Polyacrylamide (PAM) is a linear polymer, and its products are mainly divided into two forms: dry powder and colloid. According to its structure, it can be divided into non-ionic, anionic and cationic. The products have been widely used in papermaking, mineral processing, oil extraction, metallurgy, building materials, sewage treatment and other industries.

Polyacrylamide can be used as lubricant, suspending agent, clay stabilizer, oil displacing agent, dehydrating agent and thickening agent. Widely used in drilling, acidizing, fracturing, water plugging, well cementation, secondary oil recovery, tertiary oil recovery and other fields. It is a relatively important oilfield chemical. Of the polyacrylamide produced, 37% is used for wastewater treatment, 27% is used in the petroleum industry, and 18% is used in the paper industry.