Patent ID: 8420758

Claim:
A method of polymerization comprising: (a) supplying a monomer having one or more of the following structures: wherein R 1 and R 2 are selected from a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group or an aromatic group, or a cyclic alkyl group or a polyether, and combinations thereof and R 3 is selected from an alkyl group, aromatic functionality, heteroaromatic functionality, cyclic alkyl group, heterocyclic group, or combinations thereof, wherein at least 50 mole % of R 1 and R 2 are a hydrogen atom to provide carboxylic acid functionality; (b) combining at least one of monomers (I), (II) and/or (III) with a solvent and partially neutralizing the carboxylic acid functionality at a level of 25.0 mole % to 85.0 mole % for each mole of carboxylic acid functionality present to provide a monomer/solvent polymerizing media having an exposed surface area (SA PM ) and a density (D PM ); (c) polymerizing said monomers in a reactor to provide an exothermic heat of polymerization (ΔHp) and allowing said solvent to evaporate from said reactor to provide an endothermic heat of vaporization (ΔHv) wherein ΔHp and ΔHv maintain the temperature of said polymerization at 50.0° C. to 150° C.; (d) removing said polymerized monomers from said reactor and increasing the SA PM and decreasing D PM and maintaining the temperature of said polymerization at 50.0° C. to 150° C.