A scale inhibitor containing as its active component a copolymer comprising acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and a C1-8 alkyl ester of (meth)acrylic acid, the copolymer being (a) about 1:4 to about 4:1 in the copolymerization mole ratio of acrylic acid to methacrylic acid, (b) about 2:1 to about 40:1 in the copolymerization mole ratio of a total amount of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid to the C1-8 alkyl ester of (meth) acrylic acid, and (c) about 500 to about 15,000 in average molecular weight. Also provided is a method of applicating the copolymer to inhibit scale in various systems containning water. |