Cationic starch for microalgae and total phosphorus removal from wastewater

The city of Logan, Utah treats wastewater in 460 acres of facultative lagoons. Naturally growing algae in these lagoons uptake nutrients and remediate the wastewater, but require coagulation and flocculation for separation from wastewater. Cationic corn starch and cationic potato starch with a degree of substitution 1.34 and 0.82, respectively, were synthesized using 3‐methacryloyl amino propyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and tested on Scenedesmus obliquus and lagoon wastewater. The zeta potential of the cationic starches tested over a pH range 5.0–10.0 showed an average of +16.0 and +15.1 mV for cationic corn starch and cationic potato starch, respectively. Total suspended solids removals of 90 and 85% were achieved with cationic corn starch and cationic potato starch, respectively, when tested with S. obliquus. Tests with wastewater showed total suspended solids removals of 80 and 60% for cationic corn starch and cationic potato starch, respectively. Total phosphorus removal values from wastewater were approximately 33, 29, and 42% for cationic corn starch, cationic potato starch, and alum, respectively, for a coagulant/algae ratio of 1.4 (wt/wt). These results indicate that cationic starch has the potential to replace alum for algae harvesting and wastewater treatment making it a suitable alternative to inorganic coagulants and flocculants. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2572–2578, 2013     

Surface modification of electrospun chitosan nanofibrous mats for antibacterial activity

Chitosan (CS) blended with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) was electrospun into nanofibrous mats. The spinning solution of 6.7 : 0.3 (% w/v) of CS : PEO was dissolved in a 70 : 30 (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid/dichloromethane solution. The obtained fibers were smooth without beads on their surfaces and average diameter of the fiber was 272 ± 56 nm. N‐(2‐hydroxyl) propyl‐3‐trimethyl ammonium chitosan chloride (HTACC) and N‐benzyl‐N,N‐dimethyl chitosan iodide (QBzCS) were each prepared from the CS/PEO mats. They were identified by Fourier‐transform infrared and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and degree of swelling in water. Both quaternized electrospun chitosan mats exhibited superior antibacterial activity to the unmodified electrospun CS/PEO against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli at short contact times. After 4 h of contact, the reduction of both bacterial strains by CS/PEO, HTACC, and QBzCS was equal at about 99–100%. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40981.     

Interaction of polydiallyldimethylammonium salts with iodine

The interaction between polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC) and KI or KBr, followed by changes in conformation of macromolecules, coil compaction, and counterion exchange, was detected by means of turbidimetry and viscometry. In aqueous solutions at presence of KI, PDADMAC rapidly binds iodine by the formation of polymer–iodine complexes PDADMA I^? I_m (m ≤ 4). Spectrophotometric investigations of the interaction in water without KI prove the formation of complexes of polyquaternary ammonium chloride or bromide with iodine only via iodide. These ions can be generated in the polymer‐catalyzed hydrolysis reaction of iodine. By inducing hydrolysis of iodine and binding the eventually formed iodide, PDADMAC acts as an iodine acceptor with self‐strengthening capacity. For the sorption of gaseous iodine, the possibility of direct interaction of its dipoles with the charged groups of the polyelectrolyte is also reasoned. Polydiallyldimethylammonium halides were used to modify activated carbon and employed in a nuclear power station for treatment of outlet gases containing radioactive iodine. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 2710–2716, 2006     

Investigations on esterification reactions of starches in 1‐N‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride and resulting substituent distribution

The ionic liquid (IL) 1‐N‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([C₄mim]⁺Cl^?) was used as solvent for different esterification reactions of the biopolymer starch. Therefore, maize starches with varying content of amylose were used. Different carboxylic acid anhydrides were applied to esterify starch with a degree of substitution (DS) in the range of 0.7–3.0. For example, starch acetates with the mentioned DS are accessible within 30 min at a 105°C‐reaction temperature. The DS distribution of starch acetates synthesized in IL was compared with the common starch acetate synthesis of Mark and Mehltretter. Also, a consideration of starch acetates and cellulose acetates synthesized in [C₄mim]⁺Cl^? is given. The starch esters were characterized by means of Raman spectroscopy for qualitative‐ and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for quantitative determination of the functionalization pattern. Moreover, the molecular mass distribution was determined after saponification by means of GPC‐MALLS. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Metal‐ion‐containing ionic liquid hydrogels and their application to hydrogen production

A cationic hydrogel synthesized from (3‐acrylamidopropyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride as poly[(3‐acrylamidopropyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride] [p(APTMACl)] was put into contact with the chloride salts of metals such as CoCl₂, NiCl₂, and CuCl₂ in ethanol. The metal‐loaded p(APTMACl) hydrogels were used as catalyst systems in hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) and ammonia borane. The activation energy values for the hydrolysis reaction were calculated for all of the catalyst systems and were found to be 53.43 and 26.74 kJ/mol for p(APTMACl)–[CoCl₄]^2? and p(APTMACl)–[NiCl₄]^2?, respectively. These activation parameters were better than values reported in the literature for the ionic liquid metal complexes of smaller molecules used for the same purpose. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40183.     

