Durable and Regenerable Biocidal Polymers: Acyclic N-Halamine Cotton Cellulose

As a continued study on halamine biocidal materials, acyclic halamine cotton cellulose was prepared by graft reaction of amide monomers onto cellulose and subsequent chlorination of the grafted materials. Two acyclic vinyl amide monomers, acrylamide (AM) and methacrylamide (MAA), were employed in the reaction successfully. The grafting reaction was implemented by a free radical polymerization process. Several radical initiators were able to abstract hydrogen atoms on the polymers and generate macromolecular radicals to react with the monomers. Similar to cyclic halamines, the resulted acyclic ones were able to provide durable and rechargeable biocidal functions. However, acyclic halamine structures are more vulnerable to hydrolysis compared to the cyclic halamines.