Polyacrylamide (IUPAC poly(2-propenamide) or poly(1-carbamoylethylene), abbreviated as PAM) is a polymer (-CH2CHCONH2-) formed from acrylamide subunits. It can be synthesized as a simple linear-chain structure or cross-linked, typically using N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide. In the cross-linked form, the possibility of the monomer being present is reduced even further. It is highly water-absorbent, forming a soft gel when hydrated, used in such applications as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and in manufacturing soft contact lenses. In the straight-chain form, it is also used as a thickener and suspending agent. More recently, it has been used as a subdermal filler for aesthetic facial surgery (see Aquamid).
It is used as a flocculant in water treatment industry. Also used in petroleum geology drilling configuration for removing non-dispersing low solid phase mud.
It can be used as setting agent in sugar industry settling agent (sugar co-agent); film formers.
It can be used as a soil conditioner, flocculants, and can be used in textile and paper sizing reinforcement.
It can be used at coal field, oil field and flocculant agents.
It can be used as efficient flocculants for neutral and alkaline medium, and can be used as drilling mud additives.
It can also be used as oilfield mud additives, sewage treatment agent, and for textile sizing, paper reinforcement.
PAM is an important water-soluble polymer, and also has various values effects such as flocculation, thickening, cleavage resistant, reducing resistance, and dispersing properties. These properties are biased according to the difference of the derivative ions.