Abstract

This process relates to the preparation of stable aqueous latices from solvent dispersions of elastomers and other high polymer compositions. The process in common with that of earlier applications is characterized, inter alia, by the establishment of a flow of gas comprising steam as a continuous phase into which an emulsion of a cement of the polymer is dispersed as an aerosol of latex droplets in a solvent-vapor continuum, followed by coalescence of the latex droplets and separation of the resulting coalesced liquid phase from the resulting solvent-vapor phase.In the present disclosure, special provisions are made for generating from recovered water saturated with solvent (and possibly contaminated with carry-over of macromolecular material and/or emulsifier and/or latex droplets) the gas comprising steam employed in forming the initial continous phase. By this process it is possible to essentially exclude or eliminate the continuous supply of external steam to the process and the disposal of the condensate resulting therefrom. In the preferred practice of these provisions the quantity of water supplied to the process thus can be reduced essentially to only that quantity of water constituting the aqueous phase of the latex product withdrawn from the process, and environmental polution with process effluent liquid and solid materials may be avoided or greatly minimized.Furthermore, in preferred embodiments the process utilizes material carried over in or with the vapors and inhibits process solid and solvent losses and thus increases the efficiency of the process.