Acrylamide

Storage stability and reactivity towards container material

Description of key information

Acrylamide is a reactive monomer. It must be stabilized to prevent polymerization during shipping and storage. Test results and years of experience with aqueous acrylamide solutions indicate that the monomer can be handled safely if inhibited with dissolved cupric salts and oxygen, and if temperature, pH, and contamination are controlled. Air is usually an adequate source of oxygen. Failure of the inhibitor system (e.g., loss of oxygen) normally leads to the formation of polymer over a period of time. The exothermic heat of polymerization (20.4 kcal/g mole of acrylamide) could produce an hypothetical adiabatic temperature rise of approximately 338°F (170°C) in 50% acrylamide solution. T herefore, if polymerization is initiated, even at ambient temperatures, the mixture could reach its boiling point and would rapidly generate high pressure in a closed system.