ACRYLAMIDE TYPE EARTH RESISTANCE REDUCING AGENT AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

1345248 Earth electrode NITTO CHEMICAL INDUSTRY CO Ltd and MITSUBISHI RAYON CO Ltd 24 May 1971 [29 May 1970 22 June 1970 (2)] 16718/71 Heading H2C [Also in Division C3] A method for reducing the electrical resistance of soil in the vicinity of an earth electrode, e.g. a rod, plate or wire mesh made of a conductive metal such as copper, comprises pouring or injecting into the soil surrounding the earth electrode an aqueous solution containing (1) acrylamide, (2) 0À1-100% by weight, based on the weight of the acrylamide, of a watersoluble crosslinking ethylenically unsaturated monomer, (3) 1-100% by weight, based on the acrylamide, of sodium acrylate and/or ammonium acrylate, and (4) 1-500% by weight based on the acrylamide, of at least one compound selected from water-soluble metal salts of methacrylic acid, ammonium methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, the aqueous solution containing from 0À1-3% by weight of a redox polymerization catalyst. The solution polymerizes in the soil to form a polymer gel. For application around copper-containing electrodes the solution desirably also contains an inhibitor of copper corrosion, e.g. a watersoluble thiocyanate, benzotriazole and hydroxy-, ehloro-, C 1 -C 4 alkyl- and nitro-derivatives thereof. Other optional components include monomers such as N-methylolacrylamide, N- methylolmethacrylamide, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and acrylonitrile, and water-soluble inorganic electrolytes, e.g. sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium or ammonium chloride, ammonium, copper, magnesium or iron sulphate or sodium or potassium nitrate.