Cationic polyelectrolytes with hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties were synt
hesized by condensation polymerization of epichlorohydrin with dimethylamin
e, N,N-dimethyl-1,3-diaminopropane, and primary amines with nonpolar chains
, hexyloxypropylamine and decyloxypropylamine. Viscometric measurements of
these polymers in dilute aqueous solutions with and without salt revealed a
typical polyelectrolyte behaviour. Thermal analyses of cationic polyelectr
olytes showed that the relative thermal stability decreases with decreasing
hydrophobic chain lengths and increasing quaternary ammonium salt group co
ntents. The flocculating efficiency of these polycations on a suspension of
montmorillonite was also studied. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right
s reserved.