Aqueous solution properties of poly(trimethyl acrylamido propyl ammonium iodide) [poly(TMAAI)]

The aqueous solution properties of a cationic poly(trimethyl acrylamido propyl ammonium iodide) [poly(TMAAI)] were studied by measurements of reduced viscosity, intrinsic viscosity, and flocculation test. The reduced viscosity and intrinsic viscosity of this cationic polyelectrolyte were related to the types and concentration of added salt. “Soft” salt anions were more easily bound on the quaternary ammonium (R₄N⁺) of poly(TMAAI) than those of “hard” salt anions. Halide anions are hard anions; consequently, hard cations were more easily attracted to halide anions for reducing the binding degree of halide anion on the quaternary ammonium group (R₄N⁺). Some salt ions were observed to strongly attract the quaternary ammonium of the cationic polymeric side chain for coagulation of the polymers. This effect would make the polymeric aqueous solution become turbid. The intrinsic viscosity behavior for cationic polyelectrolyte resulting from the electrostatic repulsive force of the polymer chain is contrasted with polyampholyte. A comparison of various flocculants as to the effect of flocculation was also studied. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Superabsorbent polymeric materials IX: Effect of cationic structure on swelling behavior of crosslinked poly(sodium acrylate‐co‐cationic monomers) in aqueous salt solutions

Two series of xerogels based on sodium acrylate (SA), trimethyl methacrylamidopropyl ammonium iodide (TMMAAI), trimethyl methacryloyloxyethyl ammonium iodide (TMMAI), and N,N′‐methylene‐bis‐acrylamide (NMBA) as a crosslinker were prepared by inverse suspension polymerization. The water absorbency and swelling kinetic behavior for these xerogels in water or various saline solutions were investigated. The results showed that the swelling behaviors of these absorbents are related to their chemical structures, their compositions, and the type of external salt solutions. There would be effective improvement in the water absorbency of these two gel series by copolymerizing SA with a small amount of cationic monomer (TMMAAI or TMMAI). The initial absorption rates in deionized water were found to be faster for TM series gels than for TA series gels. The two series of superabsorbents had a tendency to absorb water in dilute nitrate aqueous solutions in the order: Fe³⁺, Ni²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Na⁺ for Fe(NO₃)₃, Ni(NO₃)₂, Ca(NO₃)₂, Cu(NO₃)₂, and NaNO₃ aqueous solution, respectively. The absorbency and initial absorption rate for these gels were related to the gel compositions and salt concentrations. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 1827–1837, 2001     

Synthesis of a quaternary ammonium derivative of chito‐oligosaccharide as antimicrobial agent for cellulosic fibers

A derivative of chito‐oligosaccharide (COS), N‐(2‐hydroxyl)propyl‐3‐trimethyl ammonium chito‐oligosaccharide chloride (HTACC), was synthesized using a reaction of glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTMAC) and COS prepared by depolymerization of a fully deacetylated chitosan. COS and HTACC were applied to the cotton fabrics with a pad‐dry‐cure process using the reaction between the hydroxyl group of cellulose and terminal aldehyde group in COS and HTACC. Their minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) was evaluated, and the antimicrobial activity and durability to laundering of cotton fabrics treated with them were compared. The complete substitution of NH₂ groups in COS with GTMAC was obtained at a 4 : 1 mol ratio of GTMAC to NH₂ in 18 h at 80°C under the presence of acetic acid. MIC values of the 1.04 DS of HTACC and COS were 50 and 400 μg/mL, respectively. A cotton fabric treated with 0.2% of HTACC and 1.8% of COS exhibited 100% reduction of bacteria. At the 50th laundering cycle, 0.3% of HTACC and 2.4% of COS indicated 100% bacterial reduction. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 2009–2015, 2000     

Superabsorbent polymeric materials VIII: Swelling behavior of crosslinked poly[sodium acrylate‐co‐trimethyl methacryloyloxyethyl ammonium iodide] in aqueous salt solutions

