The influence of microwave heating on the characteristics of polyelectrolytes

Results obtained by microwave (MW) and simultaneous microwave and electron beam (MW + EB) application in the chemistry of acrylamide and acrylic acid co-polymers (PA type polyelectrolytes) are presented. Comparative results concerning the molecular weight (Mw) and Huggins' constant for the acrylamide copolymers obtained by classical heating, MW heating, EB irradiation and simultaneous MW + EB treatment are reported. MW heating produces high PA water solubility but median Mw values; EB irradiation gives high Mw values but associated with a cross-linked structure (poor water solubility) while MW energy addition to EB energy gives simultaneously high Mw values and high PA water solubility. A MW installation of 2.45 GHz and 2.5 kW, designed to provide small-scale commercial production of PA polyelectrolytes, is described.