Patent ID: 7528204

Claim:
An emulsion polymerization process for synthesizing a hydrogenated polymer that comprises: (1) preparing a aqueous polymerization medium which is comprised of (a) at least one monomer, (b) a polymerization control agent, and an emulsifier, wherein the emulsifier is prepared in-situ within the aqueous polymerization medium; (2) initiating polymerization of said monomer within the aqueous polymerization medium to produce a latex of an unsaturated polymer; (3) treating the latex of the unsaturated polymer with (a) an oxidant selected from the group consisting of oxygen, air and hydroperoxides; (b) a reducing agent selected from the group consisting of hydrazine and hydrates of hydrazine; and (c) a metal ion activator to produce the hydrogenated polymer, wherein the polymerization is conducted at a temperature of less than 100° C., wherein the polymerization is conducted for a sufficient period of time to result in the production of a polymer, wherein the aqueous polymerization medium is substantially void of unreacted initiator, wherein polymerization is initiated in step (2) with a first polymerization initiator; and wherein polymerization is subsequently initiated with a second polymerization initiator.