The present invention concerns a process for controlled radical
polymerisation of acrylic acid and its salts in a reactive medium
constituted solely of water.The invention also concerns homopolymers and
copolymers of acrylic acid obtained by the polymerisation
process.Finally, the invention concerns the use of the said homopolymers
and copolymers of acrylic acid in fields of industry such as the paper
field and in particular the coating of paper and the mass-filling of
paper, the oil field, or the fields of paint, water treatment,
detergency, ceramics, cements or hydraulic binders, public works, inks
and varnishes, sizing of textiles or the finishing of leather.