Functional ionene compositions and their use

A polymer composition represented by the formula:

• ##STR73## wherein R is independently selected from the group CH.sub.2 and substituted CH.sub.2 groups where one of the hydrogen atoms of the group is replaced by alkyl or hydroxymethyl;
• wherein Y is ##STR74## wherein R.sub.1 represents the group ##STR75## 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;
• R.sub.4 is hydrogen, halogen, straight or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl, or aralkyl;
• and
• where R.sub.5 is an acyclic amide containing an amide group;
• 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 A.crclbar. is an anion;
• and
• wherein x and y are integers from 1 to 10;
• and n is an integer of 2 or greater.