ABSTRACT
Acrylamide polymers are widely used and are technically important water-soluble polymers called "polyacrylamides." This family name includes polyacrylamide-nonionic homopolymer, its anionic and cationic derivatives, and also copolymers of acrylamide with ionogenic and nonionogenic monomers. Acrylamide polymers were first developed in 1893, however, they have only been commercially available since the early 1950s, because the raw materials were not readily available. The initial application of acrylamide polymers were as flocculants for the treatment of acid-leached uranium ores and as dry strength agents for paper. Since then numerous other applications have been developed. The polymers are now used for separation and clarification of liquid-solid phases and for thickening, binding, lubrication, and film formation. For the past 30 years the manufacturing of acrylamide polymers has been rapidly increasing due to: (I) the improvement of raw material production, (2) important advances in the controlled polymerization and copolymerization of acrylamide in concentrated aqueous solutions, and dispersions and (3) improvements in the methods used in chemical modification of polymers. The major producers and exporters of acrylamide polymers are large firms in the United States, Japan, and Europe. Exports from Russia, China, and South Africa are of lesser significance. The worldwide manufacturing of acrylamide polymers is being developed. However, the growth rate of the manufacture of polymers does not meet the expected growth rate of 8-10% per year of the polymer market. By the end of the century, the manufacturing of acrylamide polymers is expected to exceed 400 kilotons per year.
