Development of metakaolin and geopolymer proppants with nanocarbon materials

Abstract From the first hydraulic fracturing in the 40’s until nowadays, the techniques of each process step have evolved significantly. This study presents a new approach on the development of metakaolin (MK) and geopolymer based proppant with and without nanocarbon materials such as multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide. For manufacturing the microspheres, the chosen method was intensive mixing of raw material with dispersed nanocarbons followed by sintering metakaolin and curing the geopolymer using an alkaline medium (NaOH). Compression mechanical tests, bulk density, turbidit...