A series of xerogels based on sodium acrylate (SA), cationic comonomer, trimethyl methacryloyloxyethyl ammonium iodide (TMMAI), and N,N‐methylene‐bis‐acrylamide (NMBA) were prepared by inverse suspension polymerization. The water absorbency and the swelling behavior for these high absorbent polymers in deionized water and various saline solutions were investigated. Results indicated that the water absorbency for the present copolymer gel increased when a small amount of TMMAI monomer was introduced into the SA gel, then decreased with increase in TMMAI content. The water absorbency was 583 g H₂O/g for a gel sample in deionized water containing 2.5 × 10⁻³ molar fraction TMMAI. But a contrary result was observed for initial absorption rate, that is, the initial absorption rates increased with an increase of TMMAI in deionized water and 0.9 wt % NaCl solution. The absorbency in the chloride salt solution decreased with an increase in the ionic strength of the salt solution. Finally, the adsorption of copper ion by these gels was also investigated. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 1665–1674, 2001     

Thermoreversible hydrogels. XVIII. Synthesis,swelling characteristics,and diffusion behaviors of porous,ionic, thermosensitive hydrogels

Porous, ionic, thermosensitive hydrogels were prepared from N‐isopropylacrylamide, a cationic monomer [trimethyl (acrylamido propyl) ammonium iodide (TMAAI)], an anionic monomer [acrylic acid (AA)], a zwitterionic monomer [N′,N′‐dimethyl (acrylamido propyl) ammonium propane sulfonate], or a nonionic monomer [poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate], and a pore‐forming agent [poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)] of different molecular weights. Some fundamental properties and dynamic swelling kinetic parameters and solute permeation for these porous gels were investigated. The results showed that the gel containing the cationic monomer TMAAI had a higher equilibrium swelling ratio. The diffusion coefficients showed that the swelling rates for the gels with the anionic monomer AA and PEG with a higher molecular weight (20,000) were faster. The results showed that the fast swelling–deswelling behavior for the porous structure gels was due to them being more available than the gels with long hydrophilic side chains. In addition, the interactive force between the solutes and gels and the solute permeation through the porous gels were investigated. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 2214–2223, 2003     

Comparison of commercially available quaternary ammonium structures for phase transfer catalysis

A variety of commercially available tetralkyl (R₁R₂R₃R₄N⁺) ammonium chlorides and methyl sulfate salts were examined under phase transfer conditions. For conversion of benzyl chloride to benzyl acetate with aqueous potassium acetate, tri C_8–10 methyl ammonium chloride was the most efficient, with tri C_16–18 methyl ammonium chloride was next. The alkyl trimethyl ammonium chlorides (particularly C_12–14 trimethyl) performed well for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde with sodium hypochlorite. Trimethyl tallow, C_16–18 partially unsaturated, ammonium chloride was the catalyst of choice for the dichlorocarbene addition to cyclohexene.     

One pot blending of biopolymer‐TiO2 composite membranes with enhanced mechanical strength

A biopolymer‐TiO₂ composite membrane was prepared by blending of N‐[(2‐hydroxy‐3‐trimethylammonium) propyl] chloride chitosan and cellulose acetate with nano‐TiO₂ particles as the introduced inorganic components. It was verified that the amino groups (? NH₂) of chitosan (CTS) were partly grafted by stronger hydrophilic group ? according to the ¹H‐nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of N‐[(2‐hydroxy‐3‐trimethylammonium) propyl] chloride chitosan and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The structure, microcosmic morphology, water flux, swelling properties, and thermal stability of the composite membranes were characterized. With the mass ratio of cellulose acetate to CTS being 50 wt %, the mole ratio of CTS to glycidyl trimethylammonium chloride being 1 : 1, and drying temperature being 60°C in 70% acetic acid, the formed biopolymer‐TiO₂ composite membranes exhibited enhanced mechanical strength (84.29 MPa), lower swelling degree (101.36%), and improved antibacterial activity against Gram‐negative Escherichia coli (Rosetta and DH5α) and Gram‐positive Bacillus subtilis. The existence of nano‐TiO₂ particles and the introduction of stronger cationic group synergistically improved the antibacterial properties of the biopolymer‐TiO₂ composite membranes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42732.     

