Water soluble polymers and dispersions containing them

A water soluble polymer formed from one or more unsaturated monomers and containing acid groups selected from carboxylic, sulphuric and sulphonic acid groups, or a water soluble salt thereof, and which is terminated by groups selected from OH, COOH and C.sub.1-3 alkyl and which has PD below 1.5 and Mw, measured on the full sodium salt, of from 1,000 to 50,000.

A dispersion of particulate material in an aqueous medium containing a dispersing agent for the particulate material and in which the dispersing agent is a water soluble polymer formed from one or more unsaturated monomers and containing acid groups selected from carboxyl and sulphonic groups, or a water soluble salt thereof, characterised in that the polymer has PD below 1.5 and Mw (measured as the sodium salt) of from about 1,000 to about 50,000.

A dispersion of pigment in water containing a water soluble dispersing agent that is polyacrylic acid, or a water soluble salt thereof, having PD below 1.5 and Mw, measured on the full sodium salt, in the range about 1,000 to about 3,000.

A dispersion in water made by grinding calcium carbonate in water containing a water soluble dispersing agent that is polyacrylic acid, or a water soluble salt thereof, having PD below 1.5 and Mw in the range about 2,500 to about 4,500.

A dispersion in water made by grinding calcium carbonate in water containing a water soluble dispersing agent that is a copolymer of acrylic acid and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulphonic acid or a salt thereof, having PD below 1.5 and Mw, measured on the full sodium salt, in the range about 1,500 to about 3,500.

An aqueous dispersion paint comprising a pigment, a binder for the paint and a water soluble dispersing agent for the pigment that is polyacrylic acid or a salt thereof having PD below 1.5 and Mw, measured on the full sodium salt, in the range about 1,500 to about 5,000.

A detergent composition containing, as detergent builder, a water soluble polymer formed from one or more unsaturated monomers and containing acid groups selected from carboxyl and sulphonic groups, or a water soluble salt thereof, and which has PD below 1.5 and Mw (measured as the sodium salt) of from about 1,000 to about 50,000.