Method for repairing or recycling an elastomeric film

A method for repairing an elastomeric film or an article comprising the elastomeric film by

• a) providing a damaged elastomeric film or article comprising a damaged elastomeric film, the damaged elastomeric film having at least surfaces to be reconnected,
• b) re-joining the surfaces of the damaged film, and
• c) heating or annealing the damaged elastomeric film while maintaining intimate contact of the rejoined surfaces of the damaged film at a temperature of 40° C. to 200° C., wherein the elastomeric film is made from a polymer latex comprising:
• (a) particles of a carboxylated conjugated diene nitrile latex polymer (a) obtainable by free-radical emulsion polymerization of a mixture of ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising:
• 15 to 99 wt.-% of conjugated dienes;
• 1 to 80 wt.-% of monomers selected from ethylenically unsaturated nitrile compounds;
• 0.05 to 10 wt.-% of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids and/or salts thereof;
• 0 to 50 wt.-% of vinyl aromatic monomers;
• and
• 0 to 65 wt.-% of alkyl esters of ethylenically unsaturated acids,
• the weight percentages being based on the total monomers in the mixture in combination or association with
• (b) particles of a latex polymer (b) comprising at least one oxirane-functional group,
• wherein the monomer composition of the latex polymer (a) is different from the monomer composition of the latex polymer (b).