Use of ethoxylated and opt. propoxylated 12-36C primary 2-alkylalkanols (I) as emulsifiers or co-emulsifiers in the emulsion polymerisation of ethylenically unsatd. monomers is new. Specifically, (I) are alkoxylated 2-benzyl-1-alkanols of formula (Ia), as described in DE3520185: R1-CH(CH2Ph)-CH2O(EO)x(PO)yH (Ia) (where R1 = 8-18C n-alkyl; x = 8-50; y = 0-20). (I) are used in an amt. of 0.1-10 (esp. 0.5-5) wt.% based on the total dispersion, opt. together with other nonionic, anionic or cationic emulsifiers.
