Gelation in aqueous solutions of carboxylated polyacrylamide in the presence of chromium(III) acetate, studied by oscillation rheometry

Abstract

The time dependences of the elastic moduli and loss moduli of aqueous solutions of Alcoflood-254S carboxylated polyacrylamide, containing chromium(III) acetate as a cross-linking agent, were studied by oscillation rheometry in the temperature interval 50–80°?. The gel time increases with a decrease in the temperature, as well as in the concentration of the polymer and cross-linking agent. The elastic properties of hydrogels at the moment of the onset of their formation, characterizing the concentration of cross-links between the macromolecules, are due to the polymer concentration in the solution and are independent of the chromium(III) acetate concentration and temperature. Presumably, equal degree of conversion in the reaction between carboxylate groups of the polymer and chromium(III) ion, leading to cross-linking of macromolecules of carboxylated polyacrylamide, allows determination of the kinetic parameters of the gelation from data obtained by oscillation rheometry under nonisothermal conditions.