Process for the preparation of hydrogenated rubber

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a latex of hydrogenated elastomeric polymer comprising: (1) combining an unsaturated polymer in latex form with (a) an oxidant selected from the group consisting of oxygen, air and hydroperoxide; (b) a reducing agent selected from hydrazine and hydrates thereof; and (c) a metal ion activator; (2) heating the mixture to a temperature from 0.degree. C. to the reflux temperature of the reaction mixture; (3) treating the mixture with ozone in an amount and under conditions which are sufficient for the ozone to react with residual polymer unsaturation to form an ozonated latex of elastomeric polymer having at least one terminal aldehyde end group; (4) treating the ozonated latex with hydroxylamine in an amount and under conditions which are sufficient to convert aldehyde end groups of the elastomeric polymer to oxime end groups to form a oximated polymer latex.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.