Understanding the hydrate adhesion is important to tackling hydrate accretion in petro-pipelines. Herein, the relationship between the Tetrahydrofuran (THF) hydrate adhesion strength (AS) and surface stiffness on elastic coatings is systemically examined by experimental shear force measurements and theoretical methods. The mechanical factor-elastic modulus of the coatings greatly dictates the hydrate AS, which is explained by the adhesion mechanics theory, beyond the usual factors such as wettability and structural roughness. Moreover, the hydrate AS increases with reducing the thickness of the elastic coatings, resulted from the decrease of the apparent surface elastic modulus. The effect of critical thickness for the elastic materials with variable elastic modulus on the hydrate AS is also revealed. This study provides deep perspectives on the regulation of the hydrate AS by the elastic modulus of elastic materials, which is of significance to design anti-hydrate surfaces for mitigation of hydrate accretion in petro-pipelines.

Gas clathrate hydrates show promising applications in sustainable technologies such as future energy resources, gas capture and storage. The stability of clathrate hydrates under external load is of great crucial to those important applications, but remains unknown. Water vacancy is a common structural defect in clathrate hydrates. Herein, the mechanical characteristics of sI methane hydrates containing three types of water vacancy are investigated by molecular dynamics simulations with four different water forcefields. Mechanical properties of methane hydrates such as tensile strength are dictated not only by the density but also the type of water vacancy. Surprisingly, the tensile strength of methane hydrates can be weakened or strengthened, depending on the adopted water model and water vacancy density. Strength enhancement mainly results from the formation of new water cages. This work provides critical insights into the mechanics and microstructural properties of methane clathrate hydrates under external load, which is of primary importance in the recovery of natural gas from methane hydrate reservoirs.