Interactions between inorganic salts and polyacrylamide in aqueous solutions and gels

The swelling of poly(acrylamide) (PAAm) gels and the osmotic pressure of linear PAAm in aqueous solutions were predominantly affected by anion type and increased according to the lyotropic series ranking of sodium halide anions: F^? < (H₂O) < Cl^? < Br^? < I^?. The osmotic pressure of PAAm in all examined salt solutions followed the scaling theory, with an exponent of 2.3 ± 0.1. In solutions of a sodium halide series, the value of the pre‐exponential factor seemed to depend on salt concentration, anion radius, and the apparent “anionic‐portion radius” of the water molecule. This radius, extracted from the literature data, marks a transition point of the anion radius effect. Larger anions increase the osmotic pressure of PAAm more significantly as their concentration increases and vice versa. The effects of the anions on the osmotic pressure of PAAm are related to their preferential interactions with the polymer. Iodide, which increased the osmotic pressure of PAAm with respect to its value in pure water, seemed to preferentially adsorb onto the polymer with a binding constant of K_b = 9.7 ± 2.0 M^?1 determined by isothermal titration microcalorimetry. However, fluoride, which decreased the osmotic pressure, was preferentially repulsed. The mechanisms of attraction and repulsion were attributed to ion‐water‐polymer interactions and the solvent quality of the hydrated ions. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 508–519, 2003     

Interactions of glucose and polyacrylamide in solutions and gels

The swelling of polyacrylamide (PAAm) gels increased with rising glucose concentrations, and so did the osmotic pressure of the soluble polymer and its intrinsic viscosity. A Flory–Huggins‐based model for the osmotic pressure of a nonionic hydrophilic polymer in a ternary solution consisting of a main solvent, a polymer, and a nondissociating low‐molecular‐weight cosolute was developed and examined. The model‐calculated values were in reasonably good agreement with experimental results for the water–PAAm–glucose system studied when PAAm–water and glucose–water interaction coefficients from the binary systems were used, and only the PAAm–glucose interaction coefficient was adjusted. Its negative value suggested a favorable interaction of glucose and PAAm, supporting the notion of glucose being a good cosolvent for PAAm. Isothermal titration microcalorimetry results showed no evidence for the binding of glucose to PAAm, but an exothermic interaction was indicated between glucose and PAAm. Microcalorimetrically determined enthalpic contributions to the Flory–Huggins interaction coefficients showed enthalpically favorable binary interactions, particularly the enthalpic component of the PAAm–glucose interaction coefficient (χ_H23), which was slightly negative. The enthalpically favorable interaction between glucose and PAAm may explain the increased osmotic pressure of PAAm in glucose solutions. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 3053–3063, 2003     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(N‐vinyl formamide) hydrogels—A potential alternative to polyacrylamide hydrogels

The synthesis and characterization of solution‐cast, molded gels of N‐vinyl formamide (NVF) has not been previously reported even though NVF is an isomer of acrylamide (AAm) and polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels have many commercial applications. Aqueous NVF solutions were cross‐linked into gels using a novel cross‐linker, 2‐(N‐vinylformamido)ethylether, and the thermally‐activated initiator VA‐044. For a given formulation, PNVF gels swell up to twice that of PAAm gels cross‐linked with N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide. From swelling and compression measurements, PNVF gels were found to be more hydrophilic than PAAm gels. Flory‐Huggins solubility parameters were χ = 0.38?₂ + 0.48 for PNVF and χ = 0.31?₂ + 0.49 for PAAm, where ?₂ is the polymer volume fraction. The shear moduli for PNVF and PAAm scale with ? and ? respectively, consistent with good solvent behavior, also suggesting PNVF is more hydrophilic than PAAm. Similarity of mechanical properties for both gels as a function of ?₂ suggests that network structures of PNVF and PAAm gels are similar. Fracture strains of both gels declined with ?₂ by the same linear function while fracture stresses were about 500 kPa regardless of formulation. Since NVF is a liquid monomer, less toxic than AAm and can be hydrolyzed to a cationic form, PNVF gels could become technologically significant. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks composed of poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) and polyacrylamide hydrogels

