Polykationit

Polykationit are polymers that carry a net positive electrical charge along their backbone. This positive charge arises from the presence of cationic functional groups within the polymer structure, such as quaternary ammonium groups, phosphonium groups, or protonated amine groups. These positively charged sites are typically distributed regularly or randomly along the polymer chain.

The synthesis of polykationit often involves polymerization reactions of monomers containing these cationic functionalities or post-polymerization modification of existing polymers. The specific properties of a polykationit, including its solubility, charge density, and reactivity, are highly dependent on the nature of the cationic group, the polymer backbone structure, and the molecular weight.

Due to their positive charge, polykationit have a strong affinity for negatively charged surfaces and molecules. This characteristic makes them useful in a variety of applications. They are employed as flocculants in water treatment to aggregate suspended negatively charged particles. In the paper industry, they can act as retention aids and drainage enhancers. Their ability to interact with biological membranes has led to their use in gene delivery systems, where they can bind to negatively charged DNA or RNA and facilitate its entry into cells. They also find applications as antistatic agents, disinfectants due to their ability to disrupt bacterial cell membranes, and in personal care products as conditioning agents. The specific application often dictates the required properties of the polykationit, such as charge density and molecular weight.