Dispersion polymerization of acrylamide with quaternary ammonium cationic comonomer in aqueous solution

Copolymer particles consisting of acrylamide (AM) and acryloyloxyethyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride (AODBAC) were prepared by dispersion polymerization in an aqueous solution of ammonium sulfate and in the presence of poly(acryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride) (PAOTAC) as the stabilizer. The average particle size ranged from 4 to 7 μm, and Mw and Mn were 2–6 ×106 g/mol and 1–3 × 106 g/mol, respectively. The effects of the AM/AODBAC ratio, monomer, initiator, salt, and stabilizer concentration on the particle size and molecular weight were studied. Increase of the AODBAC/AM ratio resulted in a decrease in the molecular weight and an increase in particle size. With the increase of the AODABA/AM ratio, the dispersion became less stable during long storage. Due to the presence of the salt, ionization of the quaternary ammonium groups in the dispersed particles is considered significantly suppressed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 1101–1108, 2003