Three series of semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks, based on crosslinked poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPA) and 1 wt % nonionic or ionic (cationic and anionic) linear polyacrylamide (PAAm), were synthesized to improve the mechanical properties of PNIPA gels. The effect of the incorporation of linear polymers into responsive networks on the temperature‐induced transition, swelling behavior, and mechanical properties was studied. Polymer networks with four different crosslinking densities were prepared with various molar ratios (25:1 to 100:1) of the monomer (N‐isopropyl acrylamide) to the crosslinker (methylenebisacrylamide). The hydrogels were characterized by the determination of the equilibrium degree of swelling at 25 °C, the compression modulus, and the effective crosslinking density, as well as the ultimate hydrogel properties, such as the tensile strength and elongation at break. The introduction of cationic and anionic linear hydrophilic PAAm into PNIPA networks increased the rate of swelling, whereas the presence of nonionic PAAm diminished it. Transition temperatures were significantly affected by both the crosslinking density and the presence of linear PAAm in the hydrogel networks. Although anionic PAAm had the greatest influence on increasing the transition temperature, the presence of nonionic PAAm caused the highest dimensional change. Semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks reinforced with cationic and nonionic PAAm exhibited higher tensile strengths and elongations at break than PNIPA hydrogels, whereas the presence of anionic PAAm caused a reduction in the mechanical properties. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3987–3999, 2004     

Semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks of methyl cellulose and polyacrylamide prepared by frontal polymerization

In this study, the feasibility of frontal polymerization (FP) as an alternative and convenient technique for the preparation of semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks made of methyl cellulose (MC) and cross‐linked polyacrylamide (PAAm) is demonstrated. FP was performed in water and glycerol, as largely available, nontoxic solvents. Although FP occurred in both media, differences were found by comparing the samples made in the two solvents. In particular, those prepared in water are characterized by larger inhomogeneity and less reproducibility, thus accounting for the boiling effects that influence propagating polymerization fronts when water was used. The effects of the ratio among MC and PAAm, the amount of cross‐linker and solvent medium were studied in terms of influence on temperature and velocity of FP fronts, glass transition temperature (dried samples), swelling behavior, dynamic‐mechanical properties (gels swollen in both water or glycerol), and tensile behavior. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 55, 1268–1274     

Network structure and swelling behavior of poly(acrylamide/crotonic acid) hydrogels in aqueous salt solutions

Hydrogels with various ionic group contents were prepared from acrylamide and crotonic acid (CrA) monomers with 0–12.9 mol % CrA in aqueous solutions by radiation‐induced polymerization and gelation with γ rays from a ⁶⁰Co source. The volume swelling ratio of the poly(acrylamide/crotonic acid) hydrogels was investigated as a function of the pH and ionic strength of the swelling medium and the type of counterion in the swelling medium. The volume swelling ratio increased with an increase in pH and a decrease in the ionic strength. The volume swelling ratio of these hydrogels was evaluated with an equation, based on the Flory–Huggins thermodynamic theory, the James–Guth phantom network theory, and the Donnan theory of swelling of weakly charged ionic gels, that was modified here for the determination of the molecular weight between crosslinks (M_c) and the polymer–solvent interaction parameter (χ). The modified equation described very well the swelling behavior of the charged polymeric network. The same equation also provided the simultaneous measurement of these parameters for the systems investigated. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1656–1664, 2003     

Swelling behavior and network structure of hydrogels synthesized using controlled UV‐initiated free radical polymerization

