Synthesis of guar gum-graft-poly(acrylamide-co-diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and its application in the pulp and paper industry

The synthesis and characterization of a novel fixative, guar gum-graft-poly(acrylamide-co-diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (GG-g-p(AM-co-DADMAC)) polymer is described. The grafted polymer proved to be effective at adsorbing hydrophobic wood resin particles onto papermaking fibre surfaces, thus removing wood resins from the water phase where they have a tendency to aggregate and form troublesome deposits. The new polymer combines the colloidal stabilising features of a natural product, guar gum, and the wood resin fixative properties of a synthetic polymer p(AM-co-DADMAC). GG-g-p(AM-co-DADMAC was effective over the entire pH range as compared to other commercially available polymeric fixatives that were evaluated.