Use of polyalkylene glycol esters for foam inhibition and process for degassing polymer dispersions

Use of the reaction products of carboxylic acids of the formula R-COOH with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide or with polyethylene glycols and/or polypropylene glycols, in which R denotes a straight-chain or branched, aliphatic or alicyclic, saturated or unsaturated alkyl, alkenyl, hydroxyalkyl or hydroxyalkenyl radical, has foam inhibitors and degassing aids in polymer dispersions. Preference is given to the reaction products having up to 9 mol of ethylene oxide and/or up to 15 mol of propylene oxide per mol of carboxylic acid. The process for removing monomeric parts from polymer dispersions is characterised by the use of the said alkoxylates as foam inhibitors and degassing aids of low toxicity and good biodegradability.