Patent ID: 8389061

Claim:
A method of preparing an aqueous emulsion polymer, comprising the steps of: conducting an emulsion polymerization reaction with one or more ethylenically unsaturated nonionic monomers and from 0.5 to about 5% by weight, based on dry polymer weight, of ethylenically unsaturated acid monomers to form a copolymer; and conducting the emulsion polymerization reaction to a conversion level of at least 60% of monomers to the copolymer at a temperature selected from a temperature range of about 20° C. to about 85° C. and at a pH value having an initial value selected from a pH range of greater than about 7 to about 10, where the pH value is maintained at, allowed to decrease, or allowed to increase from the initial pH value, in a predetermined range and the temperature is maintained in the temperature range in a predetermined range, at least until the conversion level is attained, without the presence of chain transfer agent.