Method for the continuous preparation of organopolysiloxane emulsions

Apparatus for preparing organopolysiloxane emulsions comprising means for continuously feeding and supplying organopolysiloxane liquid or gums, water and emulsifying agents, including a cylindrical casing having a supply port and a discharge port, the cylindrical casing having mounted therein between its supply and discharge ports a first-stage shearing and stirring mechanism and a second-stage shearing and stirring mechanism, the first-stage shearing and stirring mechanism comprising a turbine rotor having blades slanted obliquely from the radial direction when viewed in the axial direction, and a stator arranged about the circumference of the rotor, the second-stage shearing and stirring mechanism comprising a turbine rotor having blades describing spiral curves with respect to the axial direction, and a stator arranged about the circumference of its rotor, the first and second-stage mechanisms being arranged serially along the direction of flow of fed materials and being separated one from another by a relaxation zone;

• means for subjecting the fed materials in the first-stage shearing and stirring mechanism to an intake and shearing action at a shear rate of at least 100 reciprocal seconds;
• and after passage through the relaxation zone, means for subjecting the materials in the second-stage shearing and stirring mechanism to phase reversal, rotational effects, and shearing action, at a shear rate of at least 100 reciprocal seconds;
• whereby an organopolysiloxane-in-water or water-in-organopolysiloxane emulsion is discharged from the discharge port of the cylindrical casing.