Electrochemical and chemical polymerization of acrylamide

AbstractThe electrochemical and chemical polymerization of acrylamide (AA) has been studied. The electrolysis of the monomer in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) containing (C4H9)4NClO4 as the supporting electrolyte leads to polymer formation in both anode and cathode compartments. The cathodic polymer dissolves in the reaction mixture and the anodic polymer precipitates during the course of polymerization. A plausible mechanism for the anodic and cathodic initiation reaction has been given. The chemical polymerization of acrylamide that has been initiated by HClO4 is analogous to its anodic polymerization. The polymer yield increases with an increase in concentration of the monomer and HClO4. Raising the reaction temperature also enhances the polymerization rate. The overall apparent activation energy of the polymerization was determined to be ca. 19 kcal/mole. The copolymerization of acrylamide was carried out with methyl methacrylate (MMA) in a solution of HClO4 in DMF. The reactivity ratios are r1 (AA) = 0.25 and r2 = 2.50. The polymerization with HClO4 appears to be by a free radical mechanism. When the polymerization of acrylamide is carried out with HClO4 in H2O, a crosslinked water‐insoluble gel formation takes place.