Patent ID: 7910676

Claim:
A method of polymerization comprising: 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, heterocylic group, or combinations thereof, wherein at least 50 mole % of R 1 and R 2 are a hydrogen atom to provide carboxylic acid functionality; 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, wherein said partial neutralization takes place over an accumulated time period not to exceed 6.0 hours and at a temperature of 50.0° C. to 150° C.; polymerizing one of said monomers (I), (II) and/or (III) wherein the percent conversion of one of said monomers to polymer is at or above 50.0%.