Abstract: Processes for preparing polymeric thickeners are provided which give, in preferred compositions, both good flow and leveling properties as well as sag resistance to coating compositions such as aqueous paints. The thickeners are prepared by conducting the polymerization in glycol such as ethylene glycol or propylene glycol with or without a little added water. The monomers polymerized consist essentially of (a) about 1-99% by weight of at least one unsaturated carboxylic acid of 3 to 6 carbon atoms, and (b) about 99-1% by weight of at least one ester of the formula ##STR1## wherein R and R.sub.2 are each hydrogen or methyl,x is a positive integer of 5 to 80,y is an integer of 0 to 20, andR.sub.1 is alkyl of 1 to 20 carbon atoms or alkyl phenyl where the alkyl group is from 1 to 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Polymeric thickeners are provided in preferred compositions which give both good flow and leveling properties as well as sag resistance to coating compositions such as aqueous paints. The thickeners as prepared comprise a polymer dissolved in a solvent at a concentration up to 50% by weight of the composition, the solvent being at least one glycol and containing during manufacture up to 50% by weight, based on the weight of glycol, of water and the polymer consists essentially of (a) about 10 to 98% by weight of at least one unsaturated carboxylic acid of 3 to 6 carbon atoms, (b) about 1 to 50% by weight of at least one alkyl acrylate or alkyl methacrylate wherein the alkyl group is from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, and (c) about 1 to 85% by weight of at least one ester of the formula ##STR1## wherein R and R.sub.2 are each hydrogen or methyl,X is a positive integer of 5 to 80,Y is an integer of 0 to 20, andR.sub.