N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (VP) and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) copolymeric gels have been synthesized using UV‐initiated photopolymerization to understand their characteristic behavior for development as a bioengineering material, specifically for tissue expansion. The properties of the gels have been investigated by systematic variation of the monomer feed composition and initiator and crosslinker concentrations as well as UV irradiation intensity, which was controlled by various photomasks. The swelling kinetics and network characteristics for the various hydrogels were investigated through the observation of gel swelling behavior in saline solutions and compression modulus determination of the fully swollen hydrogels. The equilibrium swelling ratio (q_e) of the gels increased as expected with increasing VP content and decreasing crosslinker concentration. However, it was found that as the amount of initiator or UV intensity increased, unexpectedly q_e also increased, which indicates a network structure with decreasing effective crosslink density (ν_e) (or increasing average molecular weight between crosslinks (M_c)). Based on this anomalous swelling behavior and thermal analysis of the gels, a molecular structure is proposed consisting of increasing number of dangling chain ends within the polymer network. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1450–1462, 2008     

Synthesis and functionalities of poly(N-vinylalkylamide). VI. A novel thermosensitive hydrogel crosslinked poly(N-vinylisobutyramide)

A novel thermosensitive poly(N-vinylisobutyramide)(polyNVIBA) hydrogel was prepared by the copolymerization of N-vinylisobutyramide (NVIBA) with butylene-bis-NVA(B-BNVA) as a crosslinker in a high yield. The swelling transition behavior was examined in comparison with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(polyNIPAAm) hydrogel. The resulting polyNVIBA hydrogel clearly showed a swelling transion in water at ca. 41°C. To control the transition temperature (T_t) of the gel, crosslinked copolymers of NVIBA and N-vinylacetamide (NVA) were prepared and compared with copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide(NIPAAm) and NVA. The incorporation of NVA led to a higher swelling transition temperature. T_t of poly(NVIBA-co-NVA) gels was almost the same as those in water-soluble poly(NVIBA-co-NVA). The responses for a swelling transition of polyNVIBA and poly(NVIBA-co-NVA) gels were sharp in comparison to polyNIPAAm gels. PolyNVIBA and poly(NVIBA-co-NVA) gels desorbed 98% of water above T_t. The characteristic and the mechanism of the phase transition on the hydrogels were discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3377–3384, 1997     

Viscometric properties of dilute polystyrene/dioctyl phthalate solutions

We report viscometric data collected in a Couette rheometry on dilute, single‐solvent polystyrene (PS)/dioctyl phthalate (DOP) solutions over a variety of polymer molecular weights (5.5 × 10⁵ ≤ M_w ≤ 3.0 × 10⁶ Da) and system temperatures (288 K ≤ T ≤ 318 K). In view of the essential viscometric features, the current data may be classified into three categories: The first concerns all the investigated solutions at low shear rates, where the solution properties are found to agree excellently with the Zimm model predictions. The second includes all sample solutions, except for high‐molecular‐weight PS samples (M_w ≥ 2.0 × 10⁶ Da), where excellent time–temperature superposition is observed for the steady‐state polymer viscosity at constant polymer molecular weights. No similar superposition applies at a constant temperature but varied polymer molecular weights, however. The third appears to be characteristic of dilute high‐molecular‐weight polymer solutions, for which the effects of temperature on the viscosity curve are further complicated at high shear rates. The implications concerning the relative importance of hydrodynamic interactions, segmental interactions, and chain extensibility with increasing polymer molecular weight, system temperature, and shear rate are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 787–794, 2006     

Polymer diffusion in latex films at ambient temperature

Polymer diffusion across interfaces at room temperature (21°C) was analyzed by direct nonradiative energy transfer (DET) in labeled latex films. Two modellatex polymers were examined: poly(butyl methacrylate) [PBMA, M_w = 3.5 × 10⁴, T_g (dry) = 21°C] and a copolymer of 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate with 10 wt % (acetoacetoxy)-ethyl methacrylate [P(EHMA-co-AAEM), M_w = 4.8 × 10⁴, T_g (dry) = −7°C]. Little energy transfer due to polymer diffusion was detected for the P(EHMA-co-AAEM) latex samples in the dispersed state or dried to solids content below ca. 90%, but above 90% solids, diffusion occurs among particles. For PBMA, diffusion occurs only after the film is dried (>97% solids) and aged. In the dry PBMA films, it requires 4–5 days at 21°C to reach a significant extent of mixing (f_m = 0.3–0.4). This corresponds to an estimated penetration depth d_app of 30–40 nm and a mean apparent diffusion coefficient (D_app) of 5 × 10⁻⁴ nm²/s. The corresponding D_app value for the dry P(EHMA-co-AAEM) sample is 5 × 10⁻² nm²/s, and it takes about 25–40 min for this polymer to reach f_m of 0.3–0.4 with d_app of 20–30 nm. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1129–1139, 1998     

