Polyquaternium-61 is an organic, polymeric quaternary ammonium salt consisting of acrylamide monomers and dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride. It is the cationic copolymer of acrylamide and the quaternary ammonium salt with diallyldimethylammonium chloride.

The name defines the structure of the molecule

• "Poly" indicates a polymer structure, meaning many repeating units.
• "Quaternium" refers to the quaternary nature of nitrogen. These compounds have a nitrogen atom bonded to four different atoms, making them cationic or positively charged.
• "61" is a specific number that differentiates this particular variant of Polyquaternium from others. The number is a chronological reference of the registration date of this ingredient.

Description of raw materials used in production

• Quaternary Monomers are the basic monomers that form the polymer structure. These monomers contain quaternary ammonium groups which give the polymer its cationic properties.
• Polymerization Initiators. Chemical substances that initiate the polymerization process, often through the formation of free radicals.

Step-by-step summary of its industrial chemical synthesis process

• Mixture Preparation. The quaternary monomers and polymerization initiators are mixed in a reactor.
• Polymerization. The mixture is heated, initiating the polymerization reaction. This can occur through mechanisms such as free-radical polymerization.
• Termination. The reaction is halted once the desired degree of polymerization is reached.
• Purification. The product is purified to remove any unreacted monomers and by-products.
• Drying. The polymer is dried to remove any remaining moisture.

It appears as a white powder or as a colourless liquid.

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics

It is used as a conditioning, humectant and antistatic agent, with high charge density and good stability, in cosmetics to improve hair combability, increase volume and shine in shampoos, conditioners in a wide range of pH values between 5 and 8 for both dry and wet chemical hair treatment. 

Improves clarity and compatibility in anionic surfactant systems.

Usage: 

• 0.01% in hair conditioners  
• 0.000006% in hair sprays 
• 0.0069% in face powders
• 0.001% non-spray moisturising products

Other applications

In sludge regulation in municipal, industrial and waste water Polyquaternium-7 is also used as a flocculating agent.

Used as a retention aid in the paper industry, mining and mineral processing, for oil-water separation, crude oil dewatering and treatment of oily wastewater in oil fields and refineries.

Polyquaternium-61 studies

The Polyquaternium family contains very similar chemical compounds. Polyquaternium signifies the presence of quaternary ammonium, and the numbers following the word Polyquaternium indicate the assignment number.

Below is an example of the characteristics of Polyquaternium-7

Typical commercial product characteristics Polyquaternium-7

• Molecular Formula  C₁₁H₁₂ClN₂O      (C₈H₁₆NCl)n(C₃H₅NO)n
• Molecular Weight  232.752 g/mol
• Exact Mass   232.13400
• CAS  26590-05-6    108464-53-5
• UNII    0L414VCS5Y
• EC Number   200-700-9    618-347-7
• DSSTox Substance ID 
• IUPAC  dimethyl-bis(prop-2-enyl)azanium;prop-2-enamide;chloride
• InChI=1S/C8H16N.C3H5NO.ClH/c1-5-7-9(3,4)8-6-2;1-2-3(4)5;/h5-6H,1-2,7-8H2,3-4H3;2H,1H2,(H2,4,5);1H/q+1;;/p-1 
• InChl Key      XFOSBZOUUACCCN-UHFFFAOYSA-M
• SMILES   C[N+](C)(CC=C)CC=C.C=CC(=O)N.[Cl-]
• MDL number  MFCD00241413
• PubChem Substance ID    
• SCHEMBL126949

Synonyms : 

• Acrylamide diallyldimethylammonium Chloride
• 2-Propen-1-aminium, N,N-dimethyl-N-2-propenyl-, chloride, polymer with 2-propenamide
• Dimethyldiallylammonium chloride acrylamide polymer
• n,n-dimethyl-n-(prop-2-en-1-yl)prop-2-en-1-aminium chloride- prop-2-enamide(1:1:1)
• Quaternium-41
• N,N-Dimethyl-N-2-propenyl-2-propen-1-aminium chloride, polymer with 2-propenamide
• 2-Propen-1-aminium, N,N-dimethyl-N-2-propen-1-yl-, chloride (1:1), polymer with 2-propen