A CALORIMETRIC STUDY OF SPONTANEOUS POLYMERIZATION IN ACRYLAMIDE SYSTEMS CONTAINING METAL NITRATES

A calorimetric study of the kinetics of spontaneous polymerization of acrylamide in systems containing Cr(III) and Er(III) nitrates has been carried out. At 20-25-degrees-C, the process is characterized by a co nsiderable induction period (20-40 min), a fast increase of the polyme rization rate, up to its maximum value (5-10 min), and its subsequent slow decrease to insignificant values. It has been established that th e composition of the reaction mixture significantly affects the record ed polymerization rates, and practically does not change the time para meters and the integral degrees of conversion of the process, which ar e 20 and 80 % for the nitrates of Cr(III) and Er(III), respectively. T he effect of the addition of water or inhibitors of radical reactions on the process has been studied.