| abstract |
Described is a process for sequestration of water hardness ions, comprising the step ofnadding to aqueous media containing water hardness ions an effective amount of a maleatencopolymer having a weight average molecular weight of 500 to 7,000, a residual totalnmonomer content of less than 1 %, on a maleate copolymer dry weight basis, andncomprising at least 50 mole percent of maleate monomer, whereby at least 70 molenpercent of the carboxylic acid charge on the maleate monomer is neutralized prior tonpolymerization, and 10 to 50 mole percent of acrylate monomer. |