NOVEL WATER-SOLUBLE POLYMER COMPLEXES IN THE FORM OF AN INVERSE EMULSION AND USES THEREOF

1 . A polymer complex obtained by inverse emulsion polymerization of water-soluble monomers: in the presence of a cationic water-soluble host polymer comprising amine functions.

2 . The polymer complex according to claim 1 , wherein the host polymer is chosen from poly-(dimethylamine (co)epichlorohydrin) and poly(dimethylamine-co-epichlorohydrin-co-ethylenediamine).

3 . The polymer complex according to claim 1 , wherein the host polymer is poly(dimethylamine-co-epichlorohydrin-co-ethylenediamine).

4 . The polymer complex according to claim 1 , wherein the mass ratio between the water-soluble monomers and the host polymer is between 99/1 and 1/99.

5 . The polymer complex according to claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble monomers are chosen from the group consisting of:

quaternary ammonium salts of dimethylaminoethyl acrylate (ADAME); quaternary ammonium salts of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (MADAME); dimethyldiallylammonium chloride (DADMAC); acrylamido propyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (APTAC); methacrylamido propyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (MAPTAC);

acrylamide; N-isopropylacrylamide; N,N-dimethylacrylamide; N-vinylformamide; N-vinylpyrrolidone;

acrylic acid; methacrylic acid; itaconic acid; crotonic acid; maleic acid; fumaric acid; 2-acrylamide 2-methylpropane sulfonic acid; vinylsulfonic acid; vinyl phosphoric acid; allylsulfonic acid; allylphosphonic acid; styrene sulfonic acid; water-soluble alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, or ammonium salts of these monomers.

6 . A process for preparing the polymer complex according to claims 1 , comprising the following steps:

preparing an aqueous phase comprising at least one host polymer and water-soluble monomers;

emulsifying said aqueous solution in an oil phase; and

obtaining the polymer complex by polymerization of the water-soluble monomers.

7 . The process according to claim 6 , wherein the polymerization is carried out in the absence of a branching agent or crosslinking agent of polyfunctional ethylenic type.

8 . A process for the manufacture of a sheet of paper, cardboard or the like, wherein, before forming said sheet, a polymer complex according to claim 1 is added to a suspension of fibers at one or more injection points.

9 . The process according to claim 8 , wherein the amount of polymer complex added is, by dry weight, between 3 g/ton of fibers and 10,000 g/ton of fibers.

10 . A process for the manufacture of paper, cardboard or the like, comprising the following steps, on a paper machine:

placine fibers in an aqueous suspension;

adding the polymer complex according to claim 1 ;

forming a sheet of paper, cardboard or the like on the wire surface of the paper machine; and

drying the sheet.

11 . The process for the manufacture of paper, cardboard or the like, according to claim 10 , wherein the process comprises adding, before said forming the sheet of paper, at least one additive, different from the polymer complex, chosen from coagulants, retention agents, flocculants and starch.

12 . The polymer complex according to claim 2 , wherein the mass ratio between the water-soluble monomers and the host polymer is between 99/1 and 1/99.

13 . The polymer complex according to claim 12 . wherein the mass ratio between the water-soluble monomers and the host polymer is between 95/5 and 40/60.

14 . The polymer complex according to claim 3 , wherein the mass ratio between the water-soluble monomers and the host polymer is between 99/1 and 1/99.

15 . The polymer complex according to claim 14 , wherein the mass ratio between the water-soluble monomers and the host polymer is between 95/5 and 40/60.

16 . The polymer complex according to claim 4 , wherein the mass ratio between the water-soluble monomers and the host polymer is between 95/5 and 40/60.

17 . The process according to claim 9 , wherein the amount of polymer complex added is, by dry weight, between 10 g/ton of fibers and 7000 g/ton of fibers.

18 . The process according to claim 9 , wherein the amount of polymer complex added is, by dry weight, between 30 g/ton of fibers and 3000 g/ton of fibers.

19 . The process according to claim 9 , wherein fibers are cellulosic fibers.

20 . The process according to claim 10 , wherein fibers are cellulosic fibers.