Abstract

This article presents an up-to-date, broad overview of acrylamide polymers covering the 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 throughly 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 considered.