Swelling of dextran gel and osmotic pressure of soluble dextran in the presence of salts

The swelling of dextran gels (Sephadex) in salt solutions with a water activity of 0.937, compared with the swelling in pure water, exhibited anion specificity as evidenced by an increased swelling ratio in the following order: Na₂SO₄ < H₂O < NaCl < NaSCN. The swelling ratio showed a good linear correlation with the osmotic pressure of dextran (500 kD) in these solutions. The salt‐concentration difference (imbalance) between the polymer‐solution side of the membrane and the polymer‐free permeate side during the osmotic‐pressure measurements positively correlated with the effect of the salt on the polymer osmotic pressure. These phenomena conform to Hofmeister‐type (or lyotropic) behavior. The diminishing augmentation of dextran osmotic pressure and the change in the salt‐concentration imbalance with rising NaSCN concentration imply a positive preferential interaction and adsorption of the salt onto the polymer. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2740–2750, 2001     

Novel amphiphilic network polymers consisting of nonpolar,short primary polymer chains and polar,long crosslink units: Influence of characteristic dangling chains on swelling behavior of resulting amphiphilic gels

Novel amphiphilic network polymers consisting of nonpolar, short primary polymer chains and polar, long crosslink units were prepared, and the swelling behavior of resulting amphiphilic gels is discussed by focusing on the influence of characteristic dangling chains; that is, benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) was copolymerized with tricosaethylene glycol dimethacrylate [CH₂?C(CH₃)CO(OCH₂CH₂)₂₃OCOC(CH₃)?CH₂, PEGDMA‐23] in the presence of lauryl mercaptan as a chain‐transfer agent because BzMA forms nonpolar, short primary polymer chains and PEGDMA‐23 as a crosslinker contains a polar, long poly(oxyethylene) unit. The enhanced incorporation of dangling chains into the network polymer was brought by shortening the primary polymer chain length, and copolymerization with methoxytricosaethylene glycol methacrylate, a mono‐ene counterpart of PEGDMA‐23, enforced the incorporation of flexible dangling poly(oxyethylene) chains into the network polymer, although the former dangling chains as terminal parts of primary poly(BzMA) chains were rather rigid. Then, the influence of characteristic dangling chains on the swelling behavior of amphiphilic gels was examined in mixed solvents consisting of nonpolar t‐butylbenzene and polar methanol. The profiles of the solvent‐component dependencies of the swelling ratios were characteristic of amphiphilic gels. The introduction of dangling poly(oxyethylene) chains led not only to an increased swelling ratio but also to sharpened swelling behavior of amphiphilic gels. The swelling response of amphiphilic gels was checked by changing the external solvent polarity. The dangling chains with freely mobile end segments influenced the swelling response of gels. The amphiphilic gels with less entangled, collapsed crosslink units exhibited faster swelling response than the ones with more entangled, collapsed primary polymer chains. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2192–2201, 2004     

Swelling Behavior of Chemically Ion-Doped Hydrogels

Summary: Poly(acrylamide-co-N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide) gels were synthesized in the presence of pyranine fluoroprobe (trisodium 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate). Pyranine binds to polymer chains through its OH group via radical addition. Thus, the final gels were doped with the pyranines having SO ions as side groups and Na⁺ as counter-ions. The swelling behavior of gels prepared with varying amounts of pyranine and monomer concentrations were studied. The swelling ratio of the synthesized gels did not exceed 35 except the 2 M gel containing 10⁻² M pyranine which are the concentrations for the abnormal swelling behavior. At this particular concentration of monomer (acrylamide) and pyranine, the mass ratio m/m₀, the mass of the swollen gel to the mass of the dried gel, reaches about 1300; a stepwise behavior was observed in the swelling kinetics. The swelling kinetics of polyacrylamide gels containing unbound (free) pyranine were compared with the swelling behavior of the gels containing chemically bound pyranine.     

