Abstract: A polymerization autoclave for the suspension polymerization of vinyl compounds in the aqueous phase having a volume of from 50 to 200 m.sup.3, an impeller agitator driven from below at the bottom of the autoclave and two cylindrical displacement bodies acting as flow interrupters, secured downwardly from the autoclave dome, where the autoclave has a height-to-diameter ratio of from 2.4 to 3 with a critically dimensioned agitator and critically dimensioned flow interrupter fittings. By the use of this invention in the case large-scale autoclaves, the heat of polymerization can be removed merely by wall-cooling. The autoclave according to the invention are very economical, as shown by, for example, a spatial capacity of 0.3 to 0.4 metric tons of polyvinyl chloride per m.sup.3 autoclave volume.

Abstract: A process for the continuous manufacture of an aqueous ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer dispersion which comprises continuously copolymerizing ethylene and vinyl acetate and optionally other .alpha.-olefinically unsaturated monomers, in an aqueous emulsion in the presence of an emulsifier and/or a protective colloid, and in the presence of a free-radical-forming redox catalyst system of a reducing agent and an oxidizing agent as well, optionally, as a heavy metal salt, and recovering said ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer dispersion, characterized by (a) the presence of a molar excess of at least 3 times, preferably from 3 to 10 times, said reducing agent over said oxidizing agent dosed into the reaction medium and (b) adding the monomers continuously to the reaction mixture at such a rate that the concentration of unreacted monomers at no place in the reaction zone exceeds 15% by weight of the total weight of the reaction mixture.