Use of two different methods, either each by itself or in combination, to enhance the stiffness, strength, maximum possible use temperature, and environmental resistance of thermoset polymer particles is disclosed. One method is the application of post-polymerization process steps (and especially heat treatment) to advance the curing reaction and to thus obtain a more densely crosslinked polymer network. The other method is the incorporation of nanofillers, resulting in a heterogeneous nanocomposite morphology. Nanofiller incorporation and post-polymerization heat treatment can also be combined to obtain the benefits of both methods simultaneously. The present invention relates to the development of thermoset nanocomposite particles. Optional further improvement of the heat resistance and environmental resistance of said particles via post-polymerization heat treatment; processes for the manufacture of said particles; and use of said particles in the construction, drilling, completion and/or fracture stimulation of oil and natural gas wells are described.

Use of two different methods, either each by itself or in combination, to enhance the stiffness, strength, maximum possible use temperature, and environmental resistance of thermoset polymer particles is disclosed. One method is the application of post-polymerization process steps (and especially heat treatment) to advance the curing reaction and to thus obtain a more densely crosslinked polymer network. The other method is the incorporation of nanofillers, resulting in a heterogeneous nanocomposite morphology. Nanofiller incorporation and post-polymerization heat treatment can also be combined to obtain the benefits of both methods simultaneously. The present invention relates to the development of thermoset nanocomposite particles. Optional further improvement of the heat resistance and environmental resistance of said particles via post-polymerization heat treatment: processes for the manufacture of said particles; and use of said particles in the construction, drilling, completion and/or fracture stimulation of oil and natural gas wells are described.

Use of two different methods, either each by itself or in combination, to enhance the stiffness, strength, maximum possible use temperature, and environmental resistance of thermoset polymer particles is disclosed. One method is the application of post-polymerization process steps (and especially heat treatment) to advance the curing reaction and to thus obtain a more densely crosslinked polymer network. The other method is the incorporation of nanofillers, resulting in a heterogeneous nanocomposite morphology. Nanofiller incorporation and post-polymerization heat treatment can also be combined to obtain the benefits of both methods simultaneously. The present invention relates to the development of thermoset nanocomposite particles. Optional further improvement of the heat resistance and environmental resistance of said particles via post-polymerization heat treatment: processes for the manufacture of said particles; and use of said particles in the construction, drilling, completion and/or fracture stimulation of oil and natural gas wells are described.

A cordierite-type ceramic honeycomb structure having large numbers of flow paths partitioned by porous cell walls; the cell walls having (a) porosity of more than 65% and 75% or less, (b) in a pore diameter distribution measured by mercury porosimetry, (i) a pore diameter d10 at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 10% of the total pore volume being less than 50 m, a pore diameter (median pore diameter) d50 at 50% being 18-27 m, a pore diameter d90 at 90% being 10 m or more, and (d10d90)/d50 being 2.3 or less; (ii) [=log(d20)log(d80)] being 0.25 or less, wherein represents the difference between a logarithm of a pore diameter d20 at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 20% of the total pore volume and a logarithm of a pore diameter d80 at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 80% of the total pore volume; and (iii) the maximum of the inclination S.sub.n=(V.sub.nV.sub.n-1)/[log(d.sub.n)log(d.sub.n-1)] of a curve of a cumulative pore volume to a pore diameter being 3 or more, wherein d.sub.n and V.sub.n are respectively a pore diameter and a cumulative pore volume at an n-th measurement point, and d.sub.n-1 and V.sub.n-1 are respectively a pore diameter and a cumulative pore volume at a (n1)-th measurement point.

A cordierite-type ceramic honeycomb structure having large numbers of flow paths partitioned by porous cell walls; the cell walls having (a) porosity of more than 65% and 75% or less, (b) in a pore diameter distribution measured by mercury porosimetry, (i) a pore diameter d10 at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 10% of the total pore volume being less than 50 m, a pore diameter (median pore diameter) d50 at 50% being 18-27 m, a pore diameter d90 at 90% being 10 m or more, and (d10d90)/d50 being 2.3 or less; (ii) [=log(d20)log(d80)] being 0.25 or less, wherein represents the difference between a logarithm of a pore diameter d20 at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 20% of the total pore volume and a logarithm of a pore diameter d80 at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 80% of the total pore volume; and (iii) the maximum of the inclination S.sub.n=(V.sub.nV.sub.n-1)/[log(d.sub.n)log(d.sub.n-1)] of a curve of a cumulative pore volume to a pore diameter being 3 or more, wherein d.sub.n and V.sub.n are respectively a pore diameter and a cumulative pore volume at an n-th measurement point, and d.sub.n-1 and V.sub.n-1 are respectively a pore diameter and a cumulative pore volume at a (n1)-th measurement point.

