Method of making an acid neutralizing polymer through reactive compounding

A method of making an acid neutralizing polymer material, comprising:

• a) preparing a first reaction mixture comprising a blend of a first amount of a polyamide material and a quaternary amine salt of a halogenated-dimethylalkylamine having a general chemical formula of (CH3)2N—R—X, wherein R is an alkyl containing 1-12 carbon atoms and X is either chlorine or bromine;
• b) adding the first reaction mixture to a first compounding machine;
• c) reacting the first reaction mixture for a time and at a temperature sufficient to produce a first reaction product comprising a deprotonated halogenated-dimethylalkylamine;
• d) preparing a second reaction mixture comprising a second amount of the polyamide material and a solid, strongly basic material;
• e) adding the second reaction mixture to a second compounding machine;
• f) reacting the second reaction mixture for a time and at a temperature sufficient to produce a second reaction product comprising a an activated polyamide material;
• g) preparing a third reaction mixture comprising a blend of the first reaction product and the second reaction product;
• h) adding the third reaction mixture to a third compounding machine;
• and
• i) reacting the third reaction mixture for a time and at a temperature sufficient to produce the acid neutralizing polymer material.