This article presents an up‐to‐date, broad overview of acrylamide polymers covering their physics, chemistry, synthesis, and technology. Acrylamide polymers constitute a major segment of the global water‐soluble polymers market. The physics and chemistry of acrylamide polymers and copolymers in both the solid and solution states are discussed. Chemical properties and synthetic methods for acrylamide polymerization, copolymerization, and polymer derivatization are thoroughly covered, as are commercial manufacturing processes. The principal applications of acrylamide polymers are discussed, and there is coverage of modern methods of polymer analysis as applied to these materials. Safety and economic issues are also considered.
Bromodichloroacetaldehyde was synthesized by two methods. The first synthesis started from chloral, which was allowed to react with Ph3P and the resultant compound brominated and hydrolyzed to give bromodichloroacetaldehyde in an overall yield of 60%. Purification by repeated distillation from P2O5 gave polymerization grade bromodichloroacetabldehyde. Bromodichloroacetaldehyde could also be synthesized by bromination of dichloroacetaldehyde diethyl acetal. The yields of this synthesis were only 20–30%, and the aldehyde could not be purified readily to give polymerization grade monomer. Bromodichloroacetaldehyde could be homopolymerized at −30°C with anionic and also some cationic initiators to a polymer which was insoluble and did not melt but degraded to monomer above 200°C. The ceiling temperature of the polymerization was −15°C in 1M solution. Bromodichloroacetaldehyde could also be copolymerized with isocyanates, primarily aryl isocyanates, and also with chloral.
Acrylamide polymerizes in the presence of free‐radical initiators to form polyacrylamide chains. Acrylamide polymers include functionalized polymers prepared from polyacrylamide by postreaction and copolymers prepared by polymerizing acrylamide (2‐propenamide, C
3
N
5
NO) with one or more comonomers. Completely dry polyacrylamide is a brittle white solid. Polyacrylamide is soluble in water, and high molecular weight polyacrylamide forms viscous homogeneous solutions in it. Reactions include hydrolysis, sulfomethylation, methylol formation, and reaction with other aldehydes. Most uses for high molecular weight polyacrylamides in water treating, mineral processing, and paper manufacture are based on the ability of these polymers to flocculate small suspended particles by charge neutralization and bridging. Low molecular weight polymers are employed as dispersants, crystal growth modifiers, or selective mineral depressants.
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