Nano-sized hydrogenated diene-based latex particles

Abstract

The present invention relates to hydrogenated nano-sized diene-based latex particles, a method for their production and their use.

1 . Diene-based hydrogenated polymer latex particles having a particle size measured as d 90 -value of less than 60 nm. 
     
     
         2 . Latex particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the diene-based latex particles are acrylonitrile-butadiene polymers. 
     
     
         3 . Process for the selective hydrogenation of diene-based unsaturated polymer particles in latex form, comprising
 a) providing diene-based unsaturated polymer particles having a particle size measured as d 90 -value of less than 60 nm   b) combining the diene-based unsaturated polymer in latex form with hydrogen or a hydrogen-source in the presence of   c) a transition metal containing catalyst and preferably   d) maintaining a temperature of from about 35° C. to about 180° C., preferably from about 80° C. to about 160° C.   
     
     
         4 . Process according to  claim 3 , wherein the particle size of the polymer particles measured as d 90 -value is less than 20 nm. 
     
     
         5 . Process according to  claim 3 , wherein the metal atom of the catalyst is a group VIII-B metal of atomic number from 44 to 76 including Ru, Rh, Ir and Os. 
     
     
         6 . Process according to  claim 3 , wherein the metal atom of the catalyst is rhodium. 
     
     
         7 . Process according to  claim 3 , wherein the catalyst corresponds to the formula
   RhQL x      wherein Q is hydrogen or an anion, preferably a halide and more preferably a chloride or bromide ion wherein   L is a ligand compound of the formula R m B, wherein   R is a C 1 -C 8 -alkyl group, a C 4 -C 8 -cycloalkyl group a C 6 -C 15 -aryl group or a C 7 -C 15 -aralkyl group,   B is phosphorus, arsenic, sulfur, or a sulphoxide group, and   m is 2 or 3, preferably m is 2 when B is sulphur or sulphoxide, and m is 3 when B is phosphorus or arsenic, and wherein   x is 2, 3 or 4, preferable x is 3 when Q is halogen and preferably x is 4 when Q is hydrogen.   
     
     
         8 . Process according to  claim 3 , wherein the hydrogenation is conducted at a temperature of 35 to about 180° C. 
     
     
         9 . Process according to  claim 3 , wherein the hydrogenation is carried out with essentially pure hydrogen gas at a pressure of 0.1 to about 20 MPa. 
     
     
         10 . Process according to  claim 3 , wherein the unsaturated polymer is composed of a conjugated diene D, a copolymerizable monomer A containing a nitrile group and optionally further copolymerizable monomers C. 
     
     
         11 . Process according to  claim 3 , wherein the unsaturated polymer is an acrylonitrile/butadiene copolymer. 
     
     
         12 . Process according to  claim 3 , wherein the hydrogenation is conducted in a batch mode. 
     
     
         13 . Process according to  claim 3 , wherein the hydrogenation is conducted in a continuous or semi-batch mode. 
     
     
         14 . Shaped article comprising a hydrogenated polymer obtained according to  claim 3 .