Synthesis of transition‐metal‐ion‐selective poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels by the incorporation of an Aza crown ether

A functionalized cyclam was synthesized by the attachment of a polymerizable acryloyl group to one of the four nitrogens on the cyclam molecule. The polymerization of the functionalized cyclam was performed with N‐isopropylacrylamide and N,N′‐methylene bisacrylamide, and the gels obtained were studied in the presence of different transition‐metal‐ion solutions. There was a drastic difference in the phase‐transition temperature (T_c) of the poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm)/cyclam gel in comparison with the pure PNIPAAm gel. For the described system, a T_c shift of 15 °C was obtained. The presence of functionalized cyclam increased the hydrophilicity and T_c of the aforementioned polymer gels in deionized water (at pH 6) because of the presence of protonated amino moieties. The PNIPAAm/cyclam gels showed a dependence of the swelling behavior on pH. T_c of the pure PNIPAAm gel was weakly influenced by the presence of any transition‐metal ions, such as Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Mn²⁺. The addition of Cu²⁺ or Ni²⁺ to the PNIPAAm/cyclam gel reduced T_c of the polymer gel, and a shift of approximately 12 °C was observed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1594–1602, 2003     

Preparation and ion conductivities of the plasticized polymer electrolytes based on the poly(acrylonitrile‐ co‐lithium methacrylate)

The polymer electrolytes composed of poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐lithium methacrylate) [P(AN‐co‐LiMA)], ethylene carbonate (EC), and LiClO₄ salts have been prepared. The ion groups in the P(AN‐co‐LiMA) were found to prevent EC from crystallization through their ion–dipole interactions with the polar groups in the EC. This suppression of the EC crystallization could lead to the enhancement of the ion conductivity at subambient temperature. The polymer electrolytes based on the PAN ionomer with 4 mol % ion content exhibited ion conductivities of 2.4 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm at −10°C and 1.9 × 10⁻³ S/cm at 25°C by simply using EC as a plasticizer. In the polymer electrolytes based on the PAN ionomer, ion motions seemed to be coupled with the segmental motions of the polymer chain due to the presence of the ion–dipole interaction between the ion groups in the ionomer and the polar groups in the EC, while the ion transport in the PAN‐based polymer electrolytes was similar to that of the liquid electrolytes. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 247–252, 1999     

Study on correlation of morphology of electrospun products of polyacrylamide with ultrahigh molecular weight

Polyacrylamide (PAAm) with ultrahigh molecular weight of 9 × 10⁶ g/mol has been processed by means of electrospinning, to afford products with a variety of morphologies, including polymer colloids, beaded fibers, smooth fibers, and ribbons. These morphologies can be controlled by a minute change of solution concentration in a small concentration range (0.3–3.0 wt %), because of the high molecular weight of the polymer. Under our experimental conditions, no electrospun product was obtained at the concentrations below 0.3 wt %. Beaded fibers and smooth fibers formed at the concentrations between 0.3 and 0.7 wt %. At concentrations between 0.7 and 2.0 wt %, smooth fibers and ribbons coexisted. At concentrations above 2.0 wt %, ribbons were the only product. Special morphologies such as triangular beads, helical fibers, and zigzag ribbons were also observed. With a lower molecular weight PAAm, branched fibers were found in the product. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2190–2195, 2005     

Effect of ion content in ionomer on the ion conductivity of polymer electrolytes based on the P(MMA-co-LiMA)/PEG/LiCF3SO3 blend

