Polymers with pendant poly(alkyleneoxy) substituent groups and their use in personal care applications

1 . A polymer comprising, based on the total number of monomeric units of the polymer, greater than 50 percent monomeric units that comprise, per monomeric unit, at least one pendant poly(alkyleneoxy) substituent group according to formula (I):

wherein:

each R 1 is independently H, methyl, or ethyl,

each R 2 is independently H or (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, and

each n is independently an integer of from about 5 to about 500, and exhibiting a weight average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 1,000,000 grams per mole.

2 . The polymer of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises, based on the total number of monomeric units of the polymer, greater than or equal to about 80 percent monomeric units that comprise, per monomeric unit, at least one pendant poly(alkyleneoxy) substituent group according to formula (I).

3 . The polymer of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a homopolymer.

4 . The polymer of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises, based on the total number of monomeric units of the polymer:

(a) from about 90% to less than 100% first monomeric units each of which comprises, per monomeric unit, at least one pendant poly(alkyleneoxy) substituent group according to formula (I), and

(b) from greater than 0% to about 10 second monomeric units that do not comprise any poly(alkyleneoxy) substituent groups according to formula (I).

5 . A polymer according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer exhibits a weight average molecular weight of from about 2,500 to about 900,000 grams per mole.

6 . A polymer according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer exhibits a number average molecular weight of from about 2,500 to about 750,000 grams per mole.

7 . The polymer of claim 1 , wherein each of the monomeric units of the polymer comprises at least one pendant poly(alkyleneoxy) substituent group according to formula (I), wherein each R 1 and each R 2 is independently H or CH 3 , and each n is independently an integer of from about 5 to about 100.

8 . The polymer of claim 1 , wherein each of the monomeric units that comprise at least one pendant poly(alkyleneoxy) substituent group according to formula (I) is derived from a monomer according to formula (II):

wherein:

each R 1 is independently H, methyl, or ethyl,

each R 2 is independently H or (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl,

each R 3 is independently H or (C 1 -C 4 )alkyl, and

each n is independently an integer of from about 5 to about 500.

9 . The polymer of claim 1 , wherein each of the monomeric units that comprise at least one pendant poly(alkyleneoxy) substituent group according to formula (I) is a monomeric unit according to formula (III):

wherein:

each R 1 is independently H, methyl, or ethyl,

each R 2 is independently H or (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl,

each R 3 is independently H or (C 1 -C 4 )alkyl, and

each n is independently an integer of from about 5 to about 500.

10 . The polymer of claim 9 , wherein each R 1 , each R 2 , and each R 3 is independently H or CH 3 , and each n is independently an integer of from about 5 to about 100

11 . A personal care composition, comprising the polymer of claim 1 and a cosmetically acceptable carrier.

12 . The personal care composition of claim 12 , wherein the cosmetically acceptable carrier is selected from water, organic solvents, mixtures of two or more water miscible organic solvents, and mixtures of water and one or more water miscible organic solvents.

13 . The personal care composition of claim 12 , wherein the personal care composition is hair styling composition that comprises, based on 100 parts by weight of the personal care composition, from about 0.1 to about 10 pbw of the polymer and from about 90 to about 99.9 pbw of a carrier that comprises water.

14 . The personal care composition of claim 12 , wherein the personal care composition is a cleansing composition, the carrier comprises water, and the personal care composition further comprises one or more surfactants.

15 . A method for treating hair or skin, comprising contacting the hair or skin with the polymer of claim 1.