Process for the manufacture of vinylidene fluoride polymers by noncontinuous polymerization of vinylidene fluoride in an aqueous medium with the use of peroxydisulphates as initiators and in the absence of emulsifying agent, in which an alkyl acetate, employed as a chain-control agent, is introduced into the initial aqueous charge intended for the polymerization.Use of the resulting vinylidene fluoride polymers for the manufacture of paints and, more particularly, of paints intended for prelacquering metal sheets with improved gloss.