Effects of ultrasonic assist on the solution properties of hydrophobically associating polyacrylamide

In order to study the effects of ultrasonic assist during the synthesis process on the solution properties of hydrophobically associating polyacrylamide (U-HAPAM), U-HAPAM was prepared by acrylamide, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid, acrylic acid and octadecyl acrylate (ODA). The solution properties of U-HAPAM and control sample (HAPAM, without ultrasonic assist) were investigated through rheometer, laser particle size analyzer and AFM. The molecular structure of U-HAPAM was investigated by FT-IR. The results showed that the critical association concentrations (C*) changed from 0.35 wt% (HAPAM) to 0.28 wt% (U-HAPAM), which was attributed to the well dispersion of ultrasound for ODA. Learned from laser particle size analyzer and AFM, U-HAPAM had stronger hydrophobic association than HAPAM. The novel method of preparation of HAPAM should be adequately attracted attention.