Process for the manufacture of halogenated polymers

A process for the continuous production of halogenated polymer by reacting said polymer and a halogenating agent in an extruder-reactor, said extruder-reactor comprising feed zone (A), reaction zone (B) and neutralization zone (C) in sequence;

• conveying means traversing zones (A) through (C);
• first flow restriction means following said feed zone;
• injection means for supplying said halogenating agent to said reaction zone;
• mixing means for deforming said polymer in said reaction zone;
• second flow restriction means disposed between said reaction zone and said neutralization zone;
• and injection means for supplying neutralizing means to the product mixture produced in said reaction zone;
• further comprising subjecting said polymer in said feed zone to conditions of temperature and pressure sufficient to generate a cohesive mass;
• conveying said mass past said first restriction means to said reaction zone;
• halogenating said polymer in said reaction zone by injecting said halogenating agent wherein said polymer and said halogenating agent form either co-continuous phases or wherein said halogenating agent is present as a continuous phase and said polymer is present as a discontinuous phase within said reaction zone and said polymer is subjected to deformation, disruption and generation of new surface;
• conveying said product mixture past said second restriction means;
• injecting said neutralizing means and neutralizing said product mixture with said neutralizing agent in said neutralizing zone;
• and delivering said halogenated polymer product from the extruder-reactor.