Acrylate/maleate copolymers, their preparation and use as antiscalants

Substantially homogeneous acrylate/maleate copolymers of number average molecular weight of 500 to 5000 are prepared by copolymerizing 35 to 65 mole percent acrylic or methacrylic acid with 65 to 35 mole percent maleic anhydride at 80 DEG to 150 DEG C. in the presence of a polymerization initiator and a chain-transfer solvent such that both the monomers and the formed polymer remain in solution and the mole ratio of the acrylic or methacrylic acid monomer to the maleic anhydride monomer in the solvent is maintained below about 0.2 throughout the polymerization. The copolymers in hydrolyzed form are employed at a level of from about 0.1 to 100 ppm for prevention of alkaline calcium and magnesium scale formation, such as during seawater evaporative desalination.