Polyacrylamide: A Multifunctional Polymer in Modern Industry
Polyacrylamide (PAM), is a linear water - soluble high - molecular polymer that plays a crucial role in various industrial fields. It is a polymer derived from acrylamide monomers, and industrially, polymers containing more than 50% acrylamide monomer structural units are generally referred to as polyacrylamide.
PAM can be classified into non - ionic, anionic, cationic, and amphoteric types according to its ionic properties. Non - ionic PAM has no ionizable groups in its molecular chain, anionic PAM has negatively charged groups, cationic PAM has positively charged groups, and amphoteric PAM has both negatively and positively charged groups.
The production methods of PAM include aqueous solution polymerization, reverse emulsion polymerization, and radiation - initiated polymerization. Aqueous solution polymerization is the oldest and most widely used method due to its safety and low cost. Reverse emulsion polymerization is preferred for high - performance applications, and radiation - initiated polymerization is an emerging method that can produce PAM at ambient temperature without chemical initiators.
PAM has excellent physical and chemical properties. It has good water - solubility and can be dissolved in cold water to form a viscous solution. Its high - molecular - weight chains can form "bridges" between adsorbed particles, enabling flocculation and sedimentation of suspended particles in water. In addition, PAM has thickening, adhesion, and drag - reduction properties.
In terms of applications, PAM is widely used in water treatment, petroleum mining, papermaking, and other industries. In water treatment, it can be used as a flocculant to cooperate with coagulants such as PAC to clarify municipal sewage, industrial wastewater, and coal - washing wastewater. In the petroleum industry, it is used as a flooding agent to improve oil recovery. In the papermaking industry, it can improve the retention rate of fillers and pigments and enhance the strength of paper.
However, when using PAM, some precautions should be taken. For example, it should be dissolved in clean water, and the stirring speed should not be too fast to prevent the molecular chain from breaking. The dosage should be determined through small - scale tests, because excessive use will make the water viscous and affect sedimentation.
Overall, PAM is a versatile and important polymer. With the continuous development of industry, its application prospects will be broader, but at the same time, we should also pay attention to its safe use and environmental impact.
We are the main supplier in China, for price or more information welcome to contact with us at:
Email: sales@hbmedipharm.com
Telephone:0086-311-86136561
Post time: Nov-20-2025