Synthesis of Polyelectrolyte and Studies of its Conductivity Changes with Respect to Molecular Weight

Abstract

Aqueous solutions of acrylamide monomer were irradiated by γ-rays using a Co-60 source to synthesize polyacrylamide of different molecular weight (Mw). Solubility tests together with ultraviolet and infrared spectroscopic studies were performed for examining the irradiated samples to ensure that the prepared products were gradually converted from monomer to polymer (polyacrylamide), depending on the radiation dose. Various physico-chemical properties like polymer conversion, gel content, viscosity, and molecular weight of the products were determined. The conversion of polymer from monomer is initiated at a dose of 0.06 kGy and completed at about 0.14 kGy. The gel point, which indicates a dose for the onset of a network polymer structure, is identified to be 0.15 kGy providing valuable information about γ-ray synthesis of polyacrylamides. Viscosity and molecular weight are found to increase with radiation dose. Since polyacrylamides exhibit polyelectrolytic behavior in aqueous solutions, studies on conductivity changes of polyelectrolytes with respect to Mw, which is the main issue of this investigation, also were performed. The equivalent conductance of polyelectrolyte solutions was found to decrease with the molecular weight of the synthesized polymer. This change of conducting property of the prepared samples is explained based on the theory of polyelectrolyte solutions.