[scienceforrevolution]

Borate salts used for maintaining fluid viscosity as temperature increases- why? Can acetates do the same thing?

[Arkcon]

The group will need more context to give you a meaningful answer.  Which borate salts, in what fluid, maintains viscosity.  I am not aware that the ionic salt sodium borate has any effect on viscosity in water solution.  But you haven't excluded the possibility that this is your question.

[scienceforrevolution]

Of course, sorry for the lack of clarity. Gas companies claim that borate salts are used to make up  .07% of the typical solution used in hydraulic fracturing. This is a small portion of the .49% of additives used in the solution. The other 99.51% is made up of water and sand.

So more specifically, my question is: In the application of hydraulic fracturing solution, borate salts have been claimed to be used for the purpose of "maintaining fluid viscosity as temperature increases." Why is that? If these salts were replaced by acetates, would they work in a similar way?

Unfortunately, I don't know which specific borate salts the companies refer to.

Thank you and I hope this clears up any confusion.

[Arkcon]

Hmmm ... so borate salts do work to preserve viscosity in water ... at least under very high pressures.  Interesting.  Sorry, outside of my experience 'tho.

[scienceforrevolution]

No problem! Thanks for taking a look