Nano-particle preparation and applications
AssigneeBridgestone Corporation
InventorsXiaorong Wang, Chenchy Jeffrey Lin, James Hall, Sandra Warren, James Krom, Hajime Kondo, Koichi Morita
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Abstract
A nano-particle composition including a poly (alkenylbenzene) core and a poly (conjugated diene) or a poly(alkylene) surface layer is provided. The nano-particles have a mean average diameter less than about 100 nm. The nano-particles can be modified via, for example, hydrogenation or functionalization. The nano-particles can advantageously be incorporated into rubbers, elastomers, and thermoplastics.
Claims49
A nano-particle composition comprising:
- a. a poly(alkenylbenzene) core, and
- b. a surface layer comprising poly(conjugated diene), poly(alkylene), or mixtures thereof wherein said nano-particles have a mean average diameter of less than about 100 nm.
A process for forming polymer nano-particles comprising:
- a. polymerizing alkenylbenzene and conjugated diene monomer in a hydrocarbon solvent solvent to form a diblock polymer;
- b. forming a mixture including micelles of said diblock polymer;
- and
- c. adding at least one cross-linking agent to the polymerization mixture to form cross-linked nano-particles from said micelles, said nano-particles comprising a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and a poly(conjugated diene) surface.
A nano-particle composition comprising:
- a. a poly(alkenylbenzene) core, and
- b. a polyalkylene surface layer comprising at least one alkylene contributed monomer unit,
- wherein said nano-particles have a mean average diameter of less than about 100 nm.
A process for forming polymer nano-particles comprising:
- a. polymerizing alkenylbenzene monomer and conjugated diene monomer in a hydrocarbon solvent to form a diblock polymer;
- b. forming a polymerization mixture including micelles of said diblock polymer;
- c. adding at least one crosslinking agent to the polymerization mixture to form crosslinked nano-particles from said micelles;
- and
- d. hydrogenating a poly(conjugated diene) layer of said nano-particles to form nano-particles containing a poly(alkenylbenzene) inner layer and a polycrystalline outer layer.
A polymer nano-particle having a mean average diameter of less than about 100 nm comprising:
- a. a poly(alkenylbenzene) core, and
- b. surface layer comprising monomer units including conjugated dienes, alkylenes, and mixtures thereof.
- c. a functional group attached on or near the surface.
The composition of claim 34 wherein said functional group is a component of an initiator residue.
A process for forming a functionalized polymer nano-particle composition comprising:
- a. polymerizing alkenylbenzene monomer and conjugated diene monomer in a hydrocarbon solvent, in the presence of a functionalized initiator, to form a diblock polymer;
- b. forming a polymerization mixture including micelles of said diblock polymer;
- and
- c. adding at least one crosslinking agent to the polymerization mixture to form crosslinked nano-particles from said micelles, said nano-particles having a mean average diameter less than about 100 nm.
A rubber composition comprising:
- a. a rubber, and
- b. a polymer nano-particle including a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and a surface layer comprising monomer units including conjugated dienes, alkylenes, and mixtures thereof.
A thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising:
- a. a thermoplastic elastomer;
- and
- b. a polymer nano-particle including a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and a surface layer comprising monomer units including conjugated dienes, alkylenes, and mixtures thereof.
A rubber composition comprising:
- a. rubber;
- b. silica;
- and
- c. a polymer nano-particle including a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and a surface layer comprising monomer units including conjugated dienes, alkylenes, alkenylbenzene, and mixtures thereof.
A hard disk drive gasket composition comprising:
- a. a rubber;
- b. a polyalkylene;
- and
- c. a polymer nano-particle including a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and a surface layer including monomer units selected from the group consisting of conjugated dienes, alkylenes, alkenylbenzene and mixtures thereof.
A matrix composition comprising:
- a. a host;
- and
- b. a polymer nano-particle including a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and a surface layer comprising monomer units including conjugated dienes, alkylenes, and mixtures thereof.
A vulcanizable elastomeric composition comprising:
- a rubber;
- nano-particles;
- a reinforcing filler;
- and
- a curing agent comprising an effective amount of sulfur to achieve sufficient cure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.