Copolymers, preparation thereof and use as wetting agents and dispersants

The invention relates to copolymers, suitable as wetting agents and dispersants, obtainable by copolymerizing (a) 1 to 80 mol % of at least one ethylenically unsaturated 1,2-dicarboxylic acid derivative, (b) 2 to 80 mol % of at least one unsaturated monocarboxylic acid derivative having 12 to 30 carbon atoms, (c) 1 to 90 mol % of at least one polyalkyleneoxyallyl ether having a number-average molecular weight of up to 5000 g/mol and (d) 0 to 30 mol % of further, unsaturated monomers; and also reaction products of the copolymers with ammonia, amines, water, alcohols, amino alcohols and/or alkali metal hydroxides or alkaline earth metal hydroxides. The invention further relates to a process for preparing the copolymers and to their use as wetting agents and dispersants in coating materials and moulding compounds.