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THE KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF THE SOLID STATE POLYMERIZATION OF ACRYLAMIDE

Journal Article · · Makromolekueare Chemie (Switzerland)

Crystalline acrylamide exposed to gamma rays polymerizes after removal from the irradiation source for periods of many months. The molecular weight of the product increases by about the same factor as the polymer yield. At 25 deg C, the initial propagation rate coefficient is 2.6 x 10/sup 6/ times lower than in water solution. The kinetics of the reaction are consistent with biomolecular radical termination and intermediate between those expected for a uniform radical distribution and the radical growth in isolated"tracks" of the gamma rays, but electron spin resonance measurements indicate little decay of the radical concentration with time. In solid solutions of acrylamide and propionamide, which is isomorphous with the monomer, the polymer chain length is determined by chain transfer to propionamide. The high chain transfer efficiency of propionamide in solid solution is indicative of the restraints imposed on the direction of the chain growth by lattice forces. There is no appreciable chain transfer in solid solutions of acrylamide containing the non-isomorphous acetamide as the second component. (auth)

Research Organization:
Polytechnic Inst., Brooklyn
NSA Number:
NSA-14-014802
OSTI ID:
4169003
Journal Information:
Makromolekueare Chemie (Switzerland), Journal Name: Makromolekueare Chemie (Switzerland) Vol. Vol: 34; ISSN MACEA
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English