Partially neutralized carboxylate-rich copolymers, processes for their preparation and methods of using the same are disclosed, the copolymers comprising: monomers (A), (B), and (C); wherein monomer (A) comprises at least one monoethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid, and is present in an amount of 30% to 79.99% by weight; wherein monomer (B) comprises at least one monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of acids corresponding to general formula I, acids corresponding to general formula II, anhydrides thereof, and other hydrolyzable derivatives thereof, and is present in an amount of 20.01% to 70% by weight: (HOOC)R1C.dbd.CR2(COOH) (I) R1R2C.dbd.C(--(CH2)n-COOH)(COOH) (II) wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent H or a straight-chain or branched, optionally substituted alkyl radical having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or, in the case of (I), R1 and R2 together being an optionally substituted alkylene radical having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and n represents an integer from 0 to 5; wherein monomer (C) comprises at least one additional ethylenically unsaturated comonomer, and is present in an amount of 0% to 40% by weight; wherein the carboxylate-rich copolymer is partially neutralized with at least one amine and the carboxylate-rich copolymer has a degree of neutralization of 2 to 18 mol %, based on the total amount of all COOH groups of the monocarboxylic and dicarboxylic acids; and wherein the carboxylate-rich copolymer has an average molecular weight Mw of at least 3000 g/mol.