Synthesis and Sand-Fixing Properties of Cationic Poly(vinyl acetate-butyl acrylate-2-hydroxyethyl acrylate-DMC) Copolymer Emulsions

A cationic poly(vinyl acetate-butyl acrylate-2-hydroxyethyl acrylate-DMC) (P(VAc-BA-HEA-DMC)) copolymer emulsion, used as a chemical sand-fixing material, was successfully prepared. The structure and composition of the emulsion were characterized. The sand-fixing mechanism is discussed and the resistance to wind erosion was studied by a wind tunnel test. The correlations between the emulsion and the sand-fixing properties were investigated in details. The results showed that the emulsion could significantly improve the water retention, compressive strength, and anti-wind erosion properties and also had good thermal and freeze-thaw stabilities. In a seed planting experiment, there was no influence of spraying the emulsion on the germination and growth of seeds in comparison with the control.