Electroinitiated polymerization coatings are uniform, thin, tightly adherent, conformal, and economical to produce. This article describes use of a novel (for electropolymerization) persulfate initiator to rapidly polymerize a moderate T-g, crosslinked acrylic coating. Polymer coatings derived from the monomers acrylamide, acrylonitrile, and N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide were synthesized on an aluminum cathode by persulfate electroinitiated polymerization at room temperature. The crosslinked polymer was brittle (T-g = 239 degrees C) but thermally stable (degradation temperature = 310 degrees C). The coatings were spongy and contained some small cracks when polymerized at low current density (0.1 mA/cm(2)). However, thicker coatings with fewer cracks were obtained at higher current densities. Persulfate was found to be an effective initiator for polymerization in this system, and the initiation mechanism was confirmed to be free radical. In general, it appears possible to produce thin, uniform coatings on aluminum by this route.