Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have studied the growth of hydrate materials on various surfaces. Their research is important as these hydrates can, and do, form on the surface of the pipes which are used in deep water oil drilling causing expensive blockages. The authors suggest that by using “hydrate-phobic” pipe materials such problems could be reduced. Their MIT press release can be found here.
Read the full details of this exciting research today:
Hydrate-phobic surfaces: fundamental studies in clathrate hydrate adhesion reduction
J. David Smith , Adam J. Meuler , Harrison L. Bralower , Rama Venkatesan , Sivakumar Subramanian , Robert E. Cohen , Gareth H. McKinley and Kripa K. Varanasi
DOI: 10.1039/C2CP40581D
