Abstract: Elastomeric, chemically stable, flame resistant polymers are obtained by polymerizing acrylamide or mixtures of acrylamide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable therewith in the presence of a catalyst having the structure: ##STR1## wherein: Q = Na, K, NH.sub.4, Ca or Ban = 2 to 5 ##STR2## Me = Ti, Mn, Mo, Zr or W x = 0 to 1a, b, c each = 0 to 1a+b+c+d = valence of Me.The catalyst may be used alone as well as with UV, electron beam, ionizing radiation and combinations of these and with general redox systems known in the literature.