Functional ionene compositions and their use

A polymer composition represented by the formula:

• ##STR69## wherein R is CH.sub.2 or substituted CH.sub.2 groups where one of the hydrogen atoms of the group is replaced by alkyl or hydroxymethyl;
• wherein R.sub.1 represents the group:
• ##STR70## where R.sub.3 is hydrogen, lower alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or lower alkenyl of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• where R.sub.4 is hydrogen, halogen, straight or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl, or aralkyl;
• and
• where R.sub.5 is a member selected from the group consisting of:
• ##STR71## where R.sub.4 has the same meaning as above;
• where R.sub.6 is selected from the group consisting of straight or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl and alkoxyalkyl;
• wherein R.sub.2 is a straight or branched alkyl chain of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, which may be interrupted by one or more atoms of oxygen or sulfur;
• aralkyl or cycloalkyl;
• wherein x and y are integers from 1 to 10;
• and n is an integer of 2 or greater.