PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF AQUEOUS DISPERSIONS OF ACRYL COPOLYMERS AND THEIR USE IN FINISHING LEATHER

1. A process for the preparation of an aqueous polyacrylate copolymer dispersion having a solids content of from 19.2 to 40% by weight, wherein from 90 to 98% by weight of one or more (meth) acrylates of alcohols of 1 to 8 carbon atoms and from 2 to 10% by weight of an alpha,beta-monoolefinically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid of 3 to 5 carbon atoms and/or its amide, with or without from 10 to 25% by weight of a monomer from the group consisting of styrene, acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate and vinyl chloride, are polymerized in water in the presence of from 1 to 10% by weight, based in each case on the total weight of the monomers, of one or more anionic emulsifiers, using from 0.1 to 1.5% by weight of hydrogen peroxide and from 0.01 to 0.6% by weight of ascorbic acid, and in the presence or absence of from 0.001 to 0.01% by weight of iron (II) sulfate, at from 60 to 85 degrees C and a pH of from 2 to 5, the particle sizes obtained being from 10 to 50 nm.