Viscosifier, its uses, and its manufacture

A composition of matter suitable for increasing the viscosity of liquids, the composition of matter comprising tendrillar carbonaceous material having a bulk density of less than about 0.1 g/cm.sup.3 and comprising intertwined tendrils having a diameter (number average) of from about 0.05 to about 0.2 micron and a length (number average) to diameter (number average) ratio greater than about 10.

A composition of matter suitable for increasing the viscosity of liquids, the composition of matter comprising tendrillar carbonaceous material having a bulk density of from about 0.02 to about 0.05 g/cm.sup.3 and a surface area of from about 30 to about 160 m.sup.2 /g, the tendrillar carbonaceous material comprising intertwined tendrils having a diameter (number average) of from about 0.08 to about 0.14 micron and a length (number average) to diameter (number average) ratio greater than about 10, the tendrils comprising carbon fibers and an iron metal component dispersed throughout the carbon fibers as nodules that are intimately associated with and at least partially bonded to the carbon fibers, the tendrillar carbonaceous material comprising from about 0.1 to about 5% by weight iron, about 93.5 to about 99.9% by weight carbon, and up to about 1.5% by weight hydrogen.

A composition of matter comprising a liquid having dispersed therein tendrillar carbonaceous material in an amount of at least 0.1% by weight based on the weight of the liquid and the tendrillar carbonaceous material, the tendrillar carbonaceous material having a bulk density less than about 0.1 g/cm.sup.3 and comprising intertwined tendrils having a diameter (number average) of from about 0.05 to about 0.2 micron and a length (number average) to diameter (number average) ratio greater than about 10, the composition of matter comprising sufficient tendrillar carbonaceous material that the liquid has a viscosity at a shear rate of 1 sec.sup.-1 of at least 10 cp and at least a factor of 10 greater than the viscosity of the composition of matter without the tendrillar carbonaceous material at a shear rate of 1 sec.sup.-1.

A composition of matter comprising a liquid having dispersed therein (i) a dense material having a density greater than the density of the liquid, and (ii) tendrillar carbonaceous material in an amount of at least 0.1% by weight based on the weight of the composition of matter, the tendrillar carbonaceous material having a bulk density of less than about 0.1 g/cm.sup.3 and comprising intertwined tendrils having a diameter (number average) of from about 0.05 to about 0.2 micron and a length (number average) to diameter (number average) ratio greater than about 10, the composition of matter comprising sufficient tendrillar carbonaceous that the dense material is suspended in the liquid.

A drilling fluid comprising a liquid having dispersed therein (i) sufficient weighting agent that the drilling fluid has a density of at least 1.1 g/cm.sup.3 and (ii) sufficient tendrillar carbonaceous material in an amount of at least 0.1% by weight based on the weight of the drilling fluid that the drilling fluid has a viscosity of at least 10 cp at a shear rate of 1000 sec.sup.-1.

A drilling fluid comprising a liquid having dispersed therein (i) sufficient weighting agent that the drilling fluid has a density of at least 1.1 g/cm.sup.3 and (ii) sufficient tendrillar carbonaceous material in an amount of at least 0.1% by weight based on the weight of the drilling fluid that the drilling fluid has a viscosity of at least 10 cp at a shear rate of 1000 sec.sup.-1, the tendrillar carbonaceous material having a bulk density of less than about 0.1 g/cm.sup.3 and a surface area less than about 190 m.sup.2 /g, the tendrillar carbonaceous material comprising intertwined tendrils having a diameter (number average) of from about 0.05 to about 0.2 micron and a length (number average) to diameter (number average) ratio greater than about 10.

A grease comprising a lubricating oil having dispersed therein sufficient tendrillar carbonaceous material, in an amount of at least 0.1% by weight of the grease that the grease has an apparent viscosity of at least 4 Pa.S at a shear rate of 100 sec.sup.-1, the tendrillar carbonaceous material having a bulk density less than about 0.1 g/cm.sup.3 and comprising intertwined tendrils having a diameter (number average) of from about 0.05 to about 0.2 micron and a length (number average) to diameter (number average) ratio greater than about 10.

A method for increasing the viscosity of a liquid comprising the step of dispersing in the liquid tendrillar carbonaceous material in an amount of at least 0.1% by weight based on the weight of the liquid and the tendrillar carbonaceous material, the tendrillar carbonaceous material having a bulk density of less than about 0.1 g/cm.sup.3 and comprising intertwined tendrils having a diameter (number average) of from about 0.05 to about 0.2 micron and a length (number average) to diameter (number average) ratio greater than about 10, sufficient tendrillar carbonaceous material being dispersed in the liquid that the liquid has a viscosity at a shear rate of 1 sec.sup.-1 of at least 10 cp and at least a factor of 10 greater than the viscosity of the liquid without the tendrillar carbonaceous material at a shear rate of 1 sec.sup.-1.