Cellulose copolymers that modify fibers and surfaces and methods of making same
View Patent ↗Cellulosic polymers, copolymers and grafts, are disclosed that adhere to fibers and surfaces during an aqueous treatment process. The cellulosic polymers having grafts and/or co-blocks are prepared using living-type free radical polymerization techniques, which provides control over the degree of substitution and graft/co-block composition and structure. These cellulosic polymers allow for the modification of fibers and surfaces to provide a desired effect.
1. A polymer comprising,
a polymeric backbone selected from the group consisting of cellulose, modified cellulose and hemi-cellulose;
at least one pendant polymeric chain attached to said polymeric backbone, wherein on average there are between 0.5 and 25 pendant polymeric chains attached to said polymeric backbone at a site selected from the group consisting of a terminus of said polymeric backbone and a mid-point of said polymeric backbone and combinations thereof;
wherein said at least one pendant polymeric chain has a number average molecular weight of from 100 to 10,000,000 Da; and
wherein said cellulosic backbone has a number average molecular weight of from about 3,000 to about 100,000.
2. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein said cellulosic backbone is selected from the group consisting of xyloglucan, locust bean gum, glucomannan and cellulose monoacetate.