Viscoelasticity of a Supramolecular Polymer Network and its Relevance for Enhanced Oil Recovery

Supramolecular polymer networks are built up by combining multiple noncovalent interactions among macromolecules, resulting in the formation of materials with versa-tile functionality. This chapter describes an exploratory research focused on the formula- tion of a supramolecular polymer network based on reversible interactions among the main- and side chains of a mixture of xanthan gum, partly hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM), and a hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide (HMPAM) in brine solutions relevant for applications in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The formation and charac- terization of the supramolecular network system was carried out through oscillatory rheology.