POLYSULFOBETAINES AND CORRESPONDING CATIONIC POLYMERS .4. SYNTHESIS AND AQUEOUS-SOLUTION PROPERTIES OF CATIONIC POLY(MIQSDMAPM)

A cationic poly(methyl iodide quaternized styrene-dimethylaminopropylm aleimide) copolymer [poly(MIQSDMAPM)] was synthesized by imidizing sty rene-maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer. Its aqueous solution properties were studied by measurements of reduced viscosity, intrinsic viscosit y, and a flocculation test. The reduced viscosity and intrinsic viscos ity of this cationic polyelectrolyte were related to the types and con centration of the added salt. ''Soft'' salt anions were more easily bo und to the quaternary ammonium cation (R(4)N(+)) of poly(MIQSDMAPM) th an ''hard'' salt anions. Halide anions are hard anions; consequently, hard cations were more easily attracted to halide anions, and reduced the binding degree of halide anion on the quaternary ammonium group (R (4)N(+)). Some salt ions were observed to strongly attract the quatern ary ammonium group of the cationic polymeric side chain and resulted i n agglomeration of the polymers. A comparison of various flocculants a s to the effect of flocculation was made in this study. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.