Process for preparing vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymers by emulsion polymerization

A process for preparing vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymers in the form of their aqueous dispersions or water-redispersible powders by means of radically initiated emulsion polymerization and optional subsequent drying of the resultant polymer dispersions, the process comprising emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate, ethylene and optionally one or more further ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of one or more protective colloids in one or more Taylor reactors, the Taylor reactor comprising an external reactor wall, a rotor located within the external reactor wall, a reactor base, and a reactor lid, the wall, rotor, base, and lid defining a toroidal reactor volume, wherein vinyl acetate, ethylene, protective colloids, and oxidation initiators are added via one or more metering devices that are embedded in the reactor base, and reduction initiators are added via one or more metering devices embedded in a bearing of the rotor.