Manufacture of aliphatic isocyanates

A process for the manufacture of an aliphatic isocyanate of the formula

• R--N.dbd.C.dbd.O I
• where R is an aliphatic radical of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, by thermal decomposition of an aliphatic carbamic acid halide of the formula ##STR3## where R has the above meaning and X is halogen, in the presence of an inert organic solvent, wherein the thermal decomposition is carried out in the presence of the inert organic solvent in a first reaction vessel for not longer than is required to set up the equilibrium of the thermal decomposition reaction, the hydrogen halide eliminated during this stage is removed through a reflux condenser, the carbamic acid halide/isocyanate mixture obtained in the first reaction vessel is transferred into a second reaction vessel, the thermal decomposition of the remaining carbamic acid halide is continued therein whilst passing inert gas through the mixture, the hydrogen halide entrained with the inert gas which is discharged from the second vessel is reacted with isocyanate at a temperature below the decomposition temperature by passing the hydrogen halide and inert gas in contact with an isocyanate of the formula I, thereby producing carbamic acid halide and purifying the inert gas of hydrogen halide, the mixture containing carbamic acid halide thus obtained is introduced into the first reaction vessel and the purified inert gas is recycled to the second reaction vessel.