Kinetics of alkaline hydrolysis of polyacrylamide in solution by viscosimetric technique

The alkaline hydrolysis of polyacrylamide in solution is studied viscosimetrically. The viscosity of the solution increases continuously during the course of hydrolysis. The relationship between intrinsic viscosity and the extent of reaction is established, using a series of polyacrylamides with known extents of hydrolysis. The extent of reaction is determined from the observed flowtime, using the relationship between [η] and extent of reaction. The second‐order rate constant and the activation energy are in good agreement with those reported in the literature. A four‐fold increased reactivity of the amide groups towards hydrolysis is observed at very low extents of hydrolysis.