3/9/2017 Properties of Polyacrylamides

Polymer Properties Database

HOME BACK POLYMER DATA PLASTICS NEWS MORE ABOUT US

MANUFACTURERS POLYACRYLAMIDES
BASF
PROPERTIES
Polyacylamides are high molecular weight water soluble or swellable polymers formed from acrylamide or its derivative
SNF Floerger
transition temperature is well above room temperature (> 400 K). The only commercially important polyacrylamide is p
propenamide) which is simply called polyacrylamide or PAM [-CH2CH(CONH2)-]. It is a non-ionic, watersoluble, and bi
Shangdong Tongli
polymer that can be tailored to meet a broad range of applications. The polymer can be synthesized as a simple linear
Kemira cross-linked structure. PAM increases the viscosity of water and encourages the flocculation of particles present in wa
linked polymer can absorb and retain extemely large amounts of water because the amide groups form strong
water molecules. The hydrated PAM is a soft gel that is used in gel electrophoresis and as a super water-absorbing
Even though these polymers are called polyacrylamide, they are often copolymers of acrylamide and one or more othe
The most important co-monomer is acrylic acid or sodiumacrylate. Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) and its sodium salt
H OME
polymers which are more effective as flocculant and water absorber.

Very few other polyacrylamides have found industrial applications. Noteworthy are poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDM
poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDMDAAC), and poly(acrylooxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDAC) a
OTHER thereof. PDMDAAC and PDAC are cationic polymers that can break emulsions and induce flocculation. As a primary o
coagulant, they neutralize negatively charged colloidal material and reduces sludge volume compared with inorganic c

Polyelectrolytes Poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) is useful as a chain transfer agent (CTA) and as a functionalized polymer. DMA
copolymerized with styrene and butadiene or with methylmethacrylate.

Thermophysical Properties PAMs polymerize in the presence of free radicals. A typical initiator is ammonium persulfate and a typical stabilizer
tetramethylethylenediamine. The most common crosslinker is bisacrylamide. The polymerization reaction creates a hig
weight polymer or gel.

B ACK

Polyacrylamide Structure of Repeat Unit

PERFORMANCE
OVERVIEW Anionic Polyacrylicamide (APAM)

Neutral Polyacrylamide (PAM)

Cationic Polyacrylamide (CPAM)

COMMERCIAL POLYACRYLAMIDES
Major manufacturers of acrylamide polymers are BASF, SNF Floerger, Shangdong Tongli , and Kemira.

http://polymerdatabase.com/polymer%20classes/Polyacrylamide%20type.html 1/2
3/9/2017 Properties of Polyacrylamides

APPLICATIONS
Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) and its sodium salts (APAM) are widely used as thickening agent, binder, super absor
conditioner, filtering aid, flocculating agent, crosslinker, suspending agent, lubricant, and oil recovery agent. One of its
waste water treatment. When added to waste water, it causes suspended particles to aggregate and to precipitate. In m
industrial waste water treatment it can be used in all liquid-solid separation processes including primary sewage
also used to treat water from mineral mining operations. Another common use is oil extraction and recovery. When wa
into the well, PAM assists in pushing oil locked in reservoirs towards the pump by increasing the viscosity of the injecte

Cationic polyacrylamides (CPAM) are used for emulsion breaking, and for promoting filtration and sludge dewatering. T
use is waste water treatment. As a primary organic coagulant, it neutralizes negatively charged colloidal particles and
flocculation and sedimentation which reduces sludge volume. In paper mills, it is mainly used to enhance retention and

Another low volume but important use of anionic and cationic polyacrylamides is gel electrophoresis for macromolecul
When an electic field is applied across a PAM gel, the (negatively) charged proteins or nucleic acids migrate across th
towards the positive electrode. Since the mobility depends on the charge and size of the molecules, each molecule sp
differently through the gel matrix.

THERMO-PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Poly(acrylamide)

Poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide)

Poly(N-octyl acrylamide)

Poly(N-tert-butyl acrylamide)

Poly(N-phenyl acrylamide)

Poly(N-sec-butyl acrylamide)

POLYMER PROPERTIES DATABASE

THEROMOPHYSICAL DATA TYPICAL PERFORMANCE PHYSICS OF POLYMERS CHEMISTRY OF P

Key data on over two hundred Properties of commercial commodity Physical and mechanical properties Chemical properties a
and fifty polymers and engineering plastics of polymers organic polymers

P O LYMERS IND E X P L A STICS INDE X P H Y S. CONTEN T S C H E M. CONTEN

http://polymerdatabase.com/polymer%20classes/Polyacrylamide%20type.html 2/2