A cordierite-type ceramic honeycomb structure having large numbers of flow paths partitioned by porous cell walls; the cell walls having (a) porosity of more than 65% and 75% or less, (b) in a pore diameter distribution measured by mercury porosimetry, (i) a pore diameter d10 at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 10% of the total pore volume being less than 50 m, a pore diameter (median pore diameter) d50 at 50% being 18-27 m, a pore diameter d90 at 90% being 10 m or more, and (d10d90)/d50 being 2.3 or less; (ii) [=log(d20)log(d80)] being 0.25 or less, wherein represents the difference between a logarithm of a pore diameter d20 at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 20% of the total pore volume and a logarithm of a pore diameter d80 at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 80% of the total pore volume; and (iii) the maximum of the inclination S.sub.n=(V.sub.nV.sub.n1)/[log(d.sub.n)log(d.sub.n1)] of a curve of a cumulative pore volume to a pore diameter being 3 or more, wherein d.sub.n and V.sub.n are respectively a pore diameter and a cumulative pore volume at an n-th measurement point, and d.sub.n1 and V.sub.n1 are respectively a pore diameter and a cumulative pore volume at a (n1)-th measurement point.

A cordierite-type ceramic honeycomb structure having large numbers of flow paths partitioned by porous cell walls; the cell walls having (a) porosity of more than 65% and 75% or less, (b) in a pore diameter distribution measured by mercury porosimetry, (i) a pore diameter d10 at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 10% of the total pore volume being less than 50 m, a pore diameter (median pore diameter) d50 at 50% being 18-27 m, a pore diameter d90 at 90% being 10 m or more, and (d10d90)/d50 being 2.3 or less; (ii) [=log(d20)log(d80)] being 0.25 or less, wherein represents the difference between a logarithm of a pore diameter d20 at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 20% of the total pore volume and a logarithm of a pore diameter d80 at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 80% of the total pore volume; and (iii) the maximum of the inclination S.sub.n=(V.sub.nV.sub.n1)/[log(d.sub.n)log(d.sub.n1)] of a curve of a cumulative pore volume to a pore diameter being 3 or more, wherein d.sub.n and V.sub.n are respectively a pore diameter and a cumulative pore volume at an n-th measurement point, and d.sub.n1 and V.sub.n1 are respectively a pore diameter and a cumulative pore volume at a (n1)-th measurement point.

Use of two different methods, either each by itself or in combination, to enhance the stiffness, strength, maximum possible use temperature, and environmental resistance of thermoset polymer particles is disclosed. One method is the application of post-polymerization process steps (and especially heat treatment) to advance the curing reaction and to thus obtain a more densely crosslinked polymer network. The other method is the incorporation of nanofillers, resulting in a heterogeneous nanocomposite morphology. Nanofiller incorporation and post-polymerization heat treatment can also be combined to obtain the benefits of both methods simultaneously. The present invention relates to the development of thermoset nanocomposite particles. Optional further improvement of the heat resistance and environmental resistance of said particles via post-polymerization heat treatment; processes for the manufacture of said particles; and use of said particles in the construction, drilling, completion and/or fracture stimulation of oil and natural gas wells are described.

Use of two different methods, either each by itself or in combination, to enhance the stiffness, strength, maximum possible use temperature, and environmental resistance of thermoset polymer particles is disclosed. One method is the application of post-polymerization process steps (and especially heat treatment) to advance the curing reaction and to thus obtain a more densely crosslinked polymer network. The other method is the incorporation of nanofillers, resulting in a heterogeneous nanocomposite morphology. Nanofiller incorporation and post-polymerization heat treatment can also be combined to obtain the benefits of both methods simultaneously. The present invention relates to the development of thermoset nanocomposite particles. Optional further improvement of the heat resistance and environmental resistance of said particles via post-polymerization heat treatment; processes for the manufacture of said particles; and use of said particles in the construction, drilling, completion and/or fracture stimulation of oil and natural gas wells are described.

A cordierite-type ceramic honeycomb structure having large numbers of flow paths partitioned by porous cell walls; the cell walls having (a) porosity of more than 65% and 75% or less, (b) in a pore diameter distribution measured by mercury porosimetry, (i) a pore diameter d10 at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 10% of the total pore volume being less than 50 m, a pore diameter (median pore diameter) d50 at 50% being 18-27 m, a pore diameter d90 at 90% being 10 m or more, and (d10d90)/d50 being 2.3 or less; (ii) [=log(d20)log(d80)] being 0.25 or less, wherein represents the difference between a logarithm of a pore diameter d20 at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 20% of the total pore volume and a logarithm of a pore diameter d80 at a cumulative pore volume corresponding to 80% of the total pore volume; and (iii) the maximum of the inclination S.sub.n=(V.sub.nV.sub.n-1)/[log(d.sub.n)log(d.sub.n-1)] of a curve of a cumulative pore volume to a pore diameter being 3 or more, wherein d.sub.n and V.sub.n are respectively a pore diameter and a cumulative pore volume at an n-th measurement point, and d.sub.n-1 and V.sub.n-1 are respectively a pore diameter and a cumulative pore volume at a (n1)-th measurement point.