Abstract: The process according to the invention includes the combination, with a liquid phase change material (PCM), of a texturing agent chosen so as to greatly reduce the thermal convection and whose viscosity is decreased reversibly under shearing. The material formed has a gelled consistency when at rest, and fluidized under shearing. The PCM comprises a mixture of chemical compounds from the alkane family: paraffins, waxes, fatty alcohols, fatty acids etc., and the texturing agent is a high mass polymer (hydrocarbonate polymers, ester or ether polymers, mixed ester-hydrocarbon polymers), an ionomer polymer or a di, tri or multi-block styrene copolymer (SBS: styrene-butadiene-styrene, SEBS: styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene). Applications: thermal insulation of vessels or lines, and more especially, for hydrocarbon transport lines.

Abstract: A method for making a quasi-incompressible phase-change material (PCM) having low thermal conductivity includes combining with a phase-change material (PCM) in liquid state a thickening agent selected to reduce significantly thermal convection, the formed material having, depending on the combinations performed, a gelled structure or a colloidal dispersed system. The PCM may be a mixture of chemical compounds of the family of alkanes, paraffins, waxes, fatty alcohols, fatty acids and the like, and the thickening agent may be organic (aromatic ureas), organometallic (alkaline or alkaline earth soaps) or purely inorganic (silica, silico-aluminates such as bentonite made oleophilic). The material is useful for thermal isolation of containers or pipes, and in particular for thermal insulation of hydrocarbon carrying pipes.

Abstract: A method for thermal insulation comprises positioning a gel formed between an insulating liquid base, which may or may not be a phase change material, and at least one gelling agent comprising at least one polysiloxane, which may or may not be modified, and in situ cross linking of the gelling agent, optionally in the presence of at least one compatibilizing agent. More particularly, it is used to insulate a flowline or a pipeline, in particular for ultradeep operations at temperatures of 2° C. to 200° C. Cross-linkable formulations, the various cross-linking processes and the insulating gels obtained are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to and uses, in order to prevent crude oil from “congealing” in a transportation line, a controlled-crosslinking thermal insulation gel, i.e. relatively fluid at the start and developing in-situ gelation in lines only under certain conditions, temperature conditions among other things. In order to obtain controlled crosslinking, it is possible to carry out 1) Physical crosslinkings, i.e. physical bonds between polymers—completely reversible bonds by thermal effect and/or mechanical shear—and 2) Chemical crosslinkings: monomers or polymers having functions allowing chemical bonds to be established between polymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to and uses, in order to prevent crude oil from “congealing” in a transportation line, a controlled-crosslinking thermal insulation gel, i.e. relatively fluid at the start and developing in-situ gelation in lines only under certain conditions, temperature conditions among other things. In order to obtain controlled crosslinking, it is possible to carry out 1) Physical crosslinkings, i.e. physical bonds between polymers—completely reversible bonds by thermal effect and/or mechanical shear—and 2) Chemical crosslinkings: monomers or polymers having functions allowing chemical bonds to be established between polymers.

Abstract: The process according to the invention includes the combination, with a liquid phase change material (PCM), of a texturing agent chosen so as to greatly reduce the thermal convection and whose viscosity is decreased reversibly under shearing. The material formed has a gelled consistency when at rest, and fluidized under shearing. The PCM comprises a mixture of chemical compounds from the alkane family: paraffins, waxes, fatty alcohols, fatty acids etc., and the texturing agent is a high mass polymer (hydrocarbonate polymers, ester or ether polymers, mixed ester-hydrocarbon polymers), an ionomer polymer or a di, tri or multi-block styrene copolymer (SBS: styrene-butadiene-styrene, SEBS: styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of obtaining microcapsules, comprising mainly the following stages: preparing a scarcely water-soluble organic phase containing a determined amount of acid chlorides, forming an emulsion of said organic phase in an aqueous phase, adding to the aqueous emulsion an amount of at least one polyoxyalkylene polyamine, reacting the monomers containing the amine and acid chloride functions so as to form a polyamide membrane around the emulsified organic phase, recovering the microcapsules obtained. The present invention also relates to a microcapsule.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making a quasi-incompressible phase-change material (PCM) having low thermal conductivity, the resulting products and their uses. The method consists in combining with a phase-change material (PCM) in liquid state a thickening agent selected to reduce significantly thermal convection, the formed material having, depending on the combinations performed, a gelled structure or a colloidal dispersed system. The PCM consists of a mixture of chemical compounds of the family of alkanes, paraffins, waxes, fatty alcohols, fatty acids and the like, and the thickening agent can be organic (aromatic ureas), organometallic (alkaline or alkaline-earth soaps) or purely inorganic (silica, silico-aluminates such as bentonite made oleophilic). The invention is useful for thermal isolation of containers or ducts, and in particular for thermal insulation of hydrocarbon ducts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of obtaining microcapsules, comprising mainly the following stages: