An emulsion polymerization process of acrylonitrile, butadiene and carboxylic acid was studied, in a pilot plant, for producing carboxylated nitrile latices with high solids content directly from the polymerization process, without the need of post-reaction steps of concentration. The effect of temperature, type and amount of emulsifier, type and amount of initiator, type of stirring system, stirring speed and incremental additions for producing high solid latices was studied. To attain this goal, 32 polymerization reactions were carried out, but only 7 attained the target for total solids (50%). The solids content, the average particle size and its distribution and the monomer composition were determined. A latex containing up to 57% of total solids was obtained. The average particle size ranged from 130 to 230 nm.
Emulsion polymerization; latex; particle size determination; high solids content
