Process for preparing (meth)acrylic esters of polyols

A process for preparing (meth)acrylic esters of polyols, in which for 80 mol % or more of the esters, all of the OH groups of the polyols are esterified, the method comprising:

• reacting polyols with (meth)acrylic acid in the presence of acidic esterification catalysts and in the presence of polymerization inhibitors in a reaction space comprising a gas phase to produce a resultant water of condensation, wherein the reaction is operated with reaction mixtures which are liquid at reaction temperature and are free from nonreacting solvents and/or azeotropic entrainers,
• stripping the resultant water of condensation from the gas phase of the reaction space, wherein (meth)acrylic acid is metered in three or more portions, with the following provisos:
• the amount of the individual (meth)acrylic acid portions is set in each case in the range
• from 5 to 40 mol %, based on the entirety of the OH groups of the polyols used,
• the number of (meth)acrylic acid portions, multiplied by the amount of (meth)acrylic acid
• portions used (in mol %), produces a figure of at least 100 (mol %),
• the reaction is carried out at a temperature in the range from about 70 to about 150° C., and
• water formed in the reaction is removed from the reaction space under a reduced pressure.