Starch Derivatives of High Degree of Functionalization, 8. Synthesis and Flocculation Behavior of Cationic Starch Polyelectrolytes

Water soluble starch derivatives with a high degree of substitution (DS) up to 1 containing quaternary ammonium groups were prepared by reacting starch with 3‐chloro‐2‐hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (QUAB®188) in ethanol/sodium hydroxide/water or preferably with 2,3‐epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (QUAB®151) in aqueous‐alkaline solution. The DS values of the samples can be controlled by adjusting the molar ratio of cationization agent to anhydroglucose unit and is only slightly dependent on the amylose content of the starting starch material. The structure of the cationic starch derivatives was confirmed by means of NMR spectroscopy. Dewatering experiments with the cationic starch derivatives were conducted on a harbor sediment suspension using a laboratory pressure filtration apparatus. The cationic starches were used alone and in combination with a high‐molar‐mass synthetic polyanion. Both dependence on the DS of the sample and influence of the amylose/amylopectin ratios of the initial native starch were observed. The highest dewatering index of 63 was found for the cationic polyelectrolyte based on the amylopectin‐rich waxy maize starch in monoflocculation. In case of dual flocculation using additionally a poly(acrylamide‐co‐acrylate) a dewatering index of even 85 was attained.     

Chemo-Enzymatic Synthesis and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Alkyloxy Propanol Amine-Based Cationic Ether Lipids

The present study involved the synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of alkyloxy propanol amine-based cationic lipids N,N-dimethyl-1-octadecylamino-3-alkyloxy-2-propanol (series A, 7a–e) and N-methyl-N,N-di-(2-hydroxy-3-alkyloxy-2 propyl) octadecylamine (series B, 9a–e) and their acetylated derivatives (8a–e and 10a–e). A simple three-step chemo-enzymatic approach was employed for the synthesis of 7a–e and 9a–e in 71–80 and 67–88 % yields, respectively. The first step involved the synthesis of a series of glycidyl ethers from a series of alcohols (C₄, C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂, C₁₄) which were opened in the second step with octadecylamine to obtain 1-octadecylamino-3-alkyloxy-2 propanol (5a–e) and N,N-di-(2-hydroxy-3-alkyloxypropyl) octadecylamine (6a–e). In the third step, alkyloxy propanolamines (5a–e, 6a–e) were quaternized using methyl iodide to yield quaternized ammonium salts. The quaternized ammonium salts were enzymatically acetylated using Candida antarctica lipase-B based immobilized enzyme Novozym 435 to obtain their acetylated derivatives. The quaternized salts as well as their acetylated derivatives were evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal properties. The title compounds were found to possess moderate to good antibacterial activities against all the studied bacterial strains namely, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella aerogenes compared to streptomycin and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). The title compounds exhibited relatively good antifungal activities against Candida albicans and no significant activities against other fungal strains namely, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rhizopus oryzae and Aspergillus niger when compared to amphotericin B and CTAB.     

Effect of intercalant content of mica on the various properties for the charged nanocomposite poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) hydrogels

In this study, we intend to adjust the charge properties of the poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) [Poly(NIPAAm)] gel by using anionic clay and cationic monomer. Hence, two series of nanocomposite hydrogels bearing different charges were designed from NIPAAm, intercalated mica (IM) (NIM‐series) and NIPAAm, IM, trimethyl (acrylamido propyl) ammonium iodide (TMAAI) (NTIM‐series), respectively. The mica was first intercalated with different contents of intercalant, trimethyl (acrylamido propyl) ammonium chloride (TMAACl), based on the cationic exchange capacity (CEC) of mica. The effect of the CEC value of IM and IM content on the charge property, swelling behaviors, mechanical properties, and drug‐release behaviors of the present gels were investigated. Results showed that the negative charges for NIM series gels decrease with increase in CEC values of the IM (from ?11 to ?6 mV), the positive charges for NTIM series gels also decrease with increase in CEC values of the IM (from +36 to +18 mV). The swelling behaviors and mechanical properties for the NTIM gels were significantly enhanced by IM content and CEC values of the IM. The microstructures, morphologies, and drug‐release behaviors in these two series gels are also investigated. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 2277–2287, 2007     

Poly(sulfobetaine)s and corresponding cationic polymers. XI. Synthesis and aqueous solution properties of a cationic poly(methyl iodide quaternized ethyl vinyl ether/N,N‐dimethylaminopropyl maleamidic acid) copolymer

A copolymer prepared by the copolymerization of ethyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride underwent amidoacidation with N,N‐dimethylaminopropylamine. The obtained ethyl vinyl ether/dimethylaminopropyl maleamidic acid copolymer was then reacted with methyl iodide to yield poly(methyl iodide quaternized ethyl vinyl ether/N,N′‐dimethylaminopropyl maleamidic acid) (MIQEDMAPMA). The greatest difference from other polyelectrolytes was the carboxylic group on the polymer chain unit of MIQEDMAPMA. Its aqueous solution properties in various salts and at various pH values were studied by measurements of the reduced viscosity and intrinsic viscosity. The reduced viscosity and intrinsic viscosity of this cationic polyelectrolyte were related to the types and concentrations of the added salts. The tendency of the salt effect was similar to that of other polyelectrolytes; that is, soft salt anions were more easily bound to the quaternary ammonium (R₄N⁺) of MIQEDMAPMA than hard salt anions. Some salt ions strongly attracted the quaternary ammonium of the cationic polymeric side chain for the agglomeration of the polymers. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2261–2269, 2003     

