Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a dispersion of a polyamide in water, said process comprising:dissolving a polyamide having an amine value of greater than about 2 in an organic solvent to form a solution of said polyamide in said solvent, said polyamide and said solvent being at a temperature below the softening point of said polyamide during said dissolving, said solution further comprising a surfactant and an inorganic alkaline material,adding sufficient water containing an acid to said solution with mixing to form an oil-in-water dispersion, the temperature of said solution and said water being below the softening point of said polyamide during said adding, the amount of said acid being sufficient to neutralize a portion of said inorganic alkaline material, but insufficient to coagulate said polyamide from the resulting oil-in-water dispersion, andremoving at least a major amount of said organic solvent from said oil-in-water dispersion.

Abstract: A water retention aid/thickener composition containing: (a) from about 40 to about 75% by weight of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl acrylate; (b) from about 60 to about 25% by weight of methacrylic acid; and (c) from about 0.1 to about 5% by weight of an alkoxylated acrylate or methacrylate monomer containing at least three vinyl moieties, all weights being based on the weight of the composition.