Process for the preparation of synthetic rubber latex

Claim 1

THE PROCESS OF CONCENTRATING A SYNTHETIC LATEX CONTAINING 10-35% SOLIDS PREPARED BY THE POLYMERIZATION OF A CONJUGATED DIOLEFIN OF FROM 4 TO 6 CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE IN AQUEOUS EMULSION IN THE PRESENCE OF SOAP EMULSIFIER WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS: (A) ADDING AN AQUEOUS SERUM AS OBTAINED IN STEP (F) OF THE PROCESS CONTAINING 0.5-5.0 PHR. OF A DESTABILIZING WATER-SOLUBLE SALT OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALKALI METAL HALIDES AND ALKALI METAL SALTS OF WATERSOLUBLE FATTY ACIDS TO THE LATEX; SAID AMOUNT OF SALT BEING SUFFICIENT OF EFFECT A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN PARTICLE SIZE OF THE LATEX BUT INSUFFICIENT TO CAUSE MASSIVE COAGULATION THEREOF; (B) ADDING SUFFICIENT WATER-SOLUBLE LOWER FATTY ACID HAVING 1-4 CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE TO BRING THE PH OF THE LATEX TO 5.5-6.5; (C) AGING THE ACIDIFIED LATEX FOR 1/4-HOURS AT 2040*C; (D) DILUTING THE LATEX WITH AQUEOUS SERUM AS OBTAINED IN STEP (F) OF THE PROCESS TO 15-25% SOLIDS; (E) RESAPONIFYING WITH AN MONOVALENT ALKALI TO A PH OF 8.5-11; (F) CONTRIFUGING THE SO-TREATED LATEX, WHEREBY A CONCENTRATED LATEX PHASE CONTAINING AT LEAST ABOUT 40% SOLIDS IS SEPARATED FROM SERUM PHASE CONTAINING LESS THAN ABOUT 5% SOLIDS; (G) AND RECYCLING PORTIONS OF SERUM TO STEPS (A) AND (D).