| Abstract: | The molecular weight distribution of polyacrylamide, prepared by uranyl ion-photosensitized polymerization of acrylamide in visible light of wavelength 436 mμ, was studied in detail. The polymer was fractionated and the experimental integral and differential distribution curves were drawn. The theoretical distribution function was derived from the kinetics of photopolymerization, assuming the rate constants calculated from previous studies. The theoretical and experimental molecular weight distributions were compared. The results support the mechanism proposed for the photopolymerization reaction. |
