Hard capsules comprising polymers of vinyl esters and polyethers, their use and production

A hard capsule shell comprising

• (A) polymers produced by free-radical polymerization of
• a) at least one vinyl ester of C1-C24-carboxylic acids in the presence of
• b) polyether-containing compounds of formula I
• R1[Parenopenst]O—R2—O)u—(R3—O)v—(R4—O)w[Brketopenst]A—R2—O)x—(R3—O)y—(R4—O)z[Brketclosest]sR5)n
• in which the variables have, independently of one another, the following meaning:
• R1 hydrogen, C1-C24-alkyl, R6—C(═O)—, R6—NH—C(═O)—, polyalcohol residue;
• R5 hydrogen, C1-C24-alkyl, R6—C(═O)—, R6—NH—C(═O)—;
• R2 to R4 —(CH2)2—, —(CH2)3—, —(CH2)4—, —CH2—CH(R6)—, —CH2—CHOR7—CH2—;
• R6 C1-C24-alkyl;
• R7 hydrogen, C1-C24-alkyl, R6—C (═O)—, R6—NH—C(═O)—;
• A —C(═O)—O, —C(═O)—B—C(═O)—O, —C (═O)—NH—B—NH—C(═O)—O;
• B —(CH2)t—, arylene, optionally substituted;
• n 1 to 1000;
• s 0 to 1000;
• t 1 to 12;
• u 1 to 5000;
• v 0 to 5000;
• w 0 to 5000;
• x 0 to 5000;
• y 0 to 5000;
• z 0 to 5000, and
• c) at least one other copolymerizable monomer c) selected from the group consisting of tert-butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, isobutyl acrylate, tert-butyl methacrylate, styrene, vinyl chloride, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide and methacrylamide, and subsequent at least partial hydrolysis of the ester functions in the original monomers a),
• (B) optionally, structure-improving auxiliaries and
• (C) optionally other constituents selected from the group consisting of fillers, release agents, flow aids, stabilizers, water-soluble or water-insoluble dyes, flavorings and sweeteners.