We have prepared polymer electrolytes composed of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-lithium methacrylate) ionomer (P(MMA-co-LiMA)), low molecular weight PEG, and LiCF₃SO₃ salt. The ion groups in P(MMA-co-LiMA) could enhance the miscibility between the MMA units and PEG in the polymer electrolytes. This miscibility enhancement made the pathway of ion transport less tortuous, and consequently led to the increase in ion conductivity. The maximum ambient ion conductivities in these systems were measured to be in the range of 10⁻⁴–10⁻⁵ S/cm. The polymer electrolytes became transparent at the higher ion content owing to the enhanced miscibility. The mechanical stability of the polymer electrolytes was also improved through the introduction of ion groups into the PMMA. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 991–997, 1998     

Studies on stable aqueous poly(o-toluidine) prepared with the use of a water soluble support polymer,polyacrylamide

Polymerization of o-methylaniline or o-toluidine (OT) was studied in aqueous acidic (HCl) medium with or without the use of the support of a water soluble polymer, polyacrylamide (PAAm). Poly(o- toluidine) (POT) produced with PAAm support was in the form of aqueous solution or dispersion that showed high stability and good processibility. High degree of dispersion or near solubility and storage stability of POT thus prepared are explained on the basis of establishment of hydrogen bonding between segments of POT being formed and the PAAm present in the medium thus resulting in a template effect. Studies by UV-visible spectroscopy and FTIR spectroscopy lend support to this view. POT-PAAm composites commonly show higher thermal stability than POT and the composites show DC-electrical conductivities in the range of 10⁻⁹–10⁻¹ S · cm⁻¹ depending on the POT content. Morphological analysis of the optically clear aqueous POT-PAAm solution by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows the presence of large clusters of PAAm-supported near-spherical POT nanoparticles in the aqueous PAAm solution. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis of isolated POT-PAAm composites shows a cocontinuous phase morphology without any trend of gross phase separation. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3243–3256, 1999     

Free‐volume change during the volume phase transition of polyacrylamide gel studied by positron annihilation: Solvent‐composition dependence

Changes in the free‐volume parameters of polyacrylamide (PAAm) gels during the volume phase transition (VPT) were studied with the positron annihilation lifetime technique. The VPT was induced through the variation of the solvent composition in a mixture of acetone and water. The PAAm gels containing 0 and 4 mol % carboxyl groups in their polymer chains were adapted to compare the effect of the presence of ionic groups on the microscopic environment. The change of the free‐volume property is discussed on a nanoscopic scale, with attention paid to the interactions between the polymer chains and the solvent molecules. It is proven that the variations of the free‐volume parameters correlate significantly with the VPT phenomenon. The results of the free volume for both gels are well‐explained when an interaction parameter, ε_g, is assumed. The interpretation suggests that the state of the interactions among the components (the polymer chain, acetone, and water molecules) plays an important role in the change of the free volume of PAAm gels during the VPT. An increase of the dispersion of the free‐volume size near the VPT point was observed for the ionized PAAm gel. The broadened size distribution of the free volume of the ionized PAAm gel around the VPT point lay between those of pure water and the corresponding mixed solvent, suggesting that a local minimum of the average free‐volume size at the VPT point is caused by the increase of a specific interaction, hydrogen bonding. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 922–933, 2000     

Polyacrylamide gels formed with Cr+3 ion and Cr(acetate)3: Thermodynamically and kinetically controlled crosslinking reactions

The gelation of buffered aqueous Cr⁺³/polyacrylamide (PAAm) solutions has been studied over the pH range 2-11. With Cr⁺³ supplied as Cr(NO₃)₃ and a 7.5% hydrolyzed PAAm the upper limit for gelation was about pH 7, but Cr(acetate)₃/PAAm solutions gelled as high as pH 9. Evidence is presented that the formation of unreactive colloidal Cr(OH)₃(H₂O)₃, rather than polymer crosslinking, is favored thermodynamically for Cr⁺³/PAAm solutions at pH > 7. The crosslinks formed in Cr(acetate)₃/PAAm solutions at pH 7–9 are deduced to be kinetically controlled products. Independent evidence for the kinetic stability of Cr⁺³/PAAm gels above pH 7 has also been obtained. Other observations relevant to the mechanism of crosslinking of PAAm with Cr(acetate)₃ are described.