Process for preparing high internal phase ratio emulsions and latexes derived thereof

Abstract

The present invention is a method of preparing a high internal phase ratio emulsion without phase inversion comprising the steps of: a) continuously merging into a disperser and in the presence of an emulsifying and a stabilizing amount of a surfactant, a continuous phase liquid stream having a flow rate R.sub.1, and a disperse phase liquid stream having a flow rate R.sub.2 ; and b) mixing the merged streams with a sufficient amount of shear, and with R.sub.2 :R.sub.1 sufficiently constant, to form the high internal phase ratio emulsion without phase inversion or stepwise distribution of an internal phase into an external phase; wherein R.sub.2 :R.sub.1 encompasses a range, the lower limit of which range being defined by a point where the volume average particle size of the high internal phase ratio emulsion begins to show an inverse dependence on R.sub.2 :R.sub.1, and wherein the upper limit of which range is just less than an R.sub.2 :R.sub.1 where a phase inversion of the high internal phase ratio emulsion takes place. Monodisperse submicron particles can be prepared using the process of the present invention. Useful latexes can be prepared from these high internal phase ratio emulsions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.