Method for the production of a continuous elastomeric film

A method for the production of a continuous elastomeric film comprising:

• A) providing an aqueous polymer latex composition comprising:
• (I) particles of a latex polymer obtained by free-radical emulsion polymerization of a mixture of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, the particles bearing a plurality of functional groups, and
• (II) a crosslinking component comprising a plurality of functional groups, at least one thereof being reactive with the functional groups on the latex polymer particles;
• B) forming from the aqueous polymer latex composition a continuous polymer film or an elastomeric material;
• C) optionally drying the continuous polymer film obtained in step B);
• D) curing the continuous polymer film obtained in step B) or C) to form a continuous elastomeric film;
• and
• E) optionally rolling the continuous elastomeric film obtained in step D) into a roll, wherein
• the cured film or elastomeric material comprises thermally reversible linkages selected from one or more of
• (i) a linkage having the structural formula
• wherein:
• X is —O— or —NR1—,
• n is 0 or 1,
• R1 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group, and
• R2 is a hydrocarbyl group;
• and
• (ii) a beta-hydroxy ester linkage, wherein
• the aqueous polymer latex composition in step (B) is cast on a substrate at a preselected thickness, then cured to form the elastomeric film followed by stripping the obtained elastomeric film from the substrate;
• or
• the aqueous polymer latex composition is treated to promote coagulation of the latex composition, the aqueous polymer latex composition is diluted to a preselected solids content that correlates to the preselected thickness of the film, and in step (B) a heated or cooled roll is contacted with the aqueous polymer latex composition to coagulate a polymer film on the roll surface, followed by curing the film to form the elastomeric film and stripping the obtained elastomeric film from the roll;
• or
• the aqueous polymer latex composition is diluted to a preselected solids content that correlates to the preselected thickness of the film, a heated roll is contacted with a coagulant solution comprising multivalent cations and dried, subsequently in step (B) the heated roll is contacted with the aqueous polymer latex composition to coagulate a polymer film on the roll surface, followed by curing the film to form the elastomeric film and stripping the obtained elastomeric film from the roll;
• or
• by forming the elastomeric material into a continuous film by subjecting the material to a pressure of 1-20 MPa and a temperature of 40° C. to 200° C. and optionally rolling the continuous elastomeric film into a roll.