Polymerization of acrylamide in solution and inverse emulsion: number molecular weight distribution with chain transfer agent

The molecular weight distributions of the free-radical polymerization of ac rylamide in solution and in inverse emulsion are examined as a function of concentrations of initiator and of amount of added chain transfer agent (so dium formate). When these distributions are displayed as Ln(number molecula r weight distribution), readily obtained from the GPC trace (essentially by dividing by the square of molecular weight), the results can be semi-quant itatively interpreted in terms of the amounts of chain stoppage by transfer and by termination. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.