Surprising Insensitivity of Homogeneous Acetylation of Cellulose Dissolved in Triethyl(n‐octyl)ammonium Chloride/Molecular Solvent on the Solvent Polarity

The homogeneous acetylation of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) by acetyl chloride and acetic anhydride in triethyl(n‐octyl)ammonium chloride (N₂₂₂₈Cl)/molecular solvents (MSs) is investigated. The reaction with both acylating agents shows the expected increase of the degree of substitution (DS) on reaction temperature and time. Under comparable reaction conditions, however, DS is surprisingly little dependent on the MS employed, although the MSs differ in empirical polarity by 7 kcal mol^?1 as calculated by use of solvatochromic probes. The empirical polarities of (MCC + N₂₂₂₈Cl + MS) differ only by 0.8 kcal mol^?1. The formation a polar electrolyte sheath around cellulose chains presumably contributes to this “leveling‐off” of the dependence DS on the polarity of the parent MS employed. N₂₂₂₈Cl recovery and recycling is feasible.     

Amphoteric water‐soluble copolymer for barium titanate slurries. I. Synthesis and dispersing ability

An amphoteric water‐soluble copolymer, polyacrylamide/[α‐N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐(3‐(β‐carboxylate)acrylamino)propyl] ammonium ethanate (PAM/DAE) was synthesized and used as a dispersion agent for BaTiO₃ particles. PAM/DAE was prepared from acrylamide and [α‐N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐(3‐(β‐carboxylate)acrylamino)propyl] ammonium ethanate in a basic condition through a free‐radical polymerization. The structure of this copolymer was verified by IR and ¹H‐NMR spectra. The dispersing effects of PAM/DAE were examined by measuring the viscosity and sedimentation of BaTiO₃ suspensions, and by analyzing the particle size. The results indicate that this copolymer could uniformly disperse the particles, and the resulting suspensions were less viscous, more stabilized, and contained powder with smaller particle size. The dispersing/stabilizing ability of PAM/DAE is close to, or slightly better than, that of a commercial dispersant, ammonium salt of poly(methacrylic acid). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1443–1450, 2005     

Preparation of interpenetrating polymer network gel beads for dye absorption

Preparation of interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) gel beads for dye absorption was carried out by using simultaneous crosslinking method. First, sodium alginate (SA), 3‐(methacrylamido) propyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (MAPTAC), and/or acrylamide (AM), K₂S₂O₈, and N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBAM) were mixed in aqueous solution. The beads were prepared using K₂S₂O₈ and MBAM as the initiator and crosslinking agent, respectively. Then, the solution was dropped into CaCl₂ solution mixed with N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA). The former was used as the crosslinking agent of alginate and the latter was used as the accelerator for the polymerization of monomer in the alginate solution. The gel bead composed of only alginate was also prepared to compare the properties with IPN gel bead. The components in IPN gel bead were examined by FTIR analysis. The factors effecting the particle size of alginate and IPN gel beads were investigated. In alginate gel bead, the concentration of solution affected the particle size, whereas type of monomer affected the particle size of IPN gel bead. The IPN gel bead had smooth surface (from SEM results), different from the alginate bead. Alginate content caused the swelling behavior of dried IPN beads. Cationic dye was absorbed by crosslinked alginate gel bead. The absorption of reactive dye by IPN gel bead was a result of its cationic charge. The absorption density of IPN gel beads was the reciprocal of the absorbent dosage. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 1585–1591, 2006     

Preparation of iodine containing quaternary amine methacrylate copolymers and their contact killing antimicrobial properties

A novel quaternary amine methacrylate monomer (QAMA) was synthesized by amination of dimethacrylate with piperazine followed by its quaternization using an alkyl iodide. Copolymerization of QAMA with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate was carried out by free radical bulk polymerization technique at room temperature using ammonium persulfate and N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethyl ethylenediamine as a redox initiator. The monomer as well as copolymers was characterized by FTIR and ¹H NMR spectral studies. Thermal and physical characteristics of copolymers of varying compositions of QAMA were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis, differential calorimetry, contact angle and scanning electron microscopy. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized quaternary amine dimethacrylate copolymers against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was studied by zone of inhibition and colony count method. QAMA copolymers showed broad‐spectrum contact killing antibacterial properties without releasing any active agent as checked by iodide‐selective ion meter. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 1038–1044, 2006