Effect of ultrasound on electrochemically initiated acrylamide polymerization

Acrylamide was polymerized under different voltages with ammonium persulfate as the initiator at room temperature. The polymerization reactions were performed in two different ways. In one case, the reaction was performed in a classical, three-electrode electrochemistry cell, and in the other, the cell was placed in an ultrasonic bath, and ultrasound was applied during the reaction. Both reactions were performed at room temperature. The conversion was rapid; even in the normal electrochemical case, the composite rate constant was comparable to the case with free-radical polymerization of acrylamide at 50-70degreesC. When ultrasound was applied, the conversion values increased more. The heterogeneity index and molecular weights of the polymers produced with and without ultrasound were measured with size exclusion chromatography. (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Inc.