Abstract: What is disclosed are stable aqueous solutions, useful for example to treat water to stabilize its hardness and to render it anticorrosive or biocidal, containing a dissolved cationic component, such as polyvalent metal cation or a cationic surface active agent, and a dissolved anionic vinyl copolymer comprising both anionic monomer units having a carboxylic acid group and units of a anionic monomer having an ammonium group.

Abstract: Polymer dispersions in which an aqueous phase comprising a water-soluble polymer is dispersed in an organic liquid in the presence of a polymeric water-in-oil type dispersing agent containing salt-forming basic nitrogen atoms. When the dispersion is mixed with water in the presence of an acid, which acid may be present in the aqueous or organic phase of the dispersion or added separately, the dispersing agent transforms into an oil-in-water type, the previously dispersed polymer dissolves in the water, and the previously continuous organic phase is dispersed in the water.Methods of making such polymer dispersions.Methods of forming aqueous solutions of water-soluble polymers by combining such dispersions with water in the presence of an acid.