average particle size of the plurality of first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer particles ranges from about 10 micrometers to about 600 micrometers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drag reducer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer particles is dispersed in a carrier fluid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The drag reducer of claim 3, wherein the carrier fluid comprises water, alcohol, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drag reducer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer particles comprises repeating units of residues of C4-C20 alkyl, C6-C20 substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or aryl-substituted C1-C10 alkyl ester derivatives of methacrylic acid or acrylic acid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The drag reducer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer particles comprises repeating units of residues of 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate monomers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The drag reducer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer particles comprises repeating units of residues of 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate monomers and residues of butyl acrylate monomers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The drag reducer of claim 7, wherein the plurality of first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer particles is dispersed in a carrier fluid, and the carrier fluid comprises water, alcohol, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 9 A drag reducer, comprising: a plurality of first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer particles, wherein the plurality of first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer particles have a weight average molecular weight of at least about 1×106 g/mol and an average particle size ranging from about 20 micrometers to about 400 micrometers; and a plurality of second non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer particles having an average particle size ranging from about 10 nm to about 500 nm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The drag reducer of claim 9, wherein the plurality of first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer particles is dispersed in a carrier fluid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The drag reducer of claim 10, wherein the carrier fluid comprises water, alcohol, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The drag reducer of claim 9, wherein the plurality of first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer particles comprises repeating units of residues of C4-C20 alkyl, C6-C20 substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or aryl-substituted C1-C10 alkyl ester derivatives of methacrylic acid or acrylic acid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The drag reducer of claim 9, wherein the plurality of first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer particles comprises repeating units of residues of 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate monomers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The drag reducer of claim 9, wherein the plurality of first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer particles comprises repeating units of residues of 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate monomers and residues of butyl acrylate monomers. ### Claim 15 A process for forming a drag reducer, comprising: forming a first plurality of polymer particles, wherein the first plurality of particles have a first average particle size of less than about 1 micrometer; consolidating at least a portion of the first plurality of polymer particles to form a second plurality of polymer particles, wherein the second plurality of polymer particles have a second average particle size greater than the first average particle size; and forming a third plurality of polymer particles from the second plurality of polymer particles, wherein the third plurality of polymer particles have a third average particle size less than the second average particle size and greater than the first average particle size. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15, wherein the first average particle size ranges from about 10 nm to about 500 nm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15, wherein the second average particle size is greater than 0.75 inches. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15, wherein the third average particle size ranges from about 5 micrometers to about 800 micrometers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The process of claim 18, wherein the third average particle size ranges from about 20 micrometers to about 400 micrometers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15, wherein the first plurality of polymer particles is formed by emulsion polymerization. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15, wherein the consolidating at least portion of the first plurality of particles comprises adding a water-miscible solvent to the first plurality of polymer particles.