CARBOXYL GROUP-CONTAINING POLYMER COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME

Provided is a carboxyl group-containing polymer composition which has little odor and excellent dispersibility in water, and which additionally has excellent transparency and excellent thickening properties for alcohol gels. A carboxyl group-containing polymer composition according to the present invention contains: a carboxyl group-containing polymer (A) which is a copolymer of a monomer that contains an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid (a-1) and a compound (a-2) that has at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups in each molecule; and a nonionic surfactant (B). An alcohol gel A prepared by the process described below has a viscosity of 5,000 mPa·s or more at 25°C; and the alcohol gel A has a light transmittance of 95% or more at a wavelength of 425 nm. (Preparation of alcohol gel A) First, 0.75 part by mass of the carboxyl group-containing polymer composition, 51.70 parts by mass of an ion exchange water and 96.0 parts by mass of ethanol are uniformly mixed with each other. Subsequently, an ethanol solution of triethanolamine having a concentration of 50% by mass is added thereto until the pH reaches 7.0, and the resulting mixture is stirred until the mixture becomes uniform, thereby preparing an alcohol gel A.