PDADMAC (often written as PolyDADMAC or polyDADMAC) stands for Polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride.
It's a synthetic, water-soluble polymer with a strong positive charge (cationic). Here's a breakdown of what it is:
Chemical Name: Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)
Chemical Structure: It's made up of repeating units of the monomer "diallyldimethylammonium chloride." The key feature is the quaternary ammonium group (-N⁺(CH₃)₂-) in each unit, which gives the entire polymer chain a very high positive charge density.
Form: It's typically supplied as a viscous, clear to amber-colored liquid solution in water.
Primary Property: High Cationic Charge Density. This is the key to its function.
What is PDADMAC used for?
Its strong positive charge makes it highly effective at interacting with negatively charged substances. Its main uses are:
Water & Wastewater Treatment (Primary Use): Used as a coagulant to remove suspended solids, turbidity, color (especially from organic matter), and some microorganisms from drinking water and industrial/municipal wastewater. It works by neutralizing the negative charge on particles, allowing them to clump together (coagulate) and be removed.
Paper Manufacturing: Used as a retention aid (to keep fine fibers and fillers in the paper sheet) and a drainage aid (to help water drain faster from the paper web).
Swimming Pools & Spas: Used as a clarifier to remove fine particles that cause cloudiness.
Other Applications: Found in some cosmetics, textile processing, and as a biocide in certain systems.
In essence, PDADMAC is the same as PolyDADMAC – a powerful, positively charged polymer primarily used to clarify water and other liquids by causing impurities to clump together for easier removal.
