Polyacrylamide and Its Derivatives Find Applications in Enhanced Oil Recovery and the Construction Sector

 

Polyacrylamide (IUPAC poly(2-propenamide) or poly(1-carbamoylethylene), abbreviated as PAM) is a polymer (-CH2CHCONH2-) formed from acrylamide subunits. It belongs to a family of man-made polymer materials consisting of polymers of several alternating and interlocking polymer chains linked together by a combination of solvent-reacted monomers. PAM has various uses such as in the creation of plastics, resins, adhesives, and other man-made materials. Some of these polymers include vinyl and thermoset polymers, which have a number of chemical properties, and also diblock polymers. Polyacryl-Coated polymer products are widely used in a wide range of industrial processes including:

Polyacrylamide is an extremely versatile polymer manufactured from acrylates and polymers derived from glucose. It can also be synthesized as a single chain polymer, usually cross-linked or simple linear-chains, generally with a monomer of high molecular weight. The main potential problem associated with this material is that the polymer chains tend to grow too large, forming larger than necessary voids and thus reducing the available space for the polymer chains. Crosslinked polymer (or Crosslinked Polysaccharides) consists of two or more polymer chains that are linked together through a reaction of solvents. The possible structural differences between crosslinked and non-crosslinked polymer chains are based on the type of solvent used, the length of the polymer chains, and the polymer chains' interactions.

Polyacrylamide has been used in the construction of buildings, but there are problems with the way the material is placed at the base of structures. This creates cracks and gaps, which may cause damage to the foundation, while also reducing the structural stability. Another common use of PAM and its derivatives is in subsurface applications such as Enhanced Oil Recovery. The presence of the polymer increases the viscosity of the injected water, which reduces the difference in the speeds at which the water and oil travel and minimizes the tendency of water to finger through oil. Moreover, PAM gel electrophoresis utilizes PAM to separate biological macromolecules, usually proteins or nucleic acids.

Although polyacrylamide is very durable, they can also wear down over time, causing them to deteriorate over time. When this happens, the material may lose its properties and can become brittle and flaky, which is often hard to repair. PAMs are also not fire resistant, which may lead to serious problems down the line if they are exposed to fire. If they catch fire, the resulting heat may cause a collapse of the structure. This is also the reason why they aren't used in the construction of bridges.

Chemical bonds between polyacrylamides and other chemicals are also weaker than those found in plastics, so they may not be able to withstand the same pressure exerted when using them as other plastic materials. Also, if they are made up from a mixture of polyacetals, they may not be able to be used to their fullest potential. If a single molecule of one of these polymers is heated, they will often bond with another polymer and cause a separation, which is why it is essential to heat up the chemical mixture to ensure the bond stays strong.