A method of polymerization of vinyl esters

摘要

Vinyl esters are polymerized in the presence as polymerization medium of a nitrile which does not copolymerize with the vinyl ester. The vinyl ester may be vinyl acetate and specified nitriles are acetonitrile and propionitrile. Stable aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solutions may be obtained from the polyvinyl esters by alkali hydrolysis. 2, 21-Azo-bis-isobutyronitrile may be used as catalyst in the polymerization.