Process for producing rubber hydrochloride sheet

An improved process for the production of rubber hydrochloride sheet is described in which a rubber sheet is advanced through a reaction zone essentially in one direction while totally immersed in a solution of hydrogen chloride in an organic solvent capable of swelling the rubber, flotation of the rubber sheet in the reaction solution being prevented, and the slack in the sheet caused by the initial swelling thereof being taken up to keep the sheet in substantially fully extended form to prevent it from contacting itself while in tacky condition, washing the sheet with an organic solvent or mixture thereof capable of removing the entrained, unreacted hydrogen chloride and other contaminants, drying the sheet in air at about 60 DEG C. to 80 DEG C., and calendering the still warm sheet to a finished rubber hydrochloride sheet of uniform thickness; the preferred solvent for both the hydrochlorination and washing operations being ethyl acetate.