Charge water into reaction flask and purge with nitrogen for 15 min. Add "Abex" 18S and dissolve. Add 20% of premixed monomers---ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, "Sipomer" HEM and methacrylic acid. Purge with nitrogen for another 5 min. Heat contents of flask to 50'C and add potassium persulfate. To initiate the reaction add 10% of the sodium bisulfite solution. As soon as the reaction is started and after an exothermic temperature rise of 5'C is noticed, start adding the remainder of the monomers and bisulfite soltion, concurrently. Maintain reaction temperature between 72 and 76'C throughout the addition period of the monomers. After addition is completed, heat the batch to 85'C. Maintain this temperature for a half hour. Then cool to room temperature and adjust pH to between 8 and 9.