| abstract |
The invention relates to a process for preparing copolymers from vinyl esters and monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids by the radical copolymerisation of: (a) 20 to 80 mol % vinyl esters of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having at least two carbon atoms, (b) 80 to 20 mol % monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids and, optionally, (c) 0 to 30 mol % of other monoethylenically unsaturated monomers which can be copolymerised, and/or (d) 0 to 10 mol % monomers containing at least two ethylenically unsaturated non-conjugated double bonds in the molecule, in the presence of at least one sulphur, phosphorus and/or nitrogen compound having a reducing effect and of 0.05 to 30 wt %, relative to the monomers, of at least one surfactant in an aqueous medium and in the presence of initiators and, optionally, regulators. The invention further relates to the use of the copolymers or the copolymers comprising vinyl alcohol units obtained therefrom by hydrolysis and/or oxidation, as additives for washing and cleaning agents. |