THE EFFECT OF THE LAYER-BY-LAYER DEVELOPM ENT OF PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION OF ACRYLAMIDE ON THE PROPERTIES OF THE FINAL POLYACRYLAMIDE-GEL

Photopolymerization of acrylamide in an aqueous solution proceeds in a layer-by-layer manner. Because of the light gradient within the volum e of the solution, the properties of the polyacrylamide gel (contracti on, thermal stability) vary with their distance from the surface of,th e gel. The mechanism of photopolymerization of acrylamide remains the same throughout the entire volume of the solution. The reaction order with respect to initiator (riboflavin) is close to 1.5; the reaction o rder with respect to monomer is 2. The maximal thickness of the polyac rylamide gel layer that could be formed under the examined conditions was 3.8 - 4.5 mm. The induction period for the surface layer was 85 - 90 s.