Anti-scalants can inhibit inorganic scale formation (e.g., CaCO3, CaSO4, BaSO4) especially at metal surfaces in industrial boilers, cooling towers, mining and mineral processing, and oil fields. Scale formation is inhibited by three mechanisms: 1) interference with the growth of scale crystals, 2) dispersion of particles or prevention of their agglomeration into larger adherent particles, and 3) chelation or complexation of inorganic ions.

Dispersants are used in many industrial products and processes that require solids be mixed in a finely divided state within a liquid medium and remain stable for a period of time prior to and during their use. Our copolymers and polycarboxylates are a series of dispersants that provide stability to dispersions at low dosages. The properties of these polycarboxylates will allow them to adsorb efficiently onto a solid substrate and be maintained in a stable dispersion state through a complex and system-dependent mechanism involving electrostatic repulsion and/or steric hinderance.