Effect of surfactants on the polymerization of acrylamide in aqueous solutions

The polymerization of acrylamide in aqueous surfactant solutions, initiated by potassium persulfate, has been investigated, dilatometry being used to follow the conversion. It has been shown that below the critical micellar concentration (CMC), cationic, anionic and non-ionic surfactants have no effect, while above the CMC only cationic soaps have an effect, lowering both the rate of polymerization and the molecular weight of the resultant polymer.