Process for making water-based latexes of block copolymers

摘要

This invention is a process for producing stable polymer emulsions and latexes with an average particle size of less than one micron. The polymers are block copolymers of conjugated dienes and vinyl aromatic hydrocarbons which may or may not contain polar functionality. The process comprises making a polymer cement of the polymer and a blend of a solvent for the polymer, emulsifying the polymer cement by combining adding it with an aqueous phase containing an emulsifier which is a nonionic surfactant having a number average molecular weight of less than 1600 and an HLB of 9.5 to 16 and a stabilizer which is a nonionic surfactant having a molecular weight greater than 1600.