Partially imidized,water-soluble polymeric amides. I. Partially imidized polyacrylamide and polymethacrylamide

Five to six million molecular weight polyacrylamide and polymethacrylamides of comparable post-alkaline hydrolysis viscosities were imidized by dissolution and heating in 6N HCl. After alkaline hydrolysis, the imidized polymers demonstrated significantly better retention of viscosity to 2% NaCl than did similar partially hydrolyzed polymers. Viscosities in 0.01% NaCl and resistance to shear were not markedly affected by this modification. It is assumed that this improved performance in brine is the result of chain stiffening due to intrachain imide rings.