Patent ID: 8153735

Claim:
A process for the preparation of a polymer, comprising free radical continuous emulsion polymerization of comonomers comprising vinyl esters, ethylene and optionally additional comonomers to form an aqueous dispersion of the polymer, and optionally drying the aqueous dispersion of the polymer to form a water-redispersible polymer powder, wherein the emulsion polymerization is carried out in a cascade comprising the following apparatuses a) at least one upstream heat exchanger, b) at least two stirred-tank pressure-resistant reactors connected in series, and c) then at least one pressureless reactor, in such a way that conversion upon leaving the heat exchanger is at least 10% of the total polymerization conversion, and a decreasing pressure gradient results from the first apparatus in the cascade to the last apparatus in the cascade, and after the end of the polymerization in the pressure-resistant reactors, postpolymerization is effected in the pressureless reactor.