Patent ID: 7138472

Claim:
A high molecular weight, water-soluble polymer comprising pendant salicylic acid groups and having a weight average molecular weight of at least about 2,000,000 daltons prepared by the method comprising free radical polymerization of: 1. at least one salicylic acid containing monomer selected from the group consisting of 4-methacrylamidosalicylic acid, or a salt thereof, 4-methacrylamidosalicylic acid phenyl ester, or a salt thereof, O-acetyl4-methacrylamidosalicylic acid, or a salt thereof and O-acetyl-4-methacrylamidosalicylic acid phenyl ester, or a salt thereof; and 2. at least one acrylate monomers selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylic acid and salts thereof and alkyl esters of (meth)acrylic acid.