Abstract: Water-soluble copolymers which contain, polymerized in, as characteristic monomers(a) 99 to 50% by weight of monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids with 3 to 8 carbon atoms or their salts and(b) 1 to 50% by weight of N-vinylimidazole or substituted N-vinylimidazoles, their salts or products of quaternization and which have K values of from 10 to 50 are used for water treatment to reduce deposits of scale and sludge in water-conveying systems.

Abstract: Water-soluble copolymers of maleic acid useful as water treatment agents are prepared by copolymerizing(a) from 99 to 80% by weight of maleic anhydride and(b) from 1 to 20% by weight of a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable therewith and, facultatively,(c) up to 10% by weight of a crosslinker, at from 60.degree. to 200.degree. C. in an aromatic hydrocarbon in the presence of peroxyesters derived from saturated or monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, and hydrolyzing the anhydride groups of the copolymers following the polymerization.

Abstract: Glycerol aminocarboxylates of the formula ##STR1## where n is from 0 to 10 andR is ##STR2## where L is iminodiacetate, aspartate, glutamate, sarcosinate, glycinate, serinate, hydroxyaspartate, ethanolaminoacetate, diethanolamino, alanate or taurinate andX is hydrogen, an alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium,are prepared by esterifying glycerol or polyglycerols which contain up to 10 glycerol units with maleic anhydride or itaconic anhydride and addition of compound L-H where L is as defined above to the double bonds of the esters, and are used as complexing agents.

Abstract: Condensates based on substituted ureas, their reaction products with di- and/or polyisocyanates, derivatives of di- and/or polycarboxylic acids or p-substituted phenols and/or their methylol derivatives, their preparation and their use. These condensates each contain two or more cyclic urea units and can be prepared either by reacting primary di- or polyamines with ureas and reacting the product with predominantly CH-acidic aldehydes or by reacting primary amines with isocyanates and reacting the product with predominantly CH-acidic aldehydes in the presence of an acidic catalyst. The said condensates and their reaction products are useful for the preparation of heat-curable coating materials and of binders for cathodic electrocoating.

Abstract: Slightly crosslinked, water-soluble polymaleic acid which is obtainable by polymerization of maleic anyhdride with from 0.1 to 10% by weight of a crosslinking agent in an aromatic hydrocarbon at from 60 to 200.degree. C. in the presence of from 1 to 20% by weight, based on maleic anhydride, of a peroxyester, and hydrolysis of the polymer to give slightly crosslinked polymaleic acid having a Fikentscher K value of from 8 to 20 (measured at 20.degree. C. in 5% strength aqueous solution at pH 7 as the Na salt), a process for the preparation of slightly cross-linked polymaleic acid, and its use as a water treatment agent for reducing boiler scale and hard water deposits in water-conveying systems.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of polymaleic acid by polymerizing maleic anhydride in an aromatic hydrocarbon at from 60.degree. to 200.degree. C., using from 1 to 20% by weight, based on maleic anhydride, of peroxyesters derived from saturated or ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, as the polymerization initiators and hydrolyzing the polymer, the polymaleic acid thus obtained and the use of the polymaleic acid as an agent for reducing scale formation and hard water deposits in systems through which water flows.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for insolubilizing casein coatings for leather utilizing alkoxy alkyl ureas. The coatings are cured in the presence of an acid catalyst. The casein coatings of the invention avoid the disadvantageous use of aldehydes such as formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde to cure the casein and reduce its water sensitivity and unexpectedly show improved wet abrasion resistance.