Process for the gentle degasification of coagulation-sensitive PVC latices

Claim 1

In the process for the gentle degasification of coagulation-sensitive PVC latices in a confined space under reduced pressure and stirring at elevated temperatures with steam injection onto the latex surface, the improvement consisting essentially of conducting said degasification at a selected temperature from 50° C. to 80° C. at a pressure corresponding to the boiling pressure of water at the selected temperature, stirring said latex by an inclined stirrer mounted in a perpendicular plane to the vessel wall and inclined from the vertical by an angle β of 20° to 45° in a clockwise direction, said inclined stirrer extending beyond the wall of said vessel by the length L said latex surface being between a minimum height H 1 , and a maximum height H 2 in said vessel having a diameter D, where the ratio of L to D is from 0.3 to 0.1, the ratio of the lower limit of H 1 is 0.3 > H 1 to D > 0.1, the ratio of the upper limit H.sub. 2 is 1 > H 2 to D > 0.2, said stirrer being situated so that effective stirring occurs at H 1 and H 2 is at about 50% of the total liquid capacity of said vessel, whereby a rolling action of said latex in said confined space is effected and introducing said steam into the gas space above said latex but directed